With the nomination of two candidates for the 2016 presidency approaching, I believe it’s time for some truths to be revealed. The American people have been subjected to a great deal of rhetoric designed to influence free thought, eliminate the truth, and secure votes. Most of what politicians claim is either pandering or impossible to achieve. President Obama was undoubtedly sincere when he first ran for the presidency, but had no way to foresee the future obstructionism from the Republican Party. Few of the changes he promised the American people were possible to achieve.
Becoming a politician is the least noble decision a man or woman can make. They must reject principles of right and wrong, and swear loyalty to the political party which supports them. Although they promise to represent those who elect them, their primary concern remains personal ambition. Let’s explore some of the lies, half-truths, and misleading statements made by politicians in the 21st century. We must begin at the creation of our nation.
Our founding fathers were not religious men. They were deists. Benjamin Franklin: “I wish it (Christianity) were more productive of good works … I mean real good works … not holy-day keeping, sermon-hearing … or making long prayers, filled with flatteries and compliments despised by wise men, and much less capable of pleasing the Deity.”— Benjamin Franklin, Works, Vol. VII, p. 75.
They left England to escape religious tyranny. John Adams: “As I understand the Christian religion, it was, and is, a revelation. But how has it happened that millions of fables, tales, legends, have been blended with both Jewish and Christian revelation that have made them the most bloody religion that ever existed?” — John Adams, letter to F.A. Van der Kamp, Dec. 27, 1816.
The Republican Party claims that our nation was founded on Christian beliefs; this is a blatant lie. Thomas Jefferson: “On the dogmas of religion, as distinguished from moral principles, all mankind, from the beginning of the world to this day, have been quarreling, fighting, burning and torturing one another, for abstractions unintelligible to themselves and to all others, and absolutely beyond the comprehension of the human mind.” — Thomas Jefferson to Carey, 1816.
There are many, many more quotes. The link to them will be attached.
Our founding fathers considered religion a crutch which eliminated free thought and a true acceptance of morality. They believed in the freedom of every citizen to practice the religion of their choice, but denied its influence in the governing of our nation.
This is all documented truth, but there is a greater problem. Most of our politicians who claim to be religious, or support the Constitution, have obviously failed to read either the Bible or the Law of the Land.
Let’s begin with the latter. The Constitution protects individual rights and forbids the establishment of a national religion. There is no mention of the superiority of one religion over another. However, there are explicit guarantees of freedom of choice, and equal treatment under the law for all Americans.
Many parts of religious doctrine presented to the American people by the Christian religious right and their puppets, the Republican Party, are fantasies. None of the hate-filled doctrine offered by those on the right was ever spoken by Jesus Christ. No one can be allowed to claim to be ‘Christian’ if they deny the teachings of the prophet they believe was the ‘Son of God.’
Now we move forward to the time when great Republicans led our nation, and both party’s primary concern was the future of our nation and its people.
Teddy Roosevelt was our 26th president, serving from 1901 to 1909. He became our nation’s leader after the assassination of President William McKinley. Roosevelt immediately became the savior of the American working class. He quickly became known as the ‘trust buster,’ and fought for the Sherman Antitrust Act. He began American policy of conservationism as he dedicated 200 million acres of land as national parks. He was a great diplomat, receiving the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts which ended the Russo-Japanese War. He led the effort to construct the Panama Canal which opened up international trade.
Let’s take a look at how Donald Trump and Ted Cruz would view one of our greatest president’s accomplishments.
They would both support corporations over the majority of the American people. Income inequality would widen; the numbers of super-wealthy Americans and those living below the poverty level would rise. They would allow the oil companies to drill on federal lands, destroying the pristine and protected lands revered by Roosevelt. Neither of them believe in diplomacy and would rush our nation into another unwinnable war in the Middle East.
Dwight D. Eisenhower was a hero of WWII who became our nation’s 34th president in 1953. He served until 1961. Memorable and revealing quotes by one of our great presidents were: “I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can, only as one who has seen its brutality, its futility, its stupidity.” “A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both.” “Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it.”
President Eisenhower’s accomplishments include the construction of the Interstate Highway System, supporting a civil rights decision in 1957, sending troops to Little Rock, Arkansas, to inforce integration. He signed civil rights legislation in both 1957 and 1960.
Once again, let’s look at how Trump or Cruz would act as representatives of the 2016 Republican Party.
They both believe that ‘war is good business,’ and diplomacy is a waste of time. The Highway System would never be approved; it would cost money. They would both support red states which are attempting to remove portions of civil rights laws, and abolish voting rights.
George H.W. Bush was our nation’s 41st president, serving from 1989 until 1993. He may not be remembered as one of the greatest Republican presidents until his successes are weighed against his defeats.
Mr. Bush was elected in 1988. His immediate focus was on foreign policy. The Soviet Union was collapsing, and East and West Germany were nearing unification. Along with Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev, Bush signed the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. He led the way to depose Panama’s dictator, Manuel Noriega, and defended Kuwait against the invasion of neighboring Iraq.
On the domestic front, he signed into law two extremely important pieces of legislation; the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. His failure to be reelected was due to a recession which had begun under Reagan’s last term. He was forced to raise taxes, voiding his pre-election pledge.
Can anyone imagine that Trump or Cruz would have achieved the same accomplishments of Mr. Bush, given the difficulties he inherited? Neither faux-Republican would have negotiated a treaty with our nation’s greatest enemy. They would likely have offered aid to Kuwait, but we would still be there, invading other nations in the region. The ADA would have been vetoed, it might have offended the ‘job creators.’ Because neither believes that climate change is caused by man, they would also have vetoed the Clean Air Act Amendments; they would harm big business and its effort to increase profits while continuing to pollute our air and water. Finally, they would allow our nation to sink into a depression before raising taxes on the one-percent.
All three of these men served the American people with integrity and a sincere desire to serve all of the American people. I did not include Abraham Lincoln; his story is known by every person in the United States. He was the greatest Republican president in history.
Trump and Cruz both lack dignity, integrity, and a sincere desire to care for the majority of our American people. They are not respected by the voting public and offer no viable solutions for our domestic problems.
On the international front, Trump would send a minimum of 20,000 troops to the Mideast. He has no concern for the lives of our young military, and denies the fact that America cannot win a war in the Middle East.
Cruz says that he would ‘carpet bomb’ ISIS strongholds, although military leaders have denounced this action. The lives of thousands of innocent women and children would be sacrificed, and ISIS would not be defeated.
If you are a Republican, you must be aware that neither Trump nor Cruz is truly representing your party. They seek election through policies of lies, spreading hatred, and playing upon the weak emotions of their supporters.
As an Independent, I am fully aware that we need two strong, intelligent, and compassionate parties; as of now we have only one. Republican leadership continues to blame everyone and anything for the fracturing of their party, but fail to point the finger of guilt at themselves, where it truly belongs.
How can anyone support a party led by hypocrites? The Republican establishment hates Ted Cruz, and is fully aware that he is not qualified to lead the United States of America and the free world. But they are making a desperate effort to support him if they believe that Trump can be defeated.
The 2016 political season will be heavily scrutinized by future generations. It will not result in a favorable opinion of the GOP.
Op-Ed
By James Turnage
Photo Courtesy of DonkeyHotey
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