One of the rationales people use when they abstain from voting is that the Republicans and Democrats are the same and which controls the government doesn’t make much of a difference.

That never was true. The parties have different philosophies, consider different things good or bad, have different levels of honesty and graft, different levels of competence and play the political game differently.

And these differences matter. The federal government has tremendous impact on the day-to-day lives of folks. What it decides to do or not do is important.

A look at the government shutdown (which hopefully is over by the time you read this) and the role played by the Affordable Care Act (ACA, aka Obamacare) perfectly illustrates this.

Millions of Americans rely on ACA for healthcare insurance. The finances of the program, however, are stretched and it is impossible for many to afford the premiums without discounts. These are provided via tax credits. However, ACA’s premium tax credits expire on December 31.

The Democrats want to make extension of the credits an element of the budget negotiations (though ACA is not part of the budget). The Republicans want to take up the issue once a temporary funding bill extending the current budget (known as a “clean” continuing resolution, or CR) is in place. The Democrats don’t trust the Republicans to act in good faith and won’t sign on to a CR until a deal on the tax credits is negotiated.

That’s the situation as of the end of October. The scenario illustrates the vast differences between the parties. Democrats went to bat for people and tried to maintain their healthcare. The party realized that many would face dire consequences–for instance, the need to decide between paying for health insurance or food–if the subsidiaries expired.

If you abstain from voting others make your decisions

Indeed, Democrats are fighting for the subsidies even though many of those who stand to gain are Trump voters.

The Democrats are fighting for people who belong to the other party, according to KFF:

Nearly six in ten Marketplace enrollees (57%) live in congressional districts represented by a Republican. Generally, enrollment in ACA Marketplace coverage by congressional district is largest in the South. At least 10% of the population is enrolled in ACA Marketplace plans throughout all congressional districts in Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, and South Carolina, along with almost all in Texas and Utah.

And an earlier study by the firm:

Republicans also make up 45% of adults who purchase their own health insurance, most of whom do so through the ACA Marketplaces, including about three in ten (31%) who identify with the MAGA movement. About one-third (35%) are Democrats or lean that way, and one in five do not identify or lean toward either political party.

Math is hard. Suffice it to say that there is significant use of ACA by Republicans in general and MAGA in particular. Thus, the Democrats are fighting to save the health insurance of a good number of people who despise them.

It’s obvious where my loyalties are. It’s not something I care to hide. The bigger picture and point of this post is more basic, however: The two parties are extremely different. Simply using that as a rationale when you abstain from voting is a deflection and a dodge. The far better thing to do is figure out which stands for what you believe and get out there and vote. There are, after all, plenty of reasons to do so.