Editor,
Political pundits rightly criticize Democrats’ failure to identify issues that appeal to voters other than their shared dislike of our unlikeable president. It shouldn’t be difficult to identify why voters must defeat the Republican agenda as soon as possible:
Medicare, Social Security, Medicaid and other social services are destined for extinction.
Our shorelines are in danger of being ruined by oil spills, while funding for clean ups have been all but eliminated. Environmental regulations are being gutted so that big corporations can make more money at the expense of the earth and its people — which is to say, at the expense of everything else.
Environmentally fragile national parks are open for drilling.
Trump does nothing to strengthen civil rights. Of American Nazis and Klansmen: “There are good people on both sides.” Racism strongly motivates his lack of support for DACA and other fair immigration policies. Puerto Rico has been shamefully neglected and one would reasonably conclude the Trump sees little value in supporting minority people who cannot vote, even though they are U.S. citizens.
Public education is being deconstructed through withdrawal of funding and support.
New tax reform favors the rich and further promotes income inequality. He cynically manipulates elections by disenfranchising voters — e.g. arbitrary voter ID laws, closing voting sites, restrictive voting hours, gerrymandering. He denies — despite strong, cross-verified evidence — Russian interference in our presidential election, leaving us vulnerable to further hacking and advantaging puppet candidates by adversary foreign governments.
Degradation of our institutions and attacks against any person he views as an “enemy.” Mr. Mueller has a sterling reputation, and yet Trump smears the investigation as a “witch hunt.”
Finally, the tweets of this president identify him as an immature, narcissistic, disorganized president incapable of dealing with the job and with other world leaders. In fact, the U.S. is in more danger from attacks by North Korea because of his silly, bullying remarks. I am appalled that he permits his inexperienced children to sit at the table with world leaders as if every day were “take your kids to work” day.
Voters need to know that things won’t get better without their vote.
Americans have a responsibility to act on the freedoms we have in this country. Nothing is more important than voting for leaders that represent us.
Paulette Becker
Langley
