It is November 8th, 2024. We just had perhaps one of the most important elections in American history and the majority of Americans have overwhelmingly chosen a path that will change the country into something I cannot recognize. The country I knew, one that rightly or wrongly, we Americans considered a force for good in the world is about to change drastically. The mood where I am is one of gloom and dread while much of the rest of the country is in celebration.
The Democrats received a shellacking, there is no doubt about that. They have been overdue for some introspection since as shown, a majority of the country does not agree with them or the priorities they trumpet. This is going to take time.
Soon, I’ll take a trip through a few airports and will get a better sense of the overall mood. I’m wondering if things will seem generally normal or if I’ll see an increase in Trump apparel on those looking for an opportunity to gloat and deride anyone they suspect of being a liberal. My thought is that everything will seem pretty normal, but I cannot give Trumpers’ the benefit of the doubt as I’ve seen many “Fuck Biden” signs but not one “Fuck Trump” sign. Reading various forums on the internet I see instances of hate with school kids asking when their Latino classmates will be deported, and some signs about women saying “Your body, my choice.” I’ve not seen any hateful things like these directed the other way. I’ve also seen Nazi groups supporting Trump but consider them an extreme outlier not at all representative of the majority of Trump voters. Still, the animosity towards minorities, towards women lies clearly with the Republican side. I also think the Left has overused the words “racist” and “fascist” towards the Right.
For me personally, I learned to not share my political thoughts on Facebook or any other social media. I lost one very good friend during the first Trump term and am not keen on losing any more. I found it is not advantageous and I don’t learn anything anyway. To be blunt, the worst offenders aren’t very smart (although I like them anyway) and they’re just all wound up by Fox and News Max. The be completely honest, the worst offenders were ‘c’ students and never got any smarter. Again, I care about them and wish them well but politics have become their entire identity and they cannot avoid bringing up politics whenever given the chance. The majority are not like this, but for those that are, they’ll now be relegated to ‘old acquaintances’ for me.
For any reading this and instinctively believe I’m a Democrat, I am not. I’ve been a registered Independent before Trump appeared on the scene. I’m able to agree with various issues on both sides. I’m always open to debate and changing my mind, but before I’ll take anyone’s opinion seriously I’ll ask one simple question, “What issues do you agree with on the opposite side? You can guess that most have a hard time doing this.
You see, American politics is a team sport. Political affiliation has become part of many people’s identity. Like religion most people will agree with those around them. Most will form their opinions from ‘news’ networks which have become propaganda channels, extensions of one political party or the other. They watch, instead of read and thus have a very poor understanding of history, of the complexity of issues and simply hitch their identity and thought process to one side or the other to varying degrees.
Therefore, I thought it would be useful to write down my thoughts on Trump and how I consider this a disaster for America. Make no mistake, I’m against this new course America has chosen. Yet, being independent, there are some areas I agree with as well as areas I disagree with the Left. This is my personal blog and I write these to look back on in the far future, when all this is (hopefully) a distant memory just like the 1960s and its problems are for most today. This will be a running list as I can scarcely remember all the chaos Trump caused his first term and this next one will be much worse as the Democrats are almost completely exiled.
Before I get into my reasons as to why I detest the incoming administration here are a few of my opinions as to what I think is wrong with the Democrats and the main reasons they lost. The news is still doing the post-mortem so these are just my own opinions.
Trans Rights and Gender Issues
The Democrats have to stop making this issue front and center. I’m of the opinion to ‘live and let live’ and to be kind to everyone. Everyone has their own struggles and their condition is a fact of nature.
However, it was a mistake to make this issue front and center. The trans population is incredibly small and it could have been handled differently other than trying to force the issue down everyone’s throat and enshrine it in national policy. I think that most communities can handle it in their own way and hopefully their actions come from a place of love, which I find is more often the case when you actually know someone with whatever issue they may have.
