I have always been interested in politics, even from a very
young age. I can’t really say what it is that drew me in. Maybe it was the
energy and excitement I saw on television during the conventions. Maybe it was
all the pretty campaign buttons and lawn signs. Maybe it was the educational
videos from Schoolhouse Rock. I honestly don’t know what drew me in, but I was
fascinated.
My real coming of age was in the 1980’s. I remember what
life was like in the late 1970’s under Democrat leadership. The country was a
terrible mess. In fact, as I got older and heard Democrat politicians describe
the economy as “the worst since the Great Depression”, I just had to shake my
head. Did the 1970’s somehow disappear from history?
There was a terrible malaise that overshadowed the country.
Inflation was at 13.5%. Interest rates were at 20%. (To give you an idea of
what this meant, think of your credit card interest at 35%). Gross Domestic
Product was declining at a rate of 0.03%. Unemployment was at 7.2% (not
including those who gave up looking for work). People had to wait in line to
purchase gasoline. Gas lines could stretch for a mile or more. Across the
globe, American’s were being held hostage in Iran ,
as a third world radical thumbed his nose at the United States . People were living
in fear of an aggressive Soviet Union ,
wondering if war was inevitable. To say things were terrible is an
understatement.
The election of 1980 was the first time I really paid
attention to the election. I really didn’t understand much, at the age of 12,
but I knew something had to change. I didn’t really understand everything, but
I heard some things from Governor Ronald Reagan that did stick with me.
“Government is not the solution to our problems. Government IS the problem.”
The concept that government should be limited was an idea that has stuck with
me from the days of Reagan to today.
Here are some other great quotes from Reagan that express
that idea so well:
“The most terrifying words in the English language are: I’m
from the government and I’m here to help you.”
“Government doesn’t solve problems. It subsidizes them.”
“The problem is not that the people are taxed too little.
The problem is that the government spends too much.”
“Man is not free unless government is limited.”
(Here are some great Reagan speeches that express his
character and his policies)
Reagan asked the American people in his one debate with
Carter, “Are you better off than you were four years ago?” The American people
obviously believed that they were not and Reagan was swept into office,
carrying 44 out of 50 states plus DC. It was an overwhelming landslide and a
mandate for his conservative approach to government. His record in office was
such that four years later he asked Americans the same question. In 1984 he
carried 49 out of 50 states plus DC. It was the most resounding affirmation of
a political agenda in history. Why? BECAUSE IT WORKED! His program of tax cuts
actually doubled revenues to the treasury. (see here, here, and here for
information about tax cuts and the Laffer Curve). His smaller government
approach turned our country around in ways no one could have expected. When
Obama said that he couldn’t fix the country in 4 years, I just look at Reagan
and see someone who DID fix it in four years, and did so without blaming his
predecessor.
By the end of his last year in office, inflation was reduced
to 4.1%. Interest rates fell to 4%. Gross Domestic Product went from a negative
to an average growth of 3.05% with some quarters growing at 4% or more. It was
the longest peacetime economic expansion in history. Unemployment dropped to
5.4% and 20 million new jobs were created. Families whose income was less than
$10,000 went from 8.8% to 8.3% (so those who say the poor got poorer during
Reagan are lying their butts off). Families making over $75,000 grew from 20.2%
to 25.7% as new small businesses were formed. Poverty dropped by 3% and the
median (not to be confused with average) family income increased by $4,000.
On the foreign policy front, the American hostages in Iran were
released shortly after his inauguration. American military strength was once
again respected in the world. Reagan was accused by many before his election as
being a “cowboy”, but he actually used the military quite sparingly. His peace
through strength philosophy brought the Soviet Union
to the negotiating table and was the first President EVER to negotiate an arms
REDUCTION treaty with the Russians. Because of the foundations laid by Reagan
during his eight years in office, it wasn’t long before the Soviet Block
collapsed and the Cold War was over. The United States had won, thanks to
Reagan’s leadership.
In 1986 when I turned 18 and was old enough to vote, it was
a no brainer. I eagerly and happily registered as a Republican.
