Policies are what should matter
Why do supporters of Trump follow his lead, smearing opponents with bugaboo labels like “Socialism” and “Communism?”
Why not spend the time to differentiate Trump’s known policies from Biden’s promised policies? “Kamala Harris is snuggly ensconced with the radical socialists who have taken control of the U.S. House of Representatives” tells us nothing about policy at all.
I could just as easily say that Trump is snuggly ensconced with the dictators of two Communist states, Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un. By extension, therefore, he must be a Communist. But we know that isn’t true. At least, I’m pretty sure.
Rather, I think Trump is attracted to tyrants and despots because he fantasizes having that kind of power. But, what I think about Trump isn’t important, either. What should matter to all voters is the policies of both and how we each perceive those policies align to our needs.
Rich Ragland, Koloa
Reach out with our words, not swords
“Radical Socialism references Marx’s awesome skateboarding skills” — internet wag. An opinion letter to the editor on Sept. 30 gave me pause. It claimed “…(VP candidate Kamala) Harris is snuggly(sic) ensconced with the radical socialists who have taken control of the U.S. House of Representatives.”
I am reminded of conversations that took place in 2010 with Joan Blades — co-founder of MoveOn.org, and Mark Meckler — cofounder of the Tea Party Patriots. They each brought two of their compatriots together to discover where they align on issues. They found agreement on 90% of the issues they discussed. He has stated “language really matters,” and she has said “If I am open and listening, some solutions will emerge.” They founded the nonprofit organization “Living Room Conversations” (.org) in 2010 as a result of the transpartisan partnership focused on bridging divides through conversation. Their friendship reminds me of the relationship the late Justices Scalia and Ginsburg enjoyed.
So, who benefits from the discord sown by enemies foreign and domestic and various media pundits like Limbaugh? We’re the UNITED States of America. Let’s reach out to each other with our words, not swords, for understanding. Cui bono?
Susan Oakley, Wailua Homesteads
Why does the garden island newspaper continue to ignore the large pro Trump parades? There was one yesterday on Kauai but nothing. That size was a big deal for this small island.
Nice touch, Rich. I think Donald Trump just likes to appeal to the greater population. Not just USA. The people of the world. I think he cares nothing for communism and Putin. But yet he appeals to being on good grounds with the Russian cosmonaut. He’s reward is that we view him as that. Whatever he likes.
Wow! Rich! Great idea!! We should have Trump and Biden focus on their policies and not on smearing one another! But wait? Trump has proven and demonstrated real “policies” by keeping every campaign promise he made in 2016. He fought for and accomplished nearly everything he promised. You know, peace with Israel and the Arabs, Embassy moved to Jerusalem, manufacturing jobs back to America, relief for veterans, prison reform for our black brothers and sisters, negotiating new and better trade deals, cuts in taxes and regulations, lowest unemployment rates in History for Blacks, Hispanics, and Women, and so much more! Let’s see now, what were Biden’s “policies” again? The green new deal? Nope, he just said it wasn’t his deal and AO Cortez got her panties all in a twist last week, Tax relief? Nope, he wants to raise EVERYONE’S TAXES INCLUDING JOB CREATING BUSINESSES! Oh yes, Biden’s “policies” of free health care, free abortions for all, free sex change operations, clothing, housing, and educations for everyone! Including for as many ILLEGAL immigrants that can break the law and step one foot in our Country? Yep, that’s his policies! I’m trying to figure out what piece of legislation Biden offered and that became law during his half a Century of sucking off the Government tit and making himself and members of his family rich? Damn! Can’t think of one?
I know, let’s just pick the most hilarious falsehood and compare and contrast. Personal enrichment by self and family. donald J (for genius) trump has broken all records for this and found ways to enrich himself that have never been done or tolerated before. When they are through, in a couple months, his family will have earned second place, third place, fourth place, etc.!
Huh?? Comparing three accomplished, hard working, clean, family oriented, successful, working and achieving in actual business, children to Biden’s drug addicted, kicked out of the Navy, won’t pay child support for his bastard child, failure of a son? Biden helping his failed son make millions from China and the Ukraine because his father used his position of trust to bribe the foreign countries for which he was overseeing billions of tax payor dollars designated to our American Government, and using that foreign aid money he controlled as a bargaining chip to suck money from those companies to his family, while bribing them to fire a prosecutor who was investigating his low life son? You’re smarter than that!
Dear Susan Oakley, if you want to reach out to each other with our words, not swords, for understanding, we must get rid of man-child tRump, the most divisive, lying (and interruptive!) person who has gained the office of the Presidency.
We must also vote out, or silence, Mitch McConnell and the other sycophants who cozy up to this autocratic wannabe, as they firmly believe in “my way or the highway’. And we must fight the “11th hour” nomination of Judge Barrett to the Supreme Court, so unfair to Merritt Garland, President Obama, and the American people.
If we do not, the American public, most of whom apparently agree with my assessments, will never “align” with the the Republican party or with the sick news media, especially Faux News, which are desperately trying to perpetuate the status quo.
For me, it is all about policy. Which party has not condemned the violent protests in major cities? Which party has not condemned the de-funding of police agencies? Which party is calling for the nation’s immigration department to be shut down? Which party attacks a Supreme Court candidate on their Christian beliefs? Which party has the highest rate of poor city and state management in the nation? Which party wants to raise taxes constantly? Which party rewards the “wanters” and the expense of the “earners”? Is either party filled with angels? No. But which party is unfortunately clearly misaligned with core American values? GOD BLESS AMERICA!
When did telling lies, racism, white Supremecy, disrespecting women, disrespecting the disabled, disrespecting veterans and battle casualties, disrespecting other nations and their leaders and people, etc., become American Values?
You’re correct. Those lies you listed are just an attempt to redirect common sense thought to a position of mental illness – Liberalism.
Mr Ragland’s supposition is that Trump has policies to share with the country. Laughable! The repubs didn’t even bother with a platform at this year’s coronation…er, convention, opting instead to jettison years of conservative tradition and dogma in favor of surrendering completely and utterly to the cultish thrall of Trumpism. Trump himself couldn’t articulate a policy for a post-election future even when sycophant State TV reporter Sean Hannity lobbed the question at him twice in the form of huge softballs that a blind low-level campaign operative could’ve whacked out of the park—if there WERE a policy to articulate. Trump instead pivoted to his grievance list. Which means…there are no policies, only more of the same whim-du-jour, maga manifesto, transactional, reactional, drawn-from-the-Fox/Breitbart-fever-swamp, own-the-Libs playbook he sponges from whoever was on Fox that day. Oh, and let’s undo more Obama stuff, who can we-hate-tweet today, and….where’s my wall?
Now that’s how to pack a paragraph!. It’s gotten harder and harder as the list got longer and longer!