Teaching about transsexuals, gender identity and related issues in elementary school? Hard no for me. The left went too far, to the point where it seemed as though they were advocating for it. I’ve heard of instances where a girl claimed there were 62 ‘genders.’ This is absurd. I’ve never been on board with the “they/them” and consider it ridiculous. I’m also not putting in “he/him” in my signature line. I’m not interested in how someone “identifies,” you can keep that to yourself. As I’ve told my son, since the Left makes it such a big issue in school, to be kind to everyone. Everyone has their own struggles and live and let live. However, we do not need to be “cheerleaders” for it and frankly I’m not going to use “they/them.” ‘You’ will do just fine as a pronoun.
A Broken Border – Illegal Crossings
Having studied Spanish for many years of my life as well as spending significant time in Mexico and other third world countries I’m empathetic to the migrants. These are people just trying to better their lives and my heart really goes out to them. From a one-on-one perspective I’d say I wish them all the best and to go for it.
However, from a national perspective ‘rules are rules and you gotta have rules.’ We need a secure border and everyone must go about immigrating in the correct way.
From my own understanding over the decades it didn’t appear to be a political thing until the Republicans sensed an opportunity and used it in bad faith. I remember George W. Bush floating the idea of amnesty for them. From my business background, I figured employers liked these undocumented immigrants since they could pay them much less. What is good for business is good for the Republicans (and to a lesser extend the Democrats as well) I figured.
As for the Democrats I always thought they dragged their feet due to the humanitarian aspect and perhaps these new arrivals would simply benefit them in some way politically.
The border needs to be fixed, no doubt about it, and neither party has clean hands. I was shocked when the Democrats gave the Republicans everything they asked for but then Trump directed the Republicans to reject it. This was a case where a problem could have advanced towards a solution and the Republicans used the challenges of real human beings for political purposes. Furthermore, I was aghast at the first Trump administrations policy of splitting kids from their parents at the border and then to kick dirt into they eyes of someone down, visited and wore a coat with “I don’t really care, do you?” on the back. For Republicans who tout their Christian credentials, what would Jesus say about this. I think you know the answer or you’re lying to yourself.
As for busing migrants to Democratic cities I think it is deplorable but can understand given the Democrats not taking action. However, the Dems eventually caved in and Republicans rejected their own proposal! Now, there is no excuse, they use the trials of real human beings for their political gain. This is inexcusable. Republicans just call them murders and rapists when these are just people trying to better their own lives. Republicans are the worst ‘Christians’ I’ve ever seen.
Where are the calls for cheating in the election?
Trump was poised to contest results, file lawsuits and was already posting about cheating in this election. All of that went suddenly quiet when he learned he was winning decisively. The Democrats accepted defeat graciously and honorably. If the Republicans had lost would they have done the same? Of course not, there were calls for violence, for Civil War. Any child can should be able to see which is right and which is wrong. When Republicans win the system works, when they lose they claim there was cheating and rigging.
The Big Lie – Claiming the 2020 election was “stolen.”
The election wasn’t ‘stolen.’ I’m still unable to understand how so many could go along with such a blatant lie. I’ll never forget the violence on January 6th as directed by Trump. How could so many Americans go along and ignore this? I don’t have any answers and it makes me incredibly sad.
COVID – Trump called it a hoax.
1.1 MILLION Americans have died due to COVID. The infection wasn’t Trump’s fault but many of these deaths are. He first claimed to have ‘created’ the vaccine and then urged his followers to reject it and not wear masks. He did this while he himself got the vaccine as well as special treatment from top doctors when he caught the infection himself. He did not listen to science but instead advocated for idiotic other ‘cures’ such as getting sunshine, taking horse dewormer, and perhaps injecting bleach. Does any of this make sense to a rational person? It does not. I find it idiotic that I even have to point this out.
Calling COVID “Kung Flu”
I’m tied to Asia and was absolutely repulsed that so many laughed at this. This resulted in a lot of animosity, and in some cases violence, towards Asians and it really hurt to see so many I know continue to support Trump. One should expect more from the President, this should be a given! These people have shown their true colors and I can never forgive.
Military Veterans
Trump called those who died or were captured in foreign wars “losers.” He didn’t attend a Normandy event because it was raining. He used the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier for a political picture and one of his staffers assaulted the worker there. Yet, he doesn’t lose support. This is definitely cult-like behavior.
**This will be a long post and I will continue to add to it. But I’m going to go ahead and post as I want my reasoning out there in the world. Much more to come.
