If Donald Trump is a reflection of New York values, or worse, the embodiment of contemporary American values, then we are defeated before we have started fighting. What are Trump’s values? What does he actually propose?
He is self-revealing, a man light on substance, clueless on the issues, brash to the point of ridiculous, rude and divisive beyond reason, ranging from amoral to immoral depending upon his shifting personal priorities.
Last summer he presented himself the grand builder negotiator, playing off voter rage, promising to “build a wall”, and “make America great again” by renegotiating all trade deals and forcing American companies to “bring American jobs back”.
Trouble is, most illegal immigrants do not walk across the southern border. Most come by other routes. So what good is a wall?
Trouble is, a President does not have legal or moral authority to order companies about, but of course that has not prevented Obama from acting like a king, the very thing Trump pretends to oppose, even as he promotes it. Think for a moment. The man actually suggests passing out nuclear weapons because “they’re going to get them anyway”. This alone ought to sober a few people, driving them to recovery.
So we make America great by destroying what made America great in the first place? We make America great by building an unnecessary wall and starting trade wars all over the place, and providing several countries’ nuclear weapons? We make America great by becoming the very things our enemies accuse us of being? We make America great by burning the Constitution and going back to King George? We become great by worshipping self and selfishness and hoarding and picking unnecessary fights globally? This is winning?
Donald Trump, in life, and in the political sphere, has shown he is very good at a few things: self-promotion, schmoozing Republicans, funding Democrats and causing strife, division and mayhem. He now commands a huge mob of frenzied people who cannot or will not have an adult conversation. Slander, gossip, innuendo, suspicion and threats drive his campaign. These are great American values? Do you think his performance governing will be any different?
Threats, violence, and the politics of pervasive destruction driven by unrestricted emotionalism are reasonable solutions? Trump would have us believe that celebrating immorality, pretending civility, contradicting true American values, and promoting war and conflict across the board are the means to our salvation.
Rather, he paves the road to hell, assisted by people who have not thought this through, or by people who have thrown out thoughtfulness altogether. Nominating such a man will be disgraceful. Nominating him will confirm we have forsaken the principles that once made us great.
Electing him, or Hillary or Bernie, will be the final verdict, a continuation of the madness revealed in 2008, proving we are no longer worthy of the liberty and prosperity delivered by the grace of God and the sacrifice of millions of good people during the course of the last 300 years.
Image: Donald Trump podium via photopin (license)
