Odd as it may seem, this presidential election is being fought between the normal and the weird, the logical and the fantastical, and the old and new America.
How did we get here? Well, battle lines were drawn with the Covid-19 pandemic that continues to roil our collective consciousness.
Despite this potential cataclysm, the country mostly pulled together, made sacrifices, and amazingly here we are back on our feet with the world’s strongest and most resilient economy.
So why aren’t we taking a well-earned bow?
Because of inflation, stupid!
But every developed country suffered from inflation, many much worse than us.
You don’t get it, man, we Americans are exceptional, such things shouldn’t happen to us!
Unfortunately, supply chains failed to reopen quickly enough, Putin invaded Ukraine, the Houthis threatened shipping lines, and we pumped bucketfuls of money into a collapsing economy to get it functioning again.
Since we live in a free market society, prices shot up and we paid them, though common sense often screamed out, “You gotta be kidding me.”
The rate of inflation has dropped to a healthy 2.4%, but prices will remain high as long as we’re willing to pay them. It’s called capitalism, and no one wants to deprive big business of its continuing profits.
The good news - we’re blessed with a booming economy. Unemployment is currently 4.1%, wages are beating inflation, household incomes are up, financial markets and 401Ks are at an all-time high, and with interest rates dropping the housing market should soon begin to thaw.
The pertinent question in this election is – do you want to risk it all?
Because make no mistake, Donald Trump’s plan for across the board tariffs of 20% with a 60% special on China could send our economy reeling.
His claim that the penalized countries will pay for our tariffs beggars belief. Remind you of Mexico forking out for his wall?
In reality, China et al. will just increase their prices, and John and Mary American will end up paying the piper, causing another rush of inflation; not to mention, the aggrieved countries will raise tariffs on our exports which could lead to a trade war. Welcome to “weird” and say goodbye to a booming economy!
Whatever the rights and wrongs of Mr. Trump’s mass deportation of illegal immigrants, the economic consequences will be severe, especially on the agriculture and construction sectors, and will certainly lead to higher wage costs and increased inflation.
The Harris economic plans seem normal by comparison, and tend more towards Biden Light (not a bad thing). She offers some decent social improvements including Medicare payments for home health care, but the eye-catcher is her proposed $25K downpayment to first-time house buyers.
A little on the generous side, Madam Vice-President, considering that the national debt now exceeds $35 trillion?
Oh, for the days when the Republican Party was fiscally sensitive. But with the “King of Debt” offering scattershot tax cuts that have been estimated to cost up to $15 trillion over the next 10 years, fiscal sense is a rarity in both parties.
And how about logical versus fantastical? I give you the “J6 Hostages.” Bad enough that President Trump refused to accept the will of the people, both in electoral college and popular vote, but he still lauds his “patriots” who ran riot through the Capitol Building, injuring 174 police officers and leading to the deaths of 4 others. He even promises to release jailed rioters!
As for the battle between the new and old Americas. It boils down to the choice of swallowing a daily diet of lies, paranoia and conspiracy theories or voting for democracy, the rule of law, and common sense.
At some point most presidencies face an existential crisis. Covid-19 rear-ended President Trump and found him wanting. Anyone for a healing shot of bleach?
His ambivalence about vaccines has led to dissent and distrust nationwide, so much so that the next lethal virus will have a head start and take many lives before it too is stalled.
As Hurricane Helene has shown in Asheville, no part of the US is immune from the effects of global warming. So who do you want in the White House - someone reasonable or a myopic conspiracist who claims that climate change is a hoax?
The choice is stark. Do you favor normal or weird, logical or fantastical, and what kind of America do you wish for your children, one driven by lies, exaggeration and misinformation or fact, science and reason?
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