President Donald Trump is the 3rd President in history to be impeached and the first President to run for re-election even after being impeached by the Congress for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. Trump was not removed as the Republican majority in the Senate dismissed it without a trial. Abuse of power is a serious crime and obstruction is impeding investigations of alleged crimes.
We must be aware of the consequences of reelecting someone like Trump whose words, actions, and character may be a threat to our democracy
Nation in Crisis
Our nation and the world are facing the biggest public health and economic crisis of our lifetime with the COVID pandemic. Unfortunately, under Trump leadership, America has the most cases of COVID and more deaths than any other country in the world. America’s failure in the handling of COVID-19 is directly related to failure of Trump’s leadership. The administration ignored the warnings given in late 2019, downplayed it and dismissed it as a Democratic Party hoax. He dismantled all the pandemic readiness system that was established under Obama administration and cut funding for CDC. In effect, the administration left us unprepared when the tsunami of this pandemic reached our shores.
The Danger
History says that democracies face greater threats when a nation is going through an unprecedented crisis like we have now.
Our Democracy is in danger as Trump behaves like dictators. Signs include the following: discrediting and attacking media or anyone who criticizes him, spreading conspiracy and misinformation by his supporters, asking people to go against the recommendations of his own agencies, large number of firing of senior officials, and attacking political opponents and creating division among the people. We have seen armed Trump supporters, protesting lockdowns, in several Democratic run state capitals brandishing machine guns.
Our Responsibility as concerned citizens
Be informed and vigilant to reliable and credible mainstream news media. Have you ever wondered why media was never fake until Trump came on the scene? Do you really think the media is only unfair to Trump? They are doing their job to bring news and videos of what comes out of Trump’s own mouth that we can judge.
We must have a sense of urgency that this election is the most important election in our lifetime. Each one of us must talk to our relatives and friends about these important issues and encourage each other to register on time and make the extra effort to vote in large numbers on November 3rd.
Our goal is not to convert hard core Trump worshippers as our time may be better spend engaging with those who are in our sphere of influence. Be bold and do not be afraid to talk about current events and elections. Unfortunately, vocal Trump cult influence silent majority with misinformation, Trump rhetoric and insults and we should not allow our silence to mean acceptance of Trump. If we give Trump another 4 years, there are chances that he will behave like a dictator. Unprecedented crisis like the current one is the breeding ground for political upheaval. We all need to fight to save our Democracy.
First let us go over some basics and separate party ideologies and candidate trust credibility, character, and competence.
Political Ideologies
Far left ideologies and socialism AND far right fascism and “Trumpism” are not viable political ideologies because extremes on either side create chaos, confusion, dissension, and political gridlock that gets nothing done as we have seen in the last 3 ½ years of Trump.
A common misinformation spread by “Trumpets” is that Democrats are socialists, for open borders, pro-abortion, anti-God, and for welfare state. That is a misconception spread by the right wing to create division. Do not confuse that to be the party’s ideology because of some few vocal socialists. A balanced moderate system of capitalism with a compassionate welfare program that promotes and gives incentive to work instead of it being a free handout that promotes laziness at the same time give incentive for businesses to create profits without overburdened by taxes. Business taxes should never be more than 50% of gross profit or else it takes away incentive to grow and prosper. On economy, trickledown economics of Republicans by giving tax breaks to the wealthy 2% have not shown to fuel economy as much as giving the other 98% tax breaks that promotes consumer spending which is the fuel to speed the economic engine. Only major thing that Trump has done is to give the tax break to the wealthy.
Focus on supporting candidates with moderate views and not extremes of either side.
Issues:
Majority of moderate democrats also support curbing illegal immigration, but with bipartisan and technological solutions and not the big Trump vanity wall. We want an improvement of the Affordable Care Act or Obamacare, we need pandemic response team, we want improved education, economic prosperity for all and not just wealthy elite. We want environmental regulations and science based solutions to global warming. We want control of automatic weapons without taking away 2nd amendment rights. We want national security and defense and maintain a leadership role internationally without sacrificing domestic issues. We need to take care of the poor by promoting education and incentive for work and provide livable wages. We need to protect social security. We need to separate church and state and protect freedom of religion for all religions.
