I have been asked to answer the question: “Why do I vote Democrat?” The answer is not a simple one.
When I was younger, I voted Democrat because my parents did. They had lived through the Great Depression and were firm believers in FDR’s New Deal. They believed that government could and should help people. That made sense to me. I could see that there were people with money and power and used those things to get more money and power, often at the expense of others and the world at large. It seemed to me that only government had the power to reign in these people. Further, government could level the playing field so to speak, and make sure even the poorest and least able among us had access to the basic necessities of life. It seemed that Democrats supported this notion and Republicans did not.
As I grew older, I made my own observations. I saw when Republican presidents came into power, the first thing they did was cut taxes for rich people, claiming they would use the money to create jobs for everyone else and the benefits would “trickle down” to everyone. I saw them cut benefits to poor people claiming that rich people and non-profits would fill the gap—the “Thousand Points of Light” theory. That theory didn’t pan out either. It seemed that Republicans supported and advocated for the rich and the Democrats for the poor and middle class.
So how do the Republicans keep getting elected? The answer to that one is easy: they lie. They tell people they are going to cut taxes, and they do—but only for rich people. Consider the Pawlenty administration. During his time in office, he nearly bankrupted the state government and borrowed from the school fund to cover the deficit. When The Democrats took over, within a year the school fund was made whole, and the state budget showed a surplus.
I know there a lot of people who say it doesn’t matter who is in office. Often this is an excuse for not voting. I say it is your duty as an American to vote. I say the non-voters are responsible for Trump being president. I know a lot of people, while they didn’t like Trump said “I don’t know about Hillary”; In spite of the fact that all the investigations into her alleged misconduct never revealed anything illegal. The accusation alone was enough to put people off. I say it is alright to vote against something.
So, look where we are now. We have an ex-president still promoting the lie that he actually won the last election; in spite of all the evidence that he lost, and the election was free of fraud. He and his minions are still trying to get power. We see where that power is heading. A woman’s right to choose is in jeopardy. Mass murder is commonplace. White supremacy groups gain power. Individual rights are being eroded. I don’t believe that all republicans are evil. Many, like the two on the January 6 committee, have integrity and courage. But the Trumpites are like a cancerous tumor consuming the Republican party from within.
I am afraid for America. Are you? I say it is time to stand up for America. I say is time to choose. Do you want an America that is led by Fascists, where money is power, privilege rules the day and individual rights have no meaning? Do you want an America where violence rules the day? Or do you prefer an America where there is Rule of Law, where individual rights are respected, where church and state are truly separate, where there is a safety net for all and even the most powerless among us has the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness? The choice has never been clearer.
I say it is time to rise up; time to stand up for what is right and good. Gandhi said when you find evil, you must oppose it. I say it is time. I say every thinking American should not only vote, but advocate for the “not-Trumpites”. Vote Democrat.