Ok…
here’s what I see as the major question…
It’s
the next National Election Day. You’re a registered voter, you
take that right seriously, and you have set off to cast your vote
and let your voice be heard.
Are
you really, honestly, seriously, going to vote for Donald Trump?
Come
on… you’re not joking about that?
You
truly believe that he’s a valid candidate, and can pull the lever…
check the box… do whatever needs to be done in your particular
setting for voting in an attempt to have him move into the White
House and be our elected representative to the world?
Amazing.
And
I thought I was scared before. (To get you started -- “I
hope we haven’t met our next American President Part 1 – Who do
you want? Who wants to be President? and then
“I
hope we haven’t met our next American President Part 2 – There’s
something funny… except it’s so sad”)
After
covering a lot of ground in those two essays, I finished with
this thought…
“And
that is what politics in many ways has become. A joke. It’s
not reality any more. It’s not a true representation of the
best interests for the majority any more. It’s not the qualified
leading those who need leadership any more. Elections are a
game… and my life… your life… our country… are worth more than
that.”
I
have no clue how Trump is getting solid poll numbers, or where
his support is coming from.
Maybe…
just maybe… there are people that find his words inspiring, or
even refreshingly uncensored, and that they are truly representative
of his beliefs. (It’s something pure, in an on-going age of politics
where falling off the script and having opinions normally places
a big target on your campaign and signifies the end of your run.
Maybe.)
Again…
I ask… even if you are kind of smiling and enjoying Trump the
candidate… can you really vote for him?
He’s
already displayed himself to be less mature than a self-absorbed
child, completely unwilling to accept criticism, and possessing
an attitude directly in opposition to any concept one might have
of an effective political leader. In short… he’s a perfect ass.
And that’s a general impression without tallying up all of his
foot-in-mouth moments from just the past few weeks.
Certainly
you can’t deny his accomplishments in the business world. He’s
been able to find investors, supporters, and constantly be one
of the most financially successful individuals in the country
(and the world). Like him or not, the accomplishments are many
and significant.
But
I’m not sure that America is a business venture that can have
its profit and loss statements turned around through bankruptcy
courts.
(Ok…
that last one was a cheap shot. Still… come on… Trump for President?
THAT seems like a cheap shot where
the punch line will hurt all of us.)
Maybe
I’m expecting too much. Perhaps wanting someone that recognizes
that there are problems, respects us as a nation and as individuals,
and understands that we need leadership and results that work
instead of trailblazing for catch phrases and bullet points that
move poll numbers in the right direction is too
much.
Silly
me.
Here’s
how I finished Part 1 of those essays I noted earlier…
“…I
can guarantee you that if 70% of those eligible show up on Election
Day, politicians will be wondering what the hell happened. Because
none of them are expecting that many of us to invest the time
in our country’s future. That would bring about some interesting
conversations, and possibly even some changes.
So
do your research. Find out which candidate really will be the
best for you. You have some time… and maybe, over the next year
or so, some really interesting people to consider. And then,
vote. That’s the most important part. Not the actual person
you vote for… but to cast an actual vote for the one you want.
If
you want to avoid the same old game, you need to change the
game.”
Please,
please, please folks… do at least a bit of work, and then vote.
Let’s at least try to have an election season different than the
one that is beginning to take shape.