Thursday, January 14, 2021

First, make two columns

Whether a Democrat or Republican, a Trump supporter or not, take an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper and fold it in half length wise. At the top left column, write OBAMA. At the top right column, write TRUMP. Then write the numbers 1 through 15. For each president fill in the numbers with policies YOU believe have helped the American people.

I'll start with Obama.

#1. His race lifted the pride of many black people causing them to vote in unprecedented numbers. I don't discount this--pride, a sense of self worth even if borrowed, is important.

#2. His race lifted the burden of guilt for racism and personal bad behavior from the shoulders of millions of Americans who sighed with relief.

OK. I'm done with that column. There's something to be said for feelings, although as policy, it's pretty weak. And that race thing has certainly come back to bite us as it was fertilizer for BLM, Soviet style reeducation classes in critical race theory and the virus of Woke.

I'm aware that many Democrats would put Obamacare at the top Left, but when you look at the loss of insurance for millions who already had good insurance and liked their doctors/hospitals and then lost them, it wasn't a sound plan. Certainly not for "feelings." Compare those 85% to those 15% uninsured who received very expensive, poor insurance or who had never signed up for one of the government plans already available, In my opinion, it was a very poor and expensive swap. Also the mandate to buy a product or be fined or go to jail was a very bad precedent.

Now for President Trump.

#1 Life. Protection for the unborn, the disabled and the elderly. Although the Democrats responded with powerful penalties against the unborn--like no aid for those born alive if intended for death, even in the 9th month, he supported both with his person at pro-life events and actions the unborn. I'm a one issue voter, so of course, LIFE would be at the top of my list. President Trump was dedicated to advancing policies that protect the fundamental right to life for the unborn, the elderly, and the medically dependent and disabled. Democrats in Congress, who spent 4 years trying to impeach him, saw abortion as pitting the rights of the child against the rights of the mother, and abortion as an act of political courage and charity, to combat poverty and poor health. The President believed Americans were better than that.

#2 Protect and advance lower income Americans were key for the President. Lower taxes and better jobs help the poor far more than one more government program which primarily goes to the middle class bureaucracy. Lowest unemployment rate in my life time. Lower taxes did nothing for those who paid no taxes at all (close to 50%), and for that the Left criticized him. Pelosi called it crumbs. It's hard to give back what the government didn't take.

#3 The border was strengthened with moral, physical, technical and political walls. This directly affected #2.  The flood of illegal immigrants has hurt American workers for decades. This brought attention back to legal immigration, one of our strengths which builds the country. It also brought attention to the "sanctuary city" controversy, where local governments use our tax money to expand their population which enlarges their state representation which hurts the entire country.

I've got more, but I need to go to the store. I'm sure you can think of a few issues specifically important to you. And if you can find anything good about Obama's administration that I missed, please add that.

No comments: