One of the most uncomfortable things to do is talk politics and incur the potential wrath and disappointment of those you respect and love. I have avoided this blog for many months and as a rule I avoid politics and religious topics in my blogs, but rather focus on the funny, the banal or on content for my company Learning Frames.
I don’t take this this position lightly, but I feel that I have to share what I believe and value.
In a small way, I look at this movement in my lifetime like this quote from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum:
First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
I’m digging deep to find my bravery and make a stand.
There’s nothing perfect about either party or either candidate. We would all be served better if President Trump spent more time on teleprompter than on Twitter. Truthfully and realistically a person of pure virtue and character that I want for the presidency doesn’t exist or at least is not on the ballot this year.
I am voting for the future and for the party the best represents the kind of America that I want for my children. I really don’t care for or about President Trump. I’m looking at this from the perspective of probability or the odds. What are the odds in the next 4 to 10 years that our country will radically change to look like the party in charge? Playing these odds it seems to me that it’s more likely that traditional values and constitutional mores and norms will be preserved by one party over the other. That might be a good thing or bad thing based upon what you value.
Here are some key things that I value and why I’m not voting for Trump:
Seeking and knowing what is true is a paramount, lifelong pursuit.
- Tell the truth or at least try to avoid lying. I don’t want to be a part of a culture that shuts down any intellectual dissent. Freedom of the press and free speech are paramount to knowing the truth. I only see one political party that relies more consistently upon rhetoric and logic rather than emotion, intimidation and concealment of agendas.
- Paradoxically, even though Trump is the most stringent critic of the press he has never threaten to remove the press or suppress freedom of speech.
Freedom is the counter balance to tyranny.
- For decade’s radical concepts, theories and maxims have been taught in universities at the expense of other traditional ideas. Freedom of thought should not be suppressed. What I see happening is that alternate views are suppressed by fiat. I believe in diversity of thought and any group or association that is unwilling to hear alternative ideas to the point of yelling them down with words or violence is against freedom.
- You might not be burning books but you are flaming contrary or alternate ideas out of your atmosphere. This not healthy individually, nor for our country.
- What political party more consistently supports the suppression of alternate views?
Repair the foundation rather than build something new.
- I believe the constitutional experiment deserves another hundred years before we fundamentally transform the Supreme Court or Electoral Colleges.
- Capitalism with all its unfairness must be preserved to maximize freedom. Odds are there’s only one political party that wants to do this. The constitutional experiment should continue and I’m dubious of any other form of government, no matter what it’s labeled or what it masks to be, than can give as much opportunity to normal citizens as this country has under capitalism.
- Radical change might be needed, but not through violence, but only through argument, persuasion and thought. Civil rights suppressed is justice denied. I have no tolerance for biased law enforcement. However, reform over replacement has to be the logical course forward.
- I believe freedom maximized through rule of law makes people better.
- I believe the quest for complete fairness is a fairy tale.
- I believe accountability makes people free and happy.
- I believe the most generous country in the world can solve poverty and racism if given the proper incentives, reciprocated by accountability and opportunity.
My worst fear is that the radical left will create a totalitarian society, suppressing truth and freedom; creating the fictional world of 1984. I hope that’s an exaggeration, but that fear propels me to gravitate toward a party and a platform that preserves free speech and intellectual acceptance of diverse ideas.
This election is either meaningless or it lives up the hyperbole and it is a choice between traditional constitutional values verse a radical socialist experimental departure.
To quote a Benjamin Franklin anecdote: Franklin was walking out of Independence Hall after the Constitutional Convention in 1787, when someone shouted out, “Doctor, what have we got? A republic or a monarchy?”
To which Franklin supposedly responded: “A republic, if you can keep it.”
I frankly don’t know how important this moment in history is. But I will vote for the only choice that contributes to the odds of keeping what I value in this country for another 4 years.
If you disagree with any of these points, please know that I may disagree with you also, but I’m not going to ‘cancel’ you. If you cancel me because of my beliefs, that says more about your character than my beliefs.
So you now know why I ‘m not voting for Trump, I’m voting for my country and for the future.
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Why are there so many earthquakes in Idaho? Because Idaho grows potatoes and potatoes have carbs. Carbs are bad for you and bad for the earth. Also Idaho has cattle and cows. This non-vegan lifestyle is why the Earth is rejecting Idaho.
learning from your failures 