It is crunch-time for the citizens of this nation. Much is at stake. This election is one of those times when we are forced to make a choice between two very different options. It is a yes-no, either-or, forced choice test. In this case it is between 2 candidates representing two very different parties and with very different approaches to governance, which will determine the future direction of this nation and the type of leadership we prefer. We, as voters, can decide not to participate, sitting out the election or voting for a third-party candidate which will be taking a vote away from one of the candidates, in this case most likely the Democrats.
The differences are stark!
On one hand we have the Republican Party and their candidate Donald Trump, who in spite of, or perhaps because of his many character flaws, seems to be the darling of a sizeable chunk of American voters and seems to have an incredible hold on nearly all of the leadership of the current Republican Party despite his rejection of the results of the 2020 election and his involvement with the January 2021 attack on the Capital.
Trump’s leadership style appears to be much more authoritarian than what has been typical of past American leaders. It appears to be focused on rejection of American inclusivity as well as a rejection of the traditions of American liberalism. It is about providing a system of top-down proscribed answers on such issues as abortion and education. It includes certain tinges of racism and anti-immigrant frenzy, and finally he threatens to attack and punish his enemies, if elected. There are also the hints that perhaps he, again, may not accept the election results unless he wins.
As models for his leadership style, he suggests authoritarian leaders like Putin of Russia and Orbán, of Hungary. All of this suggest an end to much of what has been the American tradition of democracy.
On the other hand, we have a Democratic Party and its candidate, Kamala Harris, representing a continuation of a less than perfect system of democracy, but democracy, nonetheless. Her focus is on healing a divided nation, redeveloping the middle class, and on serving the ordinary citizens of the nation.
There are issues that are not very directly addressed like the issues of social justice, the issue of the power of an economic elite, the overwhelming issues of global warming vis-a-vis the limiting of oil and gas production and finally a foreign policy that seems to prefer confrontation and conflict over negotiation, even in the face of the genocide going on in Gaza where our power is the key to any real solutions.
It’s not that Trump and the Republicans would handle these issues much differently, but ordinary Americans see these as challenges that must be
confronted if Harris and the Democrats win.
I understand the frustration and anger of many ordinary Americans about a life that is not very friendly to them anymore, of an economy run by oligarchs, by the less than stellar leadership, by a dysfunctional Congress, by a less than perfect judicial system; and yet the urge to burn it all down in frustration will leave us with a nation of ashes, and out of the smoke, the rule will be, as it always has been, that “might makes” right and those with the money and the resources will rise to power and control the destiny of the people, and of this nation.
As I said at the beginning, this is crunch-time, this is a forced choice situation. You can either vote to continue our less-than-perfect democracy with its traditions, hoping that we can find solutions together: or you can vote for a reduction of democracy and the rule of a strong man, a ruler bent on vengeance against those who do not agree with his vision of the world as well as those who do not accept his version of events in the past.
I know what my choice is; it is Kamala Harris and the Democrats, and that choice comes with a hope that she and the Democrats will find the courage to make some changes in direction and restore a democracy that can resolve problems for the ordinary citizens and rebuild our international reputation.
Well said, Bob!
On November 5th, 2024 (or sooner, for some early voters) when we cast our votes, everyone should remember what Benjamin Franklin said in response to a question posed to him by a woman who encountered him as the Constitutional Convention adjourned on September 17, 1787.
Elizabeth Willing Powel's question was: "Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?"
Benjamin Franklin answered: “A republic, if you can keep it.”
On November 5th, 2024, 237 years after he gave that answer, we will decide whether we have a republic or a monarchy!
Rob Scarlett