I have always considered myself to be politically independent. I find value in some of the notions and ideals espoused by the democratic party, the republican party, as well as other independents. As such, I try to vote based on who I believe is most capable of executing the duties required of a position, not any one party affiliation.
Being an independent is challenging. I would argue that it is more challenging than aligning myself with one party. I don't get the comfort of an "in-group." I have no "us." There is no easy "them" to demonize and hate. Yet all the time people from either party assume that I am sympathetic to the other. "He's not one of us, so he must be one of them."
So, to my republican friends and family, I know that when you read what I have to write, many of you will be inclined to think "oh he's just a liberal." I'm not. I'm also not a conservative. My world, like the real world, is not black and white. It is complex and intertwined. It has nuance and subtlety. Because of this, it often requires effort and carefully chosen words to articulate exactly how I feel and what I believe. And, I almost always walk away feeling like I could have done better. So, frankly, I usually don't even try. In this singular instance, however, I feel I must.
Donald Trump is the worst president this country has had since it was formed. He is selling this country out and continues to behave in a way that fulfills an adversary's goals while damaging our own. He has moved this country from an environment of political deadlock and petty infighting to a regime of full fledged corruption.
Donald Trump and his enablers do not consider themselves beholden to the constitution nor to the norms and laws that are the foundation of this republic. Worse, they are acting to undermine and dismantle it.
If you are a republican and still reading, I commend you. The natural response at this point would be to dismiss what I just said - "he's just a stupid liberal." Allow me to assure you again: I am not. Nor, however, am I a conservative.
I am not writing this to convince anyone to change their party affiliation, to alter their beliefs, or to adopt some different ideology. I am writing this because the people currently in charge of the republican party - the people that are currently leading the republican party - are doing so *in name only*. Ignore their words and focus on their actions. For their words belie their true goals and nature.
There are many good Republicans out there. Some of them are even in my family. And while I often find myself disagreeing with their positions, that is not what I am writing about today. I respect that reasonable people can disagree.
I do not believe that a good, reasonable person can disagree on this. When Trump was first elected, I was willing to chalk it up to a reasonable disagreement between intelligent people. Now that I have endured almost four years of this despot's reign, I cannot. I have seen how this man conducts himself. I have been subject to his constant stream of lies and falsehood. I have watched him wipe his ass with our constitution and laws. I continue to watch his apathy and carelessness as more and more of my compatriots die during a pandemic. These things are irrefutable and the evidence is overwhelming should you actually seek it with an open mind and in good faith.
So, to of all of my family and friends, I will ask two things. First, please do NOT vote for this man. Second, if you consider yourself to be a republican, please try to clean up your own house. At least try to fix it. If not for you, if not for me, if not for the over 228,000 people that have died, at least do it for our children's futures.
And no matter what, I still love all of you - my family, my brothers, and my sisters.
Help refine the foolishness
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