I was going to have some fun with Republicans since Donald Trump is doing so well in the polls, but I thought I would hold off for the moment and try to write a serious article on the subject. Since the late 1990s it has been my displeasure to watch the Republican Party spin out of control. They used to be an organization hinged on logical conservative economic values, and social justice. To be a Republican meant that you wanted to live your life, and be left alone. No one was peeking into your bedroom to see who you slept with, and your money was your own. Economic policies were geared toward providing protection for our country, and social policies that rewarded those who worked.
I don’t think that’s a bad thing in which to aspire. However the party has spun so far out of control that their standard bearer is a four time bankrupt, two time divorced, hotel executive who has less desire to promote the country than he does his own brand. This is sad to me. He’s a salesman and a carnival barker. He’s not a serious candidate for the office, nor will he ever be President of the United States.
Candidates for both parties have always swung toward the middle road when it came to general elections. That has happened less and less over the years with the Republican Party. They have flocked toward the fringe in such a way as to become less relevant. If you have a candidate who is racist, sexist, and completely out of touch with the American way of life then you have a candidate who can’t get elected. Nor should they.
I’ve done this, and I know you can too, but if you sit down two people from either party with diametrically different perspectives on the country, I bet you can get them to agree on three things: People should be able to earn a good living, our borders should be secure, and those in need should get help, not handouts. That’s it. Where we all differ is the degree to which those values are applied. The rest is steeped in religious dogma, and foreign policy. Until they pay taxes, I don’t think church leaders have any place in American politics and I don’t think 99% of the population (including Congress) has a clue on how to deal with foreign policy issues. Dealing with other countries is like dealing with teenagers. Your level of influence only goes as far as your level of control. For the most part it’s a little bit of authority and a lot of luck.
Just like most businesses used to be focused on the customer instead of the investor, most Republicans used to be focused on businesses to get voters working rather than for investment into their political campaigns. The pool of beneficiaries to their political decisions grows smaller and smaller each year as the rich get richer and the employed become the working poor. We have to ask ourselves what’s wrong when someone who works two jobs still qualifies (legally) for food stamps. Is it there fault, or is it a system that thinks if their multi-billionaire boss gives them a livable wage it will take away from the funding they provide to political candidates?
The greatest gift Republicans could ever provide to the Democratic Party is to nominate Donald Trump. This will virtually guarantee another four years of Democratic leadership. Donald Trump is a comic book character, not a Presidential candidate. Serve him up if you want, but the outcome won’t be in your favor. We need serious political discussion in this country, and there are serious contenders for the Republican nomination. Trump is not one of them. Do yourself a favor. Send the Donald back to hole from which he came. Amateur hour is over. It’s time to focus on the professionals.
Rex