Reagan was a great example of what a President should be. He
was firm in his resolve, yet polite in his demeanor. He stood for his
principles against the Democrats, but always treated them politely. Of course
he took the occasional jab at them, but did so with a sense of humor. He and
Democrat Speaker of the House Tip O’Neil met regularly and had a genuine
friendship, though the opposed each other politically. Reagan respected the
office of the President, and carried himself with an awareness of the office he
held.
Reagan also appealed to American’s hopes and dreams, not
their prejudices and fears. He told us:
“There are no great limits to human growth because there are
no limits of human intelligence, imagination, and wonder.”
“There are no constraints on the human mind, no walls around
the human spirit, no barriers to our progress except those we ourselves erect.”
Reagan helped us to see American as the shining city on a
hill, a beacon of hope and freedom for the rest of the world. The days of
malaise were over and America
truly WAS great again. But he also warned us that freedom must be fought for in
every generation. “Freedom is never more than one generation away from
extinction. We didn’t pass it on to our children in the bloodstream. It must be
fought for, protected, and hand on for them to do the same.” Truer words were
never spoken.
Since my first election where I was eligible to vote in
1988, I have been a loyal Republican. I have supported the Republican
candidates over the Democrats in every election. Even though some of the
candidates were not my first choice, I saw them as at least acceptable
alternatives to the Democrats. I was thrilled to see Newt Gingrich and the
Republicans win control of Congress in 1994 for the first time in 40 years. I
was enthusiastic about the Contract with America and the promises it
contained. I also saw the political climate get more nasty and bitter. From my
observations, most of it came from the left, but the nation became more
polarized. It became more Red vs. Blue than trying to do what was right for the
country.
Both George HW Bush and George W Bush disappointed me, but I
still believe that their performance was better than what Michael Dukakis, Al
Gore, and John Kerry would have been. I have seen what a disaster Obama has
been and know that John McCain and Mitt Romney would have been better than the
current administration, as imperfect as those candidates were.
But now enter Donald Trump. For the first time in my life, I
can not support the Republican candidate for President. For the first time I
can not tell which would be worse, Trump or Hillary. It is a true Sophie’s
Choice. Either way we lose.
I joined the #NeverTrump movement and I must echo their
sentiments. There were 16 other candidates running for the Republican
nomination that I could have supported and unified under. Any one of them could
have unified the party. Some would have a more difficult time than others, but
all 16 of them would have unified the party. Only one candidate could not. That
candidate was Donald Trump. We warned them that if Trump was nominated that we
would NEVER vote for him. In fact, his own supporters said that if Trump wasn’t
the nominee that THEY would walk away. Now they want us to support their
candidate as if our vote is owed to them. It was the Trump supporters that
foisted an unacceptable candidate on the Republican Party. It is their own
fault if Trump loses, not the fault of those who warned that we would not
support him. They did this over our own objections. They made their own bed.
Now they must deal with the consequences and take responsibility for their own
actions. We have waited 30 years for the GOP to nominate a constitutional
conservative. The Democrats are nominating their weakest candidate in history
and this was the year we could actually remind Americans through debate and
policy that conservatism actually works. Instead the GOP in its anger blew its
load on a pathological, narcissistic, sociopath.
The reasons I can not support Trump are many.
First there is the issue of temperament. The President of
the United States
must carry himself (or herself) with the decorum and dignity befitting the
office. He is the representative of the United States to the rest of the
world. He is also one who must work with the Congress to pass helpful
legislation and/or prevent harmful legislation. Trump has advanced himself
politically on the basis of personal insults. He did not go after his opponents
on the basis of issues. When he was embarrassed on the Hugh Hewitt radio show
by demonstrating his ignorance of foreign policy he blamed the host for giving
him “gotcha” questions. That quickly was dispelled when Carly Fiorina answered
the same questions with precision and clear knowledge of the issues, despite
not being prepared for the interview. Trump’s response was to insult Ms Fiorina’s
face. When a super PAC (NOT the Cruz campaign) created an internet meme calling
into question Melania Trump’s modeling career, Trump could have taken the high
road. He could have said something along the lines of, “My wife had a wonderful
career as a professional model. She posed for a well respected men’s fashion
magazine that is read by millions. I am very proud of my wife and her work. She
is a beautiful woman and will make a wonderful first lady.” Instead, Trump
tweeted out that he would “spill the beans” on Heidi Cruz and later posted some
unflattering pictures of the candidate’s wife. When confronted about this in an
interview in Wisconsin ,
he simply said. “He started it.” The interviewer correctly pointed out to Mr.
