People and wine have two things in common; they improve with age. Sadly, that’s not true of the United States of America. Our nation is devolving and is losing the values upon which it was created. Donald Trump’s rise as the leader of the Republican Party proves than many of our nation’s people are filled with anger and hatred for anyone but white, Christian Americans. As outrageous as Trump can be, his supporters are even more vile.

Monday Trump was holding a rally in Las Vegas. A man associated with ‘Black Lives Matter’ began yelling at Trump, along with others. One man was carried out as a supporter of the real estate mogul said: “Oh, he’s a Muslim guy.” As Ender Austin III, the man involved with ‘Black Lives Matter,’ was in the process of being thrown out, Trump supporters began screaming: “Kick his ass,” and “light the motherfucker on fire.”

Trump ignored the scuffles, and suggested that his supporters organize their own protests saying: “We should have been doing what they’re doing for the last seven years because what’s happening to our country is a disgrace.”

Trump’s hatred for President Obama based simply on the fact that he is black has been evident for those seven years. He encourages his supporters to act violently against those who protest at his rallies.

This is the new America. Trump is the voice of the Republican Party of the 21^st century. Statements made by his GOP opponents, mostly prior to the campaign season, prove that they agree with him, but are less vocal.

Because I am an independent voter, I am saddened by what has happened to the Republican Party. I have revealed my admiration many times for Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and George H.W. Bush. I also admire Democrats Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Harry S. Truman. I commend the actions of John F. Kennedy and Bill Clinton in matters pertaining to our nation and its people, but decry their lack of personal morals. I respected Jimmy Carter as an outstanding human being, but believed that he was not qualified to lead our nation. I disliked Ronald Reagan as his policies began to adversely affect the working class. I despised George W. Bush for his lack of intellect and the criminal actions of his administration most likely influenced by Dick Cheney.

In 2016 I continue to admire Bernie Sanders. He is 100 percent right when he speaks about mandatory changes in our nation if it is to survive, and resemble any of its former glory. I respect the intellect and most of the ideas of Hillary Clinton, but have reservations about her ties with Wall Street.

On the GOP side, of the 13 remaining candidates, only John Kasich has any measure of approval from me. He is sincere and honest, and therefore has no chance of winning the nomination. Those trailing Trump; Cruz, Rubio, Bush, and Christie, have no qualifications which would allow them to live in the White House. We must not elect a member of the TEA Party; they are the reason our government has failed.

Since the late 1980’s GOP candidates have continued their tactics of attacks, fear, and lies or half-truths to win elections. They have created a nation I do not recognize.

Sometimes it’s good to be old; I remember when the United States of America was the greatest country in the world.

Op-Ed

By James Turnage

Source

Photo Courtesy of Michael Vadon

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