Put me down as a republican who is looking for change.
I could probably caveat that I'm moderate on a couple of issues, but Trump is the first Republican leader that I decided not to support. So, for those who will dismiss my opinion out of hand because of this, so be it. However, I will say that claims that a Republican could only have a differing opinion from Trump if they were brainwashed by the media are part if why I think he has to go. That's a cult-like way of thinking.
Being in the right, being strong of conviction, and unwavering in our stance, should be something that is solid and proactive, not reactionary. Some of the Trump supporters react...Republicans who disagree are sellouts. Democrats who disagree are liars... This motivates most of the base, but loses "the middle" and "the young" long term. The middle are between 10%-20% of the voters. Our elections since 1988 have been decided by less than 10% of the vote. "motivating the base" shouldn't mean "alienating the middle/undecided."
1) It is an age long and universal truth, regardless of what Trump chooses to propagate, that men & women with exceptional intelligence, character, and knowledge come to different conclusions and applications of the same principles to which they hold dear. This is true between and within political parties. It used to be that men would shake hands before and after a battle, because they did not have hate in their heart for one another. They could have respect toward those with which they disagreed, and could possibly kill.
"Both read the same Bible and pray to the same God and each invokes His aid against the other. It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God's assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's faces but let us judge not that we be not judged. The prayers of both could not be answered ~ that of neither has been answered fully. The Almighty has His own purposes." - Abraham Lincoln
Intellectual integrity requires us to acknowledge that smart, educated, well intended people disagree in earnest. The inability to engage in discussion without resorting to calling people sellouts or liars or "woke" is imo what will kill young people becoming Republicans. If you want new Texas Exes joining the Republican party, you have to be able to discuss the issues in a reasoned way, and not throw out the "liberal media" as a reaction to every issue. Of course they flavor it, but that doesn't mean we can't find the baby in the bath water and have a reasoned response.
This is where Trump was light years BEHIND other modern leaders. He used a dumbed-down attacking mode for how he disagreed with opponents (and teammates who disagreed with him). It's what the big dumb bullies do in all the movies. You can see it a mile away.
I'm not going to be part of a party that can't reason with those with whom they disagree.
2) Going back to the issue of our youth...We need young minds to join the Republican party. The youth are, for the most part, post-racism. Perspectives like the derogatory use of the word "woke" misses this. This only sounds like a closed minded perspective. The youth imo actually have some naturally libertarian views that fit the Republican party if they don't think it sounds like us old white men.
* I don't care what color, religion, or ethnicity you are as long as you work for what you get. If you work for what you get, I have no problem with you. That's much better messaging than "The poor inner city voters are just entitled. That's why Biden gets the black vote. etc." This might not be you, but it's all over my Facebook feed
* Do not trust the government to take care of you. They can't. Even when they try, it is short-lived because it's actually people who take care of each other and ourselves. "Welfare is just big government for lazy people who don't want to work." Make our platform about the principles, not about the exceptions. It sounds bad.
* Neighborhoods, Cities, States know their needs better than a one size fit all federal government perspective. There are some things that the federal government should have no say in, it should be our state. Some things the state should have no say in, the city/county should. And as often as possible, we should give authority to the smaller entity before the bigger entity take over. We're not Italy or France which are only the size of a state. We're too big to be managed federally except for a few things.
* We believe in the whole constitution, we don't pick and choose which amendments we adhere to. There's a reason we have a right to bear arms. [insert history lesson]. For that matter, Republicans believe in all of our Freedoms, even when we hate how people exercise them.
I have other thoughts, but I think we should be a party that is compelling to young adults because of the principles we have that are part of our platform. This current way of attacking the liberal media, name calling democrats and republicans who disagree will lose our younger base. Trump is not a long term play for the party. We shouldn't win the battle and lose the war. We have to leave this cult of personality thinking.
I do think he's a pragmatic businessman. I think he got several things done. But the USA isn't a company selling widgets. You can't run it EXACTLY as if it was.
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