An Open Letter to Trump Supporters

I suspect that, at this point, people who support Donald Trump's candidacy for President of the United States fall into two main categories:

• Racists, Sexists and Xenophobes – no explanation necessary
• People who have completely lost faith in government and would prefer to blow the “MF’er” up

To group number one, I feel sad and sorry for you.  It is tragic to think about how terrible your lives must be that you choose to blame your personal circumstances on the weak and marginalized among us. You represent the absolute worst of our instincts, and the absolute opposite of the principals that conservatives in this country claim to fight for.  These people simultaneously complain about the “takers” who rely on the government instead of “pulling themselves up by their bootstraps”, while blaming their lot in life on everyone but themselves and their own actions. 

  

To the second group, I have much more empathy and understanding.  My frustration with “politics as usual” and the unrelenting protection of the status-quo in Washington is genuine. I believe that the two party system creates an environment where we are too often forced to accept the lesser of two evils.  I believe that the influence of money in politics, combined with an inexplicable lack of term limits for legislators creates a breeding ground for corruption.  I believe that political maneuvering has, and continues to, erode away at the bedrock of the representative Democracy that we speak so passionately about.  Through years of gerrymandering, voter suppression, and due to the over-sized influence of special interest groups and lobbyists, my vote continues to lose value relative to some.

 

A number of years ago, I was part of a group of rebellious citizens who cast a vote for a former wrestler and movie star to “shake things up” a bit.  Whether or not I would vote the same way again, I’m not sure.  What I do know is that Governor Ventura was not up to the job, as he proved far too weak to navigate the ugly world of politics.  He was unable to accept criticism, far too unwilling to compromise, and generally unable to follow through on most of his ideas.  Had he run for a second term, he would not have gotten my vote again.  In any case, I am not immune to the temptation to cast a “protest vote” as recently occurred in the United Kingdom.  I am also not reckless enough to put our security and respect in the world and global economy at risk to prove a point. 

If you are interested in my thoughts on how valid a Trump vs. Ventura comparison is, go here.

If you are still tempted to give up on our Democracy in this election, I ask you to consider a different course of action.  Use your vote at the local and state level to elect people who will truly fight to restore the legitimacy of our representation.  Pledge your support to those who actually support the ideals that our founders laid out in the Constitution.  Pay attention to those who fight for more people to vote, rather than fewer.  Support those who truly want to eliminate the influence of money in politics by requiring publically funded elections, overturn Citizens United, and limit the outsized influence of special interest groups and super PACs.  Listen to politicians who have the courage to enact term limits so that politics become an honorable duty, rather than a profitable career.  Support legitimate 3^rd party candidates who are more in line with your actual beliefs, rather than one of two highly funded special interest groups who are only accountable to a select few insiders. 

Whatever you do, please don’t cast your vote for a careless, joke of a human being whose only motivation is to promote himself and his selfish interests, at the expense of everything else, including our national security.