Sunday, March 20, 2016

The Positive Argument for Donald Trump

Although I am not a fan of Donald Trump, nor a supporter, I do understand his appeal.  AND, I think if many of us liberals think for a minute, we will also understand his appeal.
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We liberals often have wondered why people vote Republican when it is not in their best interests. We feel they would be better served by a government that is on their side, not on the side of the richest of the rich.  Our understanding is (wrongly) limited to deciding that they are voting by hate.  "They" hate gays, or women or blacks and enough to punish them rather than vote their best interests - we assume.  President Obama's election has reinforced these assumptions.
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So let's look another way - we are liberals and open to rethinking, right?
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Let's assume you are a nice main street Republican.  You're a good person, you help your friends, contribute to charity and generally like your life.  Many voices; some churches, Fox News, talk radio, etc. - tell you over and over that people who are not like you, hate you.  Gays, Feminists, people dependent on the government (Food Stamps, Welfare, etc.) are willing to destroy your way of life to perpetuate theirs.
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And when you talk to them, they are angry.  They (the liberals) sue people who don't want to bend to their way of life.  They can't live and let live . Now - I think this is not true, but look from their point of view.  They only see us through the prism of pride marches, ACLU suing against religion and people demonstrating against the police (who have treated everyone you know with respect and keep the peace).
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For years, the Republicans have promised that if you vote Republican, things will change for the better.  Change will roll back and everyone (except welfare recipients and the "moochers") will benefit.  Immigrants won't take your jobs.  And you vote for these Republicans - but nothing changes.
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George Bush didn't change much for you - in the end (except crashing the economy, which the Republican media has blamed Obama).  Electing a Republican House of Representatives didn't change anything.  Electing a Republican Senate didn't change anything.
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Now comes Donald Trump who calls bullshit on the Democrats and Republicans alike.  You like that he says it like it is.  Now me (Scott) thinks that is crap.  I see him as another con-man and liar.  But for many people he is a different type of non-Politician.  Maybe it won't get better, but voting the same way over and over again is doing no good.  So our republican friends aren't crazy, they are simply trying something different.  The same vote for the same Republicans hasn't helped yet.
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