Tensions can be traced to opposing world views
In the coming political season, voters need to choose candidates wisely. Too many people choose a political candidate simply for his or her pleasing personality or because they make great promises in 30-second TV sound bites. But voters should fully evaluate the candidates before voting. For instance, during the primary season, Ted Cruz was my first choice. And Donald Trump was my last choice because of how he talked and his history. But after the primary, Trump was my only choice. If I didn’t like Trump, why did I vote for him? Because there are other important criteria to consider before voting for or against a candidate. As Obama said, “Elections have consequences!”
To receive a political party’s support, candidates must pledge to support the party’s core philosophies. And between the parties, many of the opposing policies are non-negotiable polar opposites.
For instance, Democratic leadership believes the government can give or remove our rights. They say there are no absolute truths, and that our Constitution and Bill of Rights are evolving so that there is a “separation of church and state.” They believe abortion is a right, and gender is fluid. They want more government regulations, higher taxes, and limited law enforcement. Democrats believe anyone can vote. They want to abolish ICE, open our borders, have unlimited immigration, and be part of a new world order.
Republicans believe the “Constitution is the supreme law of the republic.” As our Declaration of Independence states, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” They revere the First Amendment, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof ... .” They believe unborn babies have the same “right to life” as all people, and they defend the biblical definition of family and marriage. Republicans want limited government, lower taxes, national sovereignty with secure borders, and that only citizens should vote. They want strong law enforcement and ICE; They know that the Second Amendment is necessary to secure our Bill of Rights.
Since these contrasting positions aren’t negotiable, it is important to know which party a candidate supports. Sometimes, we may not vote for a candidate as much as we vote against the opponent. For those of us in the “basket of deplorables,” who are “hanging onto our God and our guns,” we voted against Clinton more than for Trump. And now, I’m glad we elected President Trump, and that he is trying to keep his promises, like moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem.
ALLEN MERRITT
Rogers