I am a lifelong progressive, to the left of the liberals. Am I disappointed that the Democratic Party presidential nominee is not Bernie Sanders? You bet I am. And you can bet I am voting for Hillary Clinton on Nov. 8.

This decision is not about the personalities of the major-party candidates, it is about their parties and politics. Trump is a lot of ugly things, but the Republican Party is obviously a comfortable home to a lot of those values and positions. I cannot name a single Republican who has stood for human and civil rights. I see their agenda for women and it would set all American women back 30 to 40 years. The Ku Klux Klan thinks Trump is swell. After years of failure and harm, the GOP clings to trickle-down economics with no respect for working people. The list can go on and on.

Are the Democrats ideal? No, but progressives have a solid foothold there, will have leverage on a Democratic president and will continue to grow in strength and influence. And if we don’t move far enough and fast enough to create a just society, we’ll see you in the streets.

This is not the first time I have faced this kind of a choice but, once again, I know how awful the Republican Party positions are. I know the Democrats can and will do better.

I will vote for Clinton and would urge every single Bernie Sanders supporter to do the same.

Stephen R. Aucoin

Waterville