Sorry I bid “No Trump”
The upcoming presidential election has created a confounding scenario for many people: the possibility that Donald Trump might be elected has stirred up a mountain of unbearable fears. Some see Trump as fascistic by his identifying scapegoats as causing certain domestic problems. One such scapegoat is the eleven million Hispanic people illegally here in the U.S. Trump would have us “resettle” these people to resolve the problems for the U.S. that Trump claims they are responsible for. Another group under another of his elimination plans is those of the Muslim persuasion: their departure, Trump says, would alleviate some of our national security threats. In my opinion, both these plans smack of Hitler’s “resettlement” plan for the Jews of Europe, or Stalin’s liquidation of the “Kulaks” (middle class) of Russia, or Mao’s Cultural Revolution (extermination of the educated class) in Red China.
The difference here is only in degree as Trump obviously cannot use the heavy-handed methods of Hitler, Stalin, or Mao – but the effect of setting one countryman against another will have much of the same chilling effect. From a nation founded as a refuge for immigrants, the U.S. under Trump will live behind walls keeping the freedom seekers of the world from coming to our shores. Scary business, I’d say, serving only to invite more distrust and animosity toward our nation.
Another stratagem of Trump’s is to “renegotiate” our nation’s trade agreements, promising to bring all the so called “lost” or “stolen” jobs back to the U.S.. Trump proposes stiff tariffs to neutralize the lower labor costs of goods made overseas but sold here. History, however, makes it very clear that this is very dangerous policy as it invites retaliation in kind, resulting in a huge contraction in world trade. Once set in motion, trade wars lead to widespread economic stagnation followed by recessions and depressions. Another terrifying prospect, to say the least.
Perhaps the most frightening aspect of Trump as our leader is all the un-articulated ideas and policies he has stored up for us. For the most part, we don’t have a clue as to what guides him other than his enormous ego. He is like the quarterback who, in the huddle, tells the center to “just snap the ball to me and I’ll see what I can do,” leaving his teammates totally confused.
For the sake of argument, let’s say that Trump’s ideas have some outside, miraculous chance to work. But at what cost as we are still left with a leader who’s character is sadly wanting? I can’t get past his bullying and belittling of both foe and friend as this behavior clearly discloses his true nature.
As a nation and a people, our character is the most important and necessary attribute to live up to the ideals given to us by our nation’s founding fathers and our Creator. Trump fails here so I bid “NO TRUMP!”