Bill Bumgarner is a retired former health care executive from northwest Iowa who worked in hospital management for 41 years, predominantly in the state of Iowa.

Like me, you’ve probably encountered a friend or family member who has said, “I don’t vote for a political party, I vote for the best person.”

That seemed reasonable back in the day, when there were still moderate—even progressive—Republicans on the ballot in state and federal elections. Today, the “best person” notion is not particularly logical. 

The two major political parties represent profoundly different values. In these more partisan and divisive times, voters must decide what kind of America we aspire to be and which party best aligns with that choice.

In 2024 it’s time to pick a side, a way of life. 

Back in my pick-up basketball days decades ago, there was a common way for guys to differentiate between the two opposing teams. One team kept their shirts on, called shirts. The other team took their shirts off. They were the skins.

2024 is a shirts or skins election.

The world views of the Democratic and Republican parties could not be more distinct. Who you choose to support will impact your life and those you love for years to come. 

If you value the American tradition of constitutional democracy, vote for a Democrat for every federal and state office. If you want to take a chance on a more autocratic form of government, vote Republican.

If you seek to protect Social Security and Medicare, vote Democratic. If you prefer that these programs be marginalized to support tax cuts for the affluent, vote Republican.

If a woman’s freedom to make her own healthcare decisions is important to you, vote Democratic. If you favor restrictions—perhaps even a ban—on abortion, in vitro fertilization (IVF) and contraception, vote Republican.

If you believe honoring the United States’ long-standing international alliances will contribute to a safer world, vote Democratic. If you feel America should go it alone, vote Republican. 

If you support sensible state or federal regulations to promote environmental standards, worker safety and free markets, vote Democratic. If you believe businesses and communities can responsibly self-regulate their actions, vote Republican.

If consistent and meaningful investment in public schools is a priority to you, vote Democratic. If you support public funds being diverted from public schools to support private education, vote Republican.

If you prefer that the president of the United States and Supreme Court justices abide by reasonable legal accountability and ethics standards, vote Democratic. If you’re satisfied that these officers of the government can act above the law, vote Republican. 

If you believe America should aspire to its founding principle that all citizens are created equal, vote Democratic. If you think public policy should be driven predominately by white elected officials espousing what they interpret to be Christian values, vote Republican. 

Yet, the choice is even more straightforward than all that.

Republican elected officials would have you believe the U.S. is a dark, Gotham City-like place where danger lurks around every corner (it doesn’t). They’ll tell you crime is rising (nope, it’s actually declined over the past three years), immigrants are a threat to your personal safety (they’re not), and the economy is in steep decline (sorry, Republicans, the data shows it’s growing and improving).     

In fact, when Americans have been polled about their own lived experience, their responses indicate a more positive view about how the economy has impacted their family. This is in contrast to their perceptions about economic trends in the country as a whole.

The lesson here: don’t be misled by deceptive Republican talking points. Understand that they know their only path to victory lies in misinformation and stoking baseless fear. They do not seek to enhance the lives of working-class Americans. The constituency of the Republican Party is the affluent and wannabe oligarchs. 

Yes, 2024 must be a shirts or skins election.

By voting a straight Democratic ticket, voters can send a forceful message that it’s time to move on from MAGA Republican extremism. 

Supporting Democratic candidates also signifies choosing freedom over control, competency over chaos, and seeking opportunity for all over subservience to one man. A man who is increasingly unwell and shockingly unfit to lead.

Top image is by Marino Bocelli, available via Shutterstock.