FAIR AND BIASED: Will Trump Make America Great Again? Time will Tell!

Sunday, November 13, 2016

Will Trump Make America Great Again? Time will Tell!

Weekly Opinion Editorial

TRUMP ELECTED IN UPSET!

by Steve Fair

Donald Trump is President-elect. Winning five states that Romney lost in 2012, Trump finished with 307 electoral votes (270 are needed to win) to Hillary Clinton’s 228. It appears that Clinton may win the popular vote, but that is not definite until all the votes are counted (that takes a couple of weeks). If that happens, this will be the second time in modern history and the fifth time in American history where the president won the majority of the electoral vote, but lost the popular vote. It happened in 1824, 1876, 1888, and 2000. In the last three, the Republican candidate won the presidency with less popular vote than the Democrat, but a majority of the electoral vote. Immediately Democrats and some misguided Republicans called for the abolishment of the Electoral College. Expect the issue to come up again in the Oklahoma legislature by some clueless lawmaker who slept through civics class and doesn’t understand the genius of the Electoral College. Let’s turn to how Trump won.

First, he tapped into the disgust and anger the American people have with the political class. He won five states that Republicans haven’t won in 20 plus years. He understood what James Carville famously said in 1992; “it’s the economy stupid.” Trump was elected by people who have been affected by the expansion of regulations on business and industry. They are either unemployed or under-employed. Manufacturing has fled the upper Midwest, with Detroit losing nearly one third of their population in just the last decade. Normally, the union vote overwhelmingly goes to the Democrat, but not this year. Trump’s promise to bring manufacturing back to America resonated with the blue collar union members and Hillary was viewed as continuing Obama’s policies, which have decimated Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Ohio jobs. Clinton should have listened to the Ragin Cajun(Carville).

Second, Trump made the election about two things: Clinton’s lack of trust and Obama’s failed policies. Clinton had a major creditability gap and even her supporters admit she had trust issues with voters. Trump promised during the campaign he would appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the email scandal and Benghazi. Most likely, he will have to follow through, but I seriously doubt Hillary will serve time. Trump also did a masterful job of pointing out the failure of Obama’s policies. The timing of the announcement of 40% plus price increases in premiums didn’t hurt too much either. Obama’s war on coal and other fossil fuel has cost Americans money and jobs. His foreign policy (or lack thereof) have cost American lives.

Third, he got his vote out. By relying on the Republican National Committee’s ground troops, Trump was able to concentrate his campaign’s efforts on big rallies and inspiring people to get involved in the political process that had never darkened the door of a voting booth. That was why the pollsters got it wrong; they were not talking to the previously unengaged voter. Trump’s supporters were people who were on the voter rolls, but seldom if ever voted. Obama tapped into that same mentality in 2008. Trump’s campaign had energy, a necessary component in most successful campaigns. Conversely, Clinton didn’t inspire her supporters and it is apparent some stayed home and didn’t vote at all.

Fourth, Trump sold his message that he is the outsider. That is an undisputed fact- Trump is not a politico. The last time American elected a non-political type to the presidency was in 1952- 64 years ago- when Five Star General Dwight D. Eisenhower won in a landslide over Illinois U.S. Senator Adlai Stevenson. Unlike Trump, Eisenhower was known to Americans because of his leadership in the military. Trump was known as a reality television star, but he convinced Americans to try something different than the political class to lead the country.

Is America a center right country? A center left? The political junkies, on both sides, will ‘spin’ the election results to support their pre-determined conclusion, but the fact is that America is a polarized, divided country. Trump won’t unite the country and if he rolls back some of Obama’s giveaway policies, there will be weeping and wailing, especially from those who are on the government dole. America is far from being great again, but perhaps there is hope if Trump keeps his campaign promises.

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Why FAIR & BIASED?

FAIR- because that's my name and BIASED because the truth is we are all biased- either for something or against it. What's important is that our bias(opinions) are based on right- on absolute truth and not on changing values. What's right cannot change based on a change in circumstances. That is the basis for situational ethics.

