Personal Reflections of a Middle-Aged Man

Mid-term season has begun across our great nation. Several states have already had theirs, but the majority are still ahead: 13 in May, 17 in June, 1 in July, 14 in August, and even 4 as late as September. This means for most of us, we still have time to ponder, investigate, research, and decide upon which candidates we want to represent us at the local, state, and national levels. Regardless of which party for which we vote, many races have more than one candidate on the primary ballot and we need to choose wisely. 

I’m hoping each of us does our homework before pulling the “lever” in the ballot box. But, I am also hoping to persuade you to think of not only the following when you go to vote, but also hope that you truly and honestly look at your personal situation, the needs of your family, and your own moral compass when casting your vote. Are you truly and fully in a better place than you were a year ago? Is the country in a truly and better place than it was a year ago? Are we as a nation still looked at as the beacon of hope by the world?

I, myself, am a progressive Democrat, on which I’ve been upfront if you’ve read even just a few of my post over the years. As you are making your decision on who to vote for, I want to invite you to think about the following statements from our authoritarian thinking and acting President. Also think about how the Republican regime, from all levels of government (school boards, city councils, state legislatures, Congress, and cabinet members, and all the others) have enabled the President even after making these statements.

President Trump has…

• Referred to military service members who lost their lives defending the Constitution and our way of life as “losers and suckers” because they died in combat.
• Said he doesn’t care about the price effect of tariffs raising prices you and I pay at the store.
• Repeatedly described migrants mainly from south of the border, the people who come to our country to help pick the very food we eat every day, as “they’re not sending their best.”
• In referring to political rivals, “I hate my opponent.” Not I oppose their policies. Not I don’t agree with their thinking. Not I think their opinion is misinformed. Instead it is, “I hate my opponent.”
• Disparaging a disabled reporter by mocking their physical disability at a rally.
• When discussing health care policies and costs, directly said people should just simply “live with it,” and has said in a variety of ways that health care coverage is not his concern.
• Outwardly stated, “Take the guns first, go through due process second,” basically ignoring a Constitutional right; even if many of us disagree with the 2nd Amendment, it is still a Constitutional right that shouldn’t be dismissed.
• Said, “I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody,” implying he could commit a murderous act without consequence. Sadly, as a statement of fact, many of his actions have gone without consequences, including bombing a school of innocents, making this statement more true than I think people of good moral conscience are comfortable.
• Called immigrants, the people who are doing jobs no American wants to, or will, do as a living “criminals” and “rapists,” which the facts don’t support.
• Downplayed the severity of the Covid pandemic, which saw over a million Americans die from, strongly implying he didn’t care, or worse indifference, towards our families, friends, and neighbors (which we are now seeing again with the rise of measles, a disease that can kill our children if they get it).
• Said “I love the poorly educated,” strongly implying he believes those who support him are dumb and ignorant.
• Dismissed the views of our intelligence experts, telling them to, “Go back to school,” because they told him the truth about Iran and going to war with that country.
• Disregarded the quite blunt wording on his wife’s jacket, calling it fake news even when we could all see the picture of Melania wearing the jacket, during a visit to a migrant children’s camp, a detention camp, located in Texas.
• Made the statement, “I don’t care what the judges say,” when a court has ruled in a way he doesn’t like, words most would agree imply he was going to do what he wanted to do regardless of the ruling. He could have easily said he didn’t like the ruling, which is what most of us would say.
• Told us the economy is roaring like never before because of him, that prices are down, that manufacturing is coming back, that we have no inflation that we have the strongest growth ever, made statements about government investments, and so on.

All of the above would cause a reasonable person to at least pause more than a few minutes before pulling the lever for a Republican candidate. If for no other reason than the last statement about the economy roaring. I don’t know about you, but the price I pay for gas is up, the price of housing is up according to friends and family, the groceries I buy costs more, the price to fly anywhere is higher, and so many other expenses such as electricity are all up since Trump took office. If you truly stop and think about it, truly are honest with yourself, truly seeing your paycheck is covering less, you would see the negative effects on your family are worse under the Republicans.

If you live in a “red” state, I urge you to also consider how many of your rights and freedoms have been taken away. Are you able to read any book you want? Are your schools fully funded? Do your children have to see the 10 Commandments in their classrooms? Can your teachers support your children for who they are? Can your trans child receive the care they need? Can your raped daughter obtain an abortion? Can your pregnant wife obtain the medical care she needs? Can you easily vote? If you answered no to any of these questions, I want you to look and see who is running your state and for how long? Is your life better under your current leaders, especially if those leaders have been office for more than 10 years, where a single party has governed for a long period of time?

As you reflect on what our President has said, and your state is doing, how your life is going, I want to ask you to consider voting for the democratic candidates in your town, your city, your state. The Democrats are not perfect by any means, but they do care about our well-being. Almost every piece of legislation over the past few decades that make our lives better have come from Democrats. They have also helped bring our great country back from the brink of ruin time and time again always because of a previously elected Republican. If you are truly honest with yourself, if you do a little research, it is all there in black and white and living color.

You know I almost always end in this way, please join me in helping to save our great country from fascism and authoritarianism. Is this White House team the team you want running the country, protecting and helping us, and utilizing our military force in reckless ways?

Together, we can bring back and keep the liberties and freedoms we’ve always enjoyed for ourselves, but more importantly, for our children and grandchildren to enjoy.

Remember, May 1 is the May Day national day of collective action. No shopping, no working, and no school. Let’s band together to send a message to the billionaires that they need us more than we need them.