In this election, are the choices really us vs. them? Our current president would have you believe that—and that is scary. Broadly stroked, fear mongering does not serve us well. Lying about issues consistently, whether national or international, leads to a lack of trust by fellow citizens and our allies around the world. And he now wants to cast liberals and Democrats as mobs, saying Democrats produce mobs while the Republicans produce jobs. I consider myself part of the loyal patriotic opposition, not part of a mob.
Well, (to paraphrase Charles Blow) count me among [the loyal patriotic opposition], if that means people who stand in opposition to Trump’s degradation of the country in all ways. If [it] stands up for women and stands up to the National Rifle Association, I want in. If [it] hates corruption and loves the increasing diversity of this country, then it is for me. If [it] finds it abhorrent that during the same week that it became clear that a Washington Post columnist had been killed in a Saudi Arabian consulate, Trump praised an American politician who assaulted a journalist, then yes [to the loyal patriotic opposition].
And I believe (to quote Nicholas Kristof) there are still many principled individuals within the [Republican] party, but as a national institution the Republican Party is hollow. It is no longer about an ideology; it’s about shining President Trump’s shoes.
Please vote—and maintain civility. Vote your conscience but never let our elections turn us into enemies. Civil dissent is our greatest strength and the free press is our shining beacon for this.