I sat down today and took a close look at each of the probable and likely electable candidates for the presidency in 2016. I looked at the reality, and ignored the media hype. I added in the now defunct Republican Party, and what that will mean for the future of American politics. I attempted to be a prophet and foresee the future of our nation if Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, Hillary Clinton, or Bernie Sanders were elected in November.

As an Independent, I honestly attempted to be as open minded as possible and based my evaluations on the possible effects for the majority of the American people and discounted the influence of special interests. I discovered some hope, and an enormous amount of fear; fear which was created by the extreme right wing.

First and foremost, I fear for my country. My country is not the physical boundaries of the United States; it is the people of my once great nation.

The 2016 presidential campaign has been the greatest embarrassment in our nation’s history. It has exposed the worst of our nation’s politics, people, and forced to the surface our greatest weaknesses; emotions nurtured by lies.

So here it is; what would our nation be like if one of the four leaders in the polls became the leader of the free world.

Let’s begin with the man who receives the most media attention; Donald Trump.

I don’t think he believes in most of the disgusting rhetoric which he loves to offer his supporters. However, if he was a man of his word, this is what Americans could expect. The United States would send tens of thousands of our finest young men and women to the Middle East to die in an unwinnable war. Cheney’s policies of torturing our suspected enemies would be enhanced. ISIS would be pleased, and their recruiting efforts would have been done for them. Another war would begin; the entire Muslim world would denounce America and Christianity. The United States would become isolated from the rest of the world. Nearly twelve million undocumented men, women, and children would become criminals. Our nation would fall deeper into debt as the deficit rose by trillions of dollars. Bigotry and hatred would dominate our culture, and individual freedom would be challenged. The middle class would continue to disappear, and the number of Americans living in poverty would grow.

Ted Cruz would actually be a worse choice than Trump for the majority of Americans. He would increase the gridlock in Washington as his policies would be rejected by Congress. ‘Boots on the ground’ would be Cruz’ first choice to defeat terrorism. Carpet bombing would result in the deaths of tens of thousands of innocent people in the Middle East, and ISIS would be rewarded with a growing number of fighters. Religious extremists would make decisions for Cruz, as Muslim-Americans would experience increased bigotry and a growing prejudice. Women would be relegated to virtual slavery. Social security, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act would be abolished; new policies would be placed under the control of big business. The LGBT community would once again be treated as enemies in a declining society.

If Hillary Clinton becomes our nation’s president, our nation will experience little change. The policies of President Obama, which have moved our nation out of a near depression, and restored relations with our allies, will be continued. She would seek diplomatic solutions for international issues. Taxes for our wealthiest Americans would be increased to a level which is fair and necessary to reduce our nation’s deficit. Policies affecting the working class would be a priority. Twelve million American people living illegally in our nation would be given an opportunity to establish legal residence.

Bernie Sanders would institute many of the same policies of President Obama and Hillary Clinton, but would also impose more restrictions on Wall Street. Education would be a priority, allowing all Americans to obtain a college degree. Government control would return to the people, and Democracy restored. Our nation would move towards ‘greatness’ once again, as wages and benefits would experience increases, improving the quality of life for all of the American people. Poverty would begin to decline. New taxes on corporations who chose to create jobs in foreign nations, and remove them from our country’s working class, would eventually force them to move their factories back to America. Trade agreements would be rescinded.

What do you want for our nation’s future? It’s your choice, and you must choose wisely. Our nation can move backwards, or bravely move forward into the 21^st century.

Op-Ed

By James Turnage

Photo Courtesy of Phil Roeder

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