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Chambersburg Public Opinion
Supporters of Donald Trump highlight his achievements in areas of the economy, judicial appointments and foreign policy. Others express concerns about potential perils of a second Donald Trump presidency.
These concerns center on a list of pitfalls, including erosion of democratic norms, threats to the rule of law, unpredictability in foreign policy, management of public health crises, social polarization, environmental setbacks, economic growth, and reversals in civil rights and social justice.
Here is why a second Donald Trump presidency is risky.
1. He tends to undermine our democratic norms by refusing to accept election results, promoting baseless claims of widespread voter fraud, and attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election. Unfounded actions are threats to the strength of our electoral process.
2. He yearns to be an authoritarian leader. He attacks the free press, the judiciary and his political opponents. These behaviors weaken the checks and balances on which we depend for our way of governance. Attacks are aimed at consolidating power under his control. Donald Trump paints himself as a benevolent leader — except those who benefit from his benevolence seem to be his big-money supporters and co-conspirators.
3. He does all he can to intervene in our fair and balanced judicial process. He grants pardons to political allies and attempts to influence legal proceedings. He does what he can to erode the rule of law. This includes the weaponization of the Department of Justice. During a second term, Donald Trump promises to further politicize the Department of Justice, using it to target political adversaries and protect allies. This undermines the impartiality and fairness of our legal system.
4. His foreign policy proposals are characterized by unpredictability and a preference for bilateral deals, rather than multilateral cooperation. This approach destabilizes our relationships with alliances and undermines our security. His stance toward authoritarian leaders, such as Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un, raises concerns about the U.S. aligning more closely with autocratic regimes and distancing itself from democratic allies.
5. Donald Trump’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic was mismanaged, contributing to millions of deaths and continuing suffering by those afflicted by long-term COVID. He displayed a lack of coordination and inconsistent messaging, while downplaying the risk. This is a sure indicator of how he would mismanage future risks as well. The problem is that he dismisses or undermines scientific and expert advice in public health, environmental policy and other important areas. This yields ineffective crisis management and long-term policy making.
6. He makes use of divisive and inflammatory rhetoric to exacerbate polarization, leading to increased social unrest and weakened political cohesion. The Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021, highlighted how he agitates to incite violence among his supporters. A second term could see more of such incidents.
7. His deregulatory actions included rolling back numerous environmental protections and withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris Agreement on climate change. This has long-term negative consequences for the environment and public health.
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8. Donald Trump’s trade policies, including tariffs on Chinese goods, led to trade wars that hurt American farmers and businesses. Continuation of such policies would further disrupt global trade and harm the U.S. economy.
9. The tax cuts introduced during Donald Trump’s first term increased the federal deficit while benefiting super-rich supporters and doing little to assist the rest of us. A second term would yield even more of the same tax policies.
10. Continued rollbacks of protections and rights for minority groups of any color or persuasion are policies that will eventually diminish everyone’s rights.
The enemy is not our government or our democracy or people who do not think the way we do. The enemy is that piece within each of us which allows a would-be authoritarian to manipulate our teapot of grievances into a storm.
Nothing about our way of government is perfect. But a bull in a china shop ain’t gonna make it better. It will only break all the good stuff we hold dear.
Bill Gindlesperger is a central Pennsylvanian, Dickinson College graduate, Pennsylvania System Of Higher Education (PASSHE) Governor, former Shippensburg University Trustee, awarded numerous patents, as well as Founder and Chairman of eLynxx Solutions. eLynxx provides cloud-software for sourcing and managing print and mail marketing. He is a board member, campaign advisor, successful entrepreneur, published author and commentator. He can be reached at Bill.Gindlesperger@eLynxx.com.
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Publish date : 2024-08-13 21:00:00
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