Situation Ethics is a theory that is concerned with the outcome or consequences of an action; the end, as opposed to an action being intrinsically wrong. In the case of situation ethics, the end can justify the means. There are no absolutes. Your actions are guided only by your conscience.

A person's view of right can be subjective. But there is a way mankind can definitely know what's right and that is revealed in God's Word- the Bible. As His creatures, we should be biased toward things our Creator is for and biased against those things He is against. May God grant us the grace and understanding to know the difference.

PARTY AFFILIATION IS IMPORTANT! by Steve Fair- written in 2009

How important is political party affiliation? Some people mistakenly believe only politicians need political affiliation, which they use for support to get elected. They contend the electorate or voters, do not need to be aligned with any Party. These same people often state they “support the man, not the Party.” But whether they recognize it or not, they are supporting a party when they “support the man.”
Most of the Founding Fathers had a negative view of political parties. In his farewell address to the nation, George Washington warned about political parties saying, “However [political parties] may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion.” In spite of Washington's warning, political parties were formed anyway.
From 1796 to 1828 the first political parties were formed. Starting with the Federalists and Anti-Federalists, two opposing factions arose. Each was concerned with how the new government was to be organized. The Federalists believed in a strong central government. Their philosophy and beliefs would closely mirror the Democrat Party today. The Anti-Federalists strongly supported the rights of the states. They would more closely align with Republicans today.
Since the mid 1800s, the Ds and Rs have been the two major political parties in our country. Political parties flourished in our government mainly for legislative organization and expediencies sake. Why is Party affiliation important for the average voter? Party affiliation is important for three very simples reasons.
First, party affiliation is the first vote a citizen casts. When a citizen registers as a Democrat, then they are aligning philosophically with the values, beliefs, tenets, and positions of the Democrats on the issues. Party affiliation “defines” you are and what you stand for. It should be taken as seriously as a vote for a specific candidate. Research what each Party stands for, their positions on issues, and then align with the Party that is closest to your values. Copies of both major Party platforms are available on-line or at the local library.
Second, legislatures organize themselves and conduct business using party affiliation. The legislative branch of government is the most powerful arm of the three branches of government. Legislative bodies hold closed meeting of party members, called a caucus to decide on questions of policy or leadership. The Republicans hold a caucus meeting and the Democrats hold a caucus meeting-both at the state and federal level. Unfortunately, conservative, moderate and liberal philosophies do not hold caucus meetings or control the legislative agendas- parties do. When someone says they vote for “the man,” not the party, they fail to understand the power and function of a caucus system in a legislative body. The Party in the majority controls appointments, Chairmanships, the agenda and countless other things through the caucus.
Third, party affiliation should be a matter of conviction, not convenience. Often, people align with a party so they can vote in primary elections or based on family tradition or geographies. Even candidates will align, file and run affiliated with a Party they have little philosophical agreement with. That decision is made out of convenience, not conviction. While no political party is perfect or has all the answers, there is a distinct difference between the two major parties and honest citizens should align with the Party that reflects their convictions.
The Democrat Party is more liberal than the Republican Party. Liberals believe in more government control of business, the environment and speech, using large bureaucratic programs to address real or perceived social ills and constant reinterpretation of the Constitution. Liberals are more inclined to trust government than the people themselves. They see the role of government as a great provider of goods and services and have little faith in the individual to solve his own problems.
Republicans are more conservative than Democrats. Conservatives believe in less government control of the environment and business. They want fewer and less comprehensive government programs to address real or perceived social ills. They believe in personal responsibility and trust individuals to make decisions for themselves. Republicans believe in a strict literal interpretation of the Constitution. A person should find out which of these philosophies best fits their view if they wish to actively participate in the political process.
Party affiliation is important. Washington’s prophecy has come to past, and political parties have been used to empower “unprincipled men,” on both sides of the aisle, but like it or not, political parties are a reality in our system of government. Each concerned citizen should evaluate the philosophy, values, beliefs and tenets of each Party and align their party affiliation accordingly.

FAIR AND BIASED

Sunday, November 13, 2016

Will Trump Make America Great Again? Time will Tell!

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PARTY AFFILIATION IS IMPORTANT! by Steve Fair- written in 2009

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