I feel that this is getting dangerously close to "both parties are the same so don't vote".

Yes.

I can say for sure that electing one of these parties will definitely be better, or at least not as bad, as the other.

Who gives a fuck. You don't get a vote for being less bad, you get a vote for being good. If they don't earn your fucking vote you're just guaranteeing that you do not matter and are completely and totally powerless. Congratulations, they know they have your vote as long as they permanently remain "less bad" than the other party. The other party can march rightwards, they can follow, and you will forever give them your vote as long as they're less bad.

The democrats today are what the republicans were 30 years ago. You are voting for Reagan.

When does it end? How far right do the dems go before you withdraw yourself from endorsing them entirely? Do you ever stop? You don't. You keep on going with this mentality forever, and you keep moving further and further right along with them.