Motivated by the Women’s March on Washington, I’ve been actively stating daily in social media my opposition to President Tweet and his alternative facts administration.  Perhaps not so clear are my own positions on a variety of issues which, once you read them below, are diametrically opposed to the leader of the United States of America.  This month’s blog will reveal the light on what I stand for.  I hope you enjoy it.

Taxes

I do not support lowering taxes, especially not, for the wealthiest 1% of the population.  Sure, the tax code is complicated and some general cleanup of existing law is probably warranted, but not to take from the middle class and poor and give to the rich.  I believe the very purpose of why a government imposes taxes is to build infrastructure, maintain public security including retaining a strong military, and maintaining general services like healthcare, social security, clean energy, parks, and clean water.  Cutting taxes makes only the wealthy wealthier and reduces Federal services for you and me.  Time and again, trickle down economics has proven to be a total failure and will not improve our economy and create jobs.

Healthcare

I can’t even believe we are having a debate over healthcare.  Universal healthcare for all Americans should be a given.  I support the Affordable Care Act but I also believe in a single-payer system funded by taxpayers as the ultimate win-win solution.  As  UC Berkeley Professor Robert Reich states, “The real choice in the future is either a hugely expensive for-profit oligopoly with the market power to charge high prices even to healthy people and stop insuring sick people.  Or else a government-run single payer system – such as is in place in almost every other advanced economy – dedicated to lower premiums and better care for everyone.  We’re going to have to choose eventually.”  My position is I do not support Trumpcare, an awful bill that will be voted on later this week, which will not solve the problem of healthcare for all Americans.

Climate Change

I believe that climate change is real.  I believe in science.  I believe the USA should be leading the world in innovative green technologies and using this expertise to drive economic growth and jobs.  This is where investment in our tax dollars will pay back huge dividends.  Not only should we maintain our participation in The Paris Accord, but our goal should be to eliminate all greenhouse gasses before it is too late.  We will not be given a do over.  It is our time now to take care of our planet.  It is time to stop using Coal as an energy source!  It is time to believe and act and not bury our heads in the sand.

Immigration

I oppose a Muslim ban.  There are 1.6 billion Muslims in the world and just like any other group, they are not all bad.  I oppose a border wall with Mexico.  Frankly, I fail to connect why immigration is even at the forefront of the national debate.  According to an article by the Council for Foreign Affairs, “Immigrants comprise about 13 percent of the U.S. population: some forty-three million out of a total of 321 million people, according to Census Bureau data from 2015.”  A majority of Americans consider immigration a “good thing” for the United States and so do I.  In my view, we should be building a path toward citizenship for undocumented citizens if they meet expected requirements and not blocking immigrants from entering the United States.  We are a nation of immigrants!  Our government needs to lead like one.

Terrorism

I