This election is said to be the most important election ever, perhaps in our lifetime or even in several lifetimes.
It represents the culmination of the polarization of this country; the Democrats to the side of liberalism and the Republicans to the side of conservatism and free market economics. The Democrats, under Hillary Clinton, have become committed to progressive reforms and fixing the issues of inequality and rising healthcare and education costs. The Republicans, under Donald Trump, have embraced the old positions of nativism and protectionism, not prominent since the 1920s. They have also been transformed by Trump’s rhetoric and are embraced by a sort of populism, embraced by many sinister white nationalist elements. Hillary Clinton faced a great primary challenge from Bernie Sanders, who represented the strength of progressives and liberals. Third party candidates like Gary Johnson and Evan McMullin have also gained appeal since both major party candidates are widely disliked by at least a significant chunk of the American populace.
It seems that it must be hard for the average Joe to decide who to vote for. After all, the media is so negative about both candidates. But one thing is clear, I can say; Donald Trump is a terrible choice for President. He has never held a position of elected office or public service before; his real-estate business has been through 4 bankruptcies and his major success comes from being a celebrity. He has lied multiple times about his opposition to the Iraq War. He also hasn’t shown his tax returns at all. He claimed a huge loss in 1995 and for subsequent years, he paid no income tax at all by exploiting that loss. And is now being audited by the Fed, probably for lying on his tax returns. Donald Trump also defrauded many people with his Trump University program, lying about what the program entailed and not hiring qualified instructors. It is clear that while Hillary Clinton is often accused of being a liar, Donald Trump is actually a liar.
He has also made many misogynistic comments. He called Rosie O Donnell a "pig" and began a feud with her, threatening to sue her multiple times. He belittled 1996 Miss Universe Alicia Machado and almost ruined her career. He insulted Megyn Kelly after she refused to take his crap during the primary debates. And let’s not forget that tape from 2005 where he brags about touching women and getting away with it. His campaign tries to cover up what he did and sugarcoat it, but the truth is that Donald Trump thinks he can do whatever he wants with women and get away with it, as evidenced by his accusers. He is a chauvinist pig whose misogyny is only matched about his ego.
Not to mention that his temperament is utterly unsuited for being President; Donald Trump speaks his mind, but is prone to insulting people and making wild claims. He claimed Ted Cruz’s father was involved in the JFK assassination, claimed Bill Clinton was a rapist, claimed he fathered a black son back in Arkansas, claimed that Hillary Clinton is rigging the election in her favor, and that Hillary Clinton started the birther movement back in 2008. He also is vague about his economic plans and plans for war; he merely criticizes the current policies of Obama and just says he could do better. He has no real plan to deal with the crisis in Syria and ISIS; his only idea was to ban all Muslims from entering the country. His plan for immigration similarly lacks enough nuance; he wants to round up and deport millions of people and build a border wall along the border with Mexico to be financed by them.
These outlandish ideas indicate his real lack of substance; but why do his supporters buy his crap. Why do millions of working-class white people feel captivated by his extreme message? They have been desperate for decades, losing jobs and self-respect in the face of globalization and outsourcing. They have been abandoned by the Democrats and used by the elitist Republicans for their own gain. They see Trump as someone who cares about them, an outsider destined to demolish the establishment and make America great again. He speaks to their prejudices and fears, their frustrations and dreams. I understand why they feel the way they do; I oppose the focus of many Democrats on identity politics and targeting specific groups of people, instead of a race-neutral and gender-neutral platform. I know they are, at heart, hard-working and honest people, and they deserve a better America just like people of other races do. But Donald Trump is not the answer.
The Founding Fathers warned about the potential of a demagogue taking power, an “American Caesar” backed by the masses. Someone who exploited their dissatisfaction to usurp power and kill the republic, subverting the Bill of Rights and suppressing the Constitution. Who is Caesar? Caesar was a Roman politician who gained fame as a general, conquering many nations for Rome. At the time, Rome was locked in conflict between the patricians and plebeians, which was threatening to destabilize the Republic. Caesar was the champion of the plebeians, who wanted more food, better living conditions, and more say in the administration of the Republic. Caesar used his military might and popularity to crush his rivals in the Roman Senate and assume control. He declared himself dictator of the Republic and set the stage for the rise of the Roman Empire, but he passed a series of reforms aimed at helping the people. Yet he ruled by force and blood, assassinating many of his rivals and even old allies. He was eventually assassinated by a group of Senators who opposed his totalitarianism, but he had permanently changed Rome into an Empire. And while the Roman Empire was great and powerful, all had to pay tribute and worship the Emperor as a God; there were frequent assassinations and civil wars in the Roman Empire. And it eventually collapsed once the Emperors could no longer retain control.
Donald Trump is similar; he is a populist and demagogue intent on seizing the Presidency. While his method is more democratic, his intentions are similar to Caesar’s: power and fame. Whereas Caesar was an excellent general and a skilled ruler, Trump is an egotistical blowhard who’s only real talent is grabbing attention for himself. He admires Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-Un for their toughness. And see, Putin has effectively taken over Russia by imprisoning and allying with oligarchs and stamping out opposition politicians and media; the media is mostly controlled by him. And Kim Jong-Un runs his country 1984-style with constant surveillance and brainwashing, people worship him as a God. Trump wants to imprison Hillary Clinton if elected; he threatened to do so in front of her on the debate stage. He wants to deport anyone and rule by decree. His personality and methods look to be devastating. He wishes to deal with the Black Lives Matter movement with more force and police guards. He is truly a threat to American democracy. There is only one way to deal with his threat; not voting for him. Do yourself and your country a favor, vote for anyone but Trump.
