More than any other time in our lives…sure we appreciate the process for a new president only happening every four years. But just the same, respect the fact that our ability to choose, and adjust to the consequences of that choice, sets us apart from the rest of the world.
For just one day, let’s put aside the diversion of sports for some reflection…on what’s probably the most important event in the four-year cycle of our democracy, the election of a president.
And without argument from anyone, this one has been rough, tough, and frankly, not terribly inspiring for either Democrats I know, or Republicans.
But let’s try, anyway, to agree that regardless of the outcome of Tuesday’s vote, we, the taxpayers and benefactors of the Union will have to knuckle down and live with the will of the majority. You may not like it, one side or the other, but it’s something we have to do.
Saturday’s blog about the impact of this election on voters from either party brought some sharp and immediate response from everyday readers of Press Pros. From people, largely, with the same sense of frustration and confusion as mine, and yours.
I heard from people who shared…that we’ve lost our focus in this country; we’ve lost our sense of character, and the will to stand up to what we know is offensive and wrong. In short, we just take what the politicians dish out. One wrote, “there are no choices for decent people anymore.” I generally don’t believe that, but for just this one instance, if it quacks it must be a duck!
However, Tuesday represents the essential right and liberty of Americans to speak out – to do something about it if you believe that we’re doomed to take what Washington dishes out. Go out and vote, whether you’re voting for one, or against the other. The realities are the same. It’s the way we, as Americans, do business.
I wrote this in the Saturday blog…that never in my adult life have I had less enthusiasm for making a choice. A choice, in this case, between the known corruption of the Clinton machine and its grip on Washington…and the public relations nightmare that Donald Trump represents because he can’t refrain from saying the wrong things at the wrong times.
And more than any other time in my adult life, one cannot dodge the reality of this election because both sides have bared the other right down to the marrow. We know everything, it seems, and sadly, the facts of our choice are this:
Hillary Clinton has vowed to raise taxes and spend more. She really believes that government can, and should, live by a different set of financial rules than the average household. Her decision making as secretary of state has played out so that now we can judge, notwithstanding any deals she made for personal influence. She’s obviously demonstrated some poor personal and professional judgment, and it’s pretty clear that she lives by a different set of laws and rules than that which apply to the rest of us. She appears to be the poster figure of corruptness, regardless of party. All this…and ironically she asks for the opportunity to make history with the American people. But she’s been there already for thirty years of history, and how has that gone?
Donald Trump is the abject example of contradiction. There’s not as much to write about because he doesn’t have 30 years of political record. But his disdain for American jobs moving away is in sharp contrast to his own companies shipping work offshore in the past to take advantage of lower labor costs. He claims to respect women, minorities, immigrants, and the sanctity of marriage…while he makes public statements that reflect something far different. He looks and sounds like a bully. And he’s been married three times!
That’s what your choice amounts to, come Tuesday. And then there’s the prospect of what comes next.
Clinton has promised even bigger government, more rules that will limit expansion of business and commerce…while promising expansion of clean energy, global climate research, and free college education for everyone. Consider, of course…who pays for this? We all do, and not just the wealthy 5% at the top. There aren’t enough of those, and the smart ones have already sheltered their money. And new jobs in clean energy and climate research will benefit only the select few with the experience, background and education. It does nothing for coal miners and farmers.
On foreign policy? It appears that she trusts everyone, or believes that every country is willing to make a deal that’s mutually beneficial.
Donald Trump’s a braggart, I agree, even to the content of his locker room talk. But his one redeeming attribute is…he knows how to make money, whether you respect that or not. And understand…America needs more money of its own making. If he does reduce taxes to encourage the creation and expansion of more private business…all the better. If he does create some incentives where off-shore companies bring jobs back to America…all the better.
And to the cry that Trump has not paid his fair share of federal income tax? He’s only taken advantage of the current tax laws that Bill and Hillary Clinton help write when they were in the White House and Congress.
Foreign policy? Well, we’ve had bullies before…Teddy Roosevelt and Harry Truman. We were stronger then. We survived and benefited.
Regardless of who we elect on Tuesday the post-election reality is this. It isn’t race, or politics, that really divide our country. No, what divides us the ideology of taking money from one group to support another – to pay for all the entitlements and programs that have robbed us of personal incentive to do for ourselves. But both parties are responsible for that. And how many times have you heard the current president say, “They want to leave you on your own.” Exactly!
The divisiveness we feel is with Americans who want to be strong, and left on their own to create their own future and destiny, in spite of Washington, irrespective of party affiliation.
Regardless of the words and the ugliness of this campaign, this is our choice come Tuesday. Nothing different, it’s always been our choice. It’s the reality of every election. Only now, because of all the words and the insult that we feel…it’s harder to choose.
But please. Go out and try. We’ll get back to sports…on Wednesday.