Trump, “That is the argument of a five year old.”
Trump did not stop there. He used The National Enquirer to
further go after Cruz, falsely accusing him of having multiple affairs. This is
coming from a man who admits that he frequently cheated on his own wives and is
currently on his third marriage. Not only that, but also accused Sen/ Cruz’s
father of being complicit in the JFK assassination, again based upon a story in
the National Enquirer. This is not Trump’s only foray into conspiracy theories.
He was a strong proponent of the birther controversy, suggesting that President
Obama was not an American. He went to that same well against Sen. Cruz and Sen.
Rubio. He also accused President George W Bush of being in on the 9/11 attacks.
Trump acts more like the tinfoil behatted rather than a President of the United States .
Trump also has misled the American people on the nominating
process for the Republican Party in an effort to demonize his opponent. The
rules clearly state that the nominee of the party must have a MAJORITY of
delegates, not a plurality. Just because one has the most delegates does not
mean one should automatically be the nominee. The fact that one does not have
the majority (1237) indicates that the majority did not support you. Delegates
are awarded by primary, caucus, or state convention. In every instance, the
voters of the states had the opportunity to make their voices heard. Trump
never complained when party rules favored him, such as earning ALL of the
delegates of South Carolina
when he only won 30^ of the vote there. Cruz understood the rules and competed
for delegates wherever he could. There is nothing underhanded about that.
Reports that Cruz was winning over Trump delegates failed to consider the
process. Of course, those delegates would vote for Trump on the first ballot,
but in order for the there to be a nominee, there needs to be a MAJORITY vote.
If a majority does not materialize on the first ballot, it would of course be
necessary for some delegates to change their votes on subsequent ballots in
order for there to be a nominee. Cruz merely made his case that he would be the
stronger nominee in the general election and would be a better President….that
is all. There was nothing dirty, illegal, or underhanded about his efforts.
Trump deliberately spun this as “stealing the election” away from him, despite
the fact that Trump had yet to win enough delegates to be nominated. He used
the ignorance of the American people on the process as another tool to unfairly
demonize his opponent.
Character aside, take a look at where Trump has stood on the
issues in the past. He supported higher taxes on job creators, including a one
time wealth tax. He has supported a single payer health care system. He has
supported the abuse of eminent domain to take property from private citizens
for personal profit. He has been a part of the problem, giving campaign
donations to far left progressives like Chuck Schumer and Hillary Clinton, even
praising Hillary as someone who would make a good president.
When it comes to limited government, Trump sees the
Presidency as a dictatorship. He wants to take unilateral actions that make
Obama’s pen and phone seem enlightened in comparison. When asked what the
proper role of the federal government is, he suggested that they should be
responsible for education and healthcare.
On foreign policy, he seems to think that he and Putin will
be best buddies. He has suggested that Japan ,
South Korea , and Saudi Arabia be
given their own nuclear weapons. He has suggested using torture on prisoners,
and going after families. This is the approach of a mafia godfather, not a
President.
Trump is no conservative.. His conversion to conservative
rhetoric is quite convenient. He has been a progressive his whole life and then
suddenly becomes a conservative when he decides to run for President? He has no
credibility. He has spent his entire life telling people what they want to
hear. I simply do not trust that he means what he says. In fact, he has already
backtracked on everything he said in the primaries by stating that his promises
where merely “suggestions”.
The very things that attracted me to the Republican Party
are sadly lacking in Donald Trump. Limited government? Nope. Constitutional
restraints on the Presidency? Nope. Free
market economics? Nope. Lower taxes? Nope. Appealing to our hopes and dreams
rather than our fears? Nope. Trump fails as a Republican all around.
I will not vote for Donald Trump. It saddens me that I can
not support the GOP for the first time in my life. I will vote my conscience and
simply let God sort out who is the true lesser of two evils….or the evil of two
lessers.
