As the 2016 Republican primary continues to move forward and into second gear; Donald Trump also continues to dominate in the polls. Whether or not he actually gets the Republican nomination and then goes on to win the general election is still up in the air nonetheless, the question needs asking, would a Trump Presidency be a good thing or a bad thing for the country?
To start, let us look at the theme of Donald Trumps’s campaign message, “Make America Great Again.” First of all what exactly does he mean by making it great again? Lots of countries/nations throughout history have been considered great; these include, but not limited to the Roman Empire, the Soviet Union, and even Nazi Germany; all were considered “great.” Great does not equal good necessary, for there are many levels of what makes one great. Historically the United States of America has been a great nation because it was a good nation. By good I mean that it was a moral nation, a nation of ideals, and the people. Indeed, our very Constitution begins with “We the People.”
So what does Trump mean when he says he will “Make America Great Again.” Does he mean morally good and Constitutionally good or does he just mean great as in being a military, economic, and world leader again. Don’t get me wrong, those three things have been good for America (indeed the world) in the past, but only when it has been paired with and came as an afterthought to a “good” nation. What Trump represents is a knee-jerk reaction to events and the loss of status/leadership of the United Staes in the world. But the way he would most likely go about fixing such is not by returning the United Staes back to its roots of being a good moral nation but by being the “strong man” to other nations.
There is also where Trump stands on the illegal immigration debate and the letting in of refugees from the Middle East. Now both are serious problems that require fixing in this country, with regards to how we currently handle both. But what Trump is proposing is that for the first, we get rid of them and build a giant wall; and for the second, don’t let any in at all because a few may or may not be linked to Islamic Terrorism.
For the illegal immigration issue, yes, we need to secure the border and solve the problem of those here in the United States illegally, but we can’t just deport them, for one it is not practical and for two completely inhumane. As it regards securing the border, a wall may very well work, but it is not the only thing that will, and certainly not by its self. Now for the refugees and the possibility of terrorists coming into this country to do harm, through them. Yes, there is always that threat and yes, we can’t guarantee we will be able to screen/prevent all of them. But it is impossible to prevent all attacks and provide perfect security, especially in a free society. The only way to do so is in a police state.
Look, when it comes to protecting the country from Islamic State and other Islamic Terrorist groups, the best we can do is be on our guard, take several precautions here and there, such as running as thorough background checks possible on all refugees that we let into the country as best we can. But we will never get 100% and we should not let that stop us from being who we are as a nation and welcome with open arms, those who are fleeing for their lives.
Back to Donald Trump and why else he is a bad idea for the Presidency of the United States; this point I feel the most important and that is the fact that he only cares about himself. For the Donald, it is all about him and nobody else. Everything and everyone, he sees as how can they benefit him. There is the rub, we are already nearing the completion of eight years of one narcissistic president, we do not need nor can we afford another.
I understand that the vast majority of Republican voters (indeed all of America) is upset and angry with the party establishment and that of Washington as a whole; I am too, but that is no excuse for picking the first and loudest voice to be the nominee for President of the United States. Whoever it is that is chosen, will represent and be a representative of the parties’ views and ideals. Because of this, voters must think long and hard about who they vote for and why. They cannot do so on emotion. That there is the problem with Trump; he does not truly represent the Republican (IE Conservative) values. He is only taking advantage of voter anger and emotion for his own gain and views/agenda; whatever those may be, only he and God knows. Whatever else he may be, he is a demagogue and he must not become the Republican Party’s standard bearer, let alone the President of the United States of America.
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