I have never written anything original of a political nature. I have shared a number of anti-Trump posts before. Now it’s time to actually speak out. If you are a Trump supporter and this offends you, at least read through to the bottom. If you would like to discuss this, feel free to make constructive, rational comments, and state which of the nine points you would like to address. To keep this short, I have not loaded it up with references to news articles or Internet posts, but they are easy to find.
- He has no qualifications for high political office. He only has experience in business and entertainment. No one should be President who has not been a Senator, a Governor, a general, a judge, or some kind of government leader. Government is totally different from business. He’s not even that good at business - just look at his list of failed ventures. Many of the businesses where he has made money are not the kind that produce products, many are the kind that just take a commission from other people’s earnings, such as real estate and licensing. Mostly, he’s successful at leveraging some perceived value of his name… lots of people want to be associated with rich people.
- He is intentionally appealing to the emotions of those who want to get rid of incumbents and insiders. Of course, like many people I would like to see change in government. But just being different does not mean he would be any better, or even adequate at the job. Here’s an analogy: if you don’t like the job an electrician did at your house, next time you need electrical work you should hire a better electrician. Don’t go hire a garbage man just because you want someone different.
- He appears to sympathize with you. Everything he says and does is intended to appeal to your emotions and your unconscious mind, so you will vote for him even though your thinking mind knows better. Actually, he has nothing in common with you. He will leave you in the dust as soon as he gets what he wants.
- He lies. Sure, you can say all politicians lie… but he changes his story all the time and then denies he did it. That’s the lying pattern of a spoiled child.
- He appeals to your sense of outrage, blaming your (perceived) problems on others. That drastically oversimplifies the actual causes of problems. It’s a way to get elected, but it’s not a way to lead.
- He has been able to bully people to get what he wants. That is a terrible approach for someone who is supposed to be a role model. Is that what you want your children to emulate? That approach will only make leaders and citizens of other countries hate America more.
- He incites violence from his followers. That is totally unacceptable in a leader, and that alone should be enough to cause any civilized person to reject him as a candidate. He is systematically undoing 50 years of progress in civil rights, tolerance, and inclusion.
- He has been able to pay people to get what he wants for his entire life, so he thinks people will do what he says. That approach will not work with a legislative and judicial branch that do not report to him. He does not know how to work with people.
- He does not care about you. He does not care about America. He only cares about himself. Several people who have worked for him and for his political team have come forward to say this. His entire career shows this.
Nine big problems. There are more, but that’s enough. You might be able to argue with a few of these, but I don’t see how any rational person can come up with arguments to counter all of them.
No one should refrain from voting in this election. Anyone who fails to vote against him is passively voting for him.
Every thinking person should turn away from Trump and vote for someone else - anyone else is better. But I suggest you not waste your time voting for a minor party candidate who has no chance of winning (American Independent, Libertarian, Green party). It might make you feel better, but it will be a wasted vote. You would need to actually vote for a candidate who has a real chance of defeating Trump.
Anyone in the Republican party who dislikes Trump should not be afraid to listen to their conscience and vote for the other party's candidate. That would not mean you are no longer a Republican, it would just mean you don’t like the Republican candidate this time around. This is very difficult for people to do if they strongly identity themselves with the party! But it’s the decent and responsible thing to do. You do not owe allegiance to a party which violates your values. If the party turns itself around, go back to them next time.
I’m a “No Party Preference” voter. I make up my mind independently for each election. I vote for some Republicans, some Democrats, some others, depending on their qualifications for the job and what I can learn of their values. For President in this election, I support Bernie Sanders. If he does not get the nomination, I would support Hillary Clinton because I feel so strongly that Trump must be defeated.
