Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Where We Stand, Where We're Going

Since 1981, when Ronald Reagan took office as President of the United States of America, we have seen  the wealth of a small minority of Americans grow to unprecedented heights and the middle-class begin to recede. They are today the first generation who do not believe their children will be better-off than they have been. Both Republicans and Democrats have said clearly that "the American Dream is dead".

During these decades we have seen the Republican party nominate men who were patriotic, experienced, intelligent, kind and in a couple of instances extremely wealthy. They represent the Conservative political views of the country and in the case of the wealthy candidates, the very small minority. These men have had the support of racists, activist Christians, the super-wealthy and almost entirely older white people.

There was no plan for them to select these presidential candidates, but in so doing they have made it clear they approve the paternalistic, sexist, racist views in America and they approve the current economic system which is failing us.

They have no plans to improve America. They only want to continue America's preeminence in the world and to continue globalization of trade, so the giant financial empires can expand. They say they recognize problems in America, but they then offer no paths to solving those problems.

These Republican candidates who have become president have also appointed Supreme Court justices and other Federal Court judges who enforce these ideas on the law, even if only by unconscious biases.

During these same decades the Democrats have selected two candidates who became president. Each came into office during a recession and had to face very large issues. President Clinton corrected the economic problems, worked the debt down to a balanced budget, spurred the economy to reduce unemployment fom 7% to 3.75% and tried to create a federal government healthcare system to help uninsured people gain healthcare insurance or at least the healthcare they needed. During this time there were numerous problems, not least of which was the Republican House victory in 1994, and subsequent impeachment. Tens of millions of people were employed!

President Obama came into office at the beginning of a terrible economic collapse not unlike the beginning of the Great Depression. He solved the initial problems associated with that within a year and then began a long slow economic recovery (which is common with financial recessions). To date the economy has newly-employed over 10 million people. He also caught and killed our great terrorist adversary, Osama bin Laden. And, most notably, a new healthcare system was put into place to help more people get coverage.

Republicans stated from day-one they would not work with him and they would try to ruin his presidency. This has limited the gains which might have been made. Thus, the economy is growing, but the nation has lost tremendous wealth (from the initial recession) and not regained that fully.

The Democrats have been trying to ensure the economic system works and that everyone gets a better share of the benefits of their labors.

The current Republican candidate, Donald Trump, is the absolute worst example of Conservatism. He believes women are dogs, that you are either a winner or a nothing. He believes that people of color are all criminals and that being rich is all that matters. He panders to the racists in the nation and has the endorsement of the Ku Klux Klan.

Even he has noted that the economy isn't working well for everyone, but he has a career of exploiting people and refusing to pay people for their work. He loves the current economic system because he has benefited from it hugely. You can't expect he would favor any changes which benefit someone whom he considers incompetent.

The Democratic candidate for president is a woman, a tireless fighter for improving America, a voice for people who have been stifled by the elite, a glass-ceiling breaker and a real leader. She knows the problems middle-class Americans face and she has plans to help solve those problems. She wants to change the system to make it better. She has the experience fighting the Republican 'army' and she has risen to the top to be the most prepared candidate for the presidency in America's history. I'm with Hillary!

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