I’ve submitted this elsewhere, but for those of you who happen upon this website, a plan (plea?) for some thinking about the upcoming election. It’s a bit wordy, but, what else do you have to do? It’s a quiet Sunday before election day.
My advice to all who may still vote: remember the basics:
Theme 1. This is Trump's pandemic:
China is where the virus started but Trump turned it into a pandemic in the U.S. On his watch we have actually, factually become a world leader in cases (closing in on 6 million) and deaths (over 230,000) and all he says: "It is what it is”, or “were turning the corner”.
Theme 2: This is Trump's economy:
He inherited a winning economy and has squandered it, like all his businesses. On his watch jobs and businesses have been lost in record numbers. New jobs before the pandemic were not growing as fast as the last two years of Obama’s presidency. Unemployment is still above 8%, more than double what it was last year. And the biggest deficit in history, because his tax break for the rich DID NOT create more jobs and tax revenue as he said it would. PS Job LOSSES have occurred in the manufacturing sector. PS over 850,000 women have left the workforce to take care of at-home children. Trump: “We’re gonna get your husbands back to work…” Welcome to the 1950’s.
Theme 3: This is Trump's social unrest:
Record growth in gun sales and increasing protests on his watch. Yes, some violence in the protests, much of it created by hopped up militia as in Kenosha or Lansing Michigan, and hoped for by Trump to scare white suburbanites. As one famous black man said... white people "say they're scared, but we're the ones getting killed"
Theme 4: This is Trump's incompetent government
Record turnover in his cabinet; sycophant's like Mike Pence, Bill Barr, Mike Pompeo in key roles; the firing of Rex Tillerson; leaving under protest of James Mattis; gagging and firing of Inspectors General who could tell the truth about what's happening in the DOJ, the State Department. The criminals indicted in his organization: Michael Cohen, Paul Manafort; Michael Flynn; Roger Stone, Steve Bannon, Rick Gates, George Nader (look up this beauty; a child pornographer)
Theme 5: This is Trump's endless stream of shameless lies
"I've done more for black people..." "I created the greatest economy ever..." "I'd be happy to turn over my tax returns, but they're being audited..." "I believe Putin..." "Joe Biden is in the pocket of radical socialists who will destroy the suburbs and take away your guns…"
Theme 6: We can do better after Trump because we can have the competence, the compassion and real plans to deliver
1. We will put science first in order to really break the back of the pandemic. 2. We will push back on climate change - get back into the Paris Accords; 3. We will reform, NOT defund the police. The violence in the protests will decrease, because the protesters will feel they’ve been heard once Trump is gone. 4. We will safeguard and improve the ACA and our healthcare, including Medicaid. 5. We will bring back jobs, e.g. by really funding infrastructure projects. 6. We will restore the Voting Rights Act which will counter voter suppression.
The new foundation for government: Bring back honesty (e.g. you can see our tax returns), competence and checks and balance to the White House and Congress.