We are not for Islamic state or Christian evangelical state. We believe that morality is personal based on their faith and cannot be legislated unless that affects other citizens. Giving rights to LGBTQ is a civil right and allowing a woman’s right to her own body with availability of safe, but limited abortion is medically necessary. It is not government’s role to punish the woman because their decision does not affect other citizens. It is a right that has been around for 47 years. Although these so called “moral” issues may be against my own personal beliefs, individual’s personal choices and lifestyles are none of my business if it does not harm or negatively affect other’s rights and freedom. Even as born again Christian myself, my morality shall not stand in the way of another person’s civil liberties, who does not follow my faith. I disagree with Evangelical brothers and sisters on this matter and I do not believe their view is even what God wants because God do not want to take away our free will as it is given by God himself. He wants us to choose Him and choose to do the right thing. Government cannot legislate on these moral issues. If so, then why not make it illegal to commit adultery and punish the adulterer?
We believe in the free press as essential for democracy and protected by Constitution and we must continue to protect it. Mainstream media that has been around for ages and backed by large corporations cannot publish fake news or they will be sued to oblivion. They can be biased as CNN is left biased and Fox news is far right Trump biased. Trump has attacked the media like no other and his supporters and far right thrive on conspiracy theories, lies, and propaganda to influence the gullible mass. We need control and legislation for the onslaught of misinformation on social media and other outlets like YouTube video that are doctored. Why are right wing people more apt to believe these “gossips” and slander that are posted by anonymous or right wing, and not the mainstream media? Why people believe Trump just because he says, “Fake News.” We never had “Fake News” until this fake President. These misinformation and conspiracy theories gave rise to anti-government and anti-establishment support of both far right Trump and far left support.
Then there is the fear of globalization and the one world leader that derived from Evangelical Christians who use fear of Anti-Christ to fuel their right wing agenda. True believer accepts God’s will and if an Anti-Christ is meant to rise as per Bible, it will. They claim that the vaccine using the microchip is the sign of the beast. We cannot plan and live to fight against those forces that are beyond us. God wants us to use our God given intellect and discernment of right and wrong and just trust Him. Do not create stories and theories that most likely are false. Beware of false prophets
Character of President:
The Office of the Presidency is the highest and most honorable position. It is a great responsibility to be taken with utmost people. Anyone who still supports him after seeing the 3 years of circus in the White House resonates his bigotry, hatred or are brainwashed by conspiracy theories and misinformation.
Christians who support Trump who have no remorse or humility or a sign for love of God is taking away the Christian witness and makes mockery of Christianity. Trump just happens to make a deal with the Christian pastors on these issues and the wealthy pastors influence their flock for their financial benefit. Trump’s rhetoric is dangerous.
In the last 3 ½ years, the Trump Administration has been plagued with scandals, investigations, firings, indictments, nepotism, cronyism, chaos, like no other administration. He has already been impeached by House and the Senate did not do their job of having a fair trial with witnesses, instead chose to dismiss removing Trump from the Presidency as the Senate has the power. His appointment of Trump loyalist and cronies into other branches of government has weakened our system of checks and balances and became a threat to our Democracy. No, most media are not fake, take away right bias Fox News and left biased CNN. Trump calls it fake because it brings true news about him that makes him look bad. Therefore, he discredits and attacks professional and ethical journalists bringing us important news.
When it comes to Presidential candidates, we need to look at more than just policies, their character also matters.
Conclusion
To the silent majority who are reading this article I urge you to be brave and not be silent. Do not allow our silence to mean acceptance and then look at the vocal Trump supporters to mean they must be right and sway our opinion. Be vigilant and informed and think independently and vote this November in mass numbers at all cost influencing as many to stand up and save our Democracy by voting out Trump. Vice President Joe Biden who was a public servant for over 40 years and served 8 years as Vice President with no scandals. He has the humility, compassion, personality, character to put public interest above himself and to work across party lines with moderate political views that is right for our country at this time of chaos and confusion. We need our nation to heal and we need to know that we can sleep in peace when we can trust that our nation is in good hands without fear of evil of a possible Trump dictatorship.
God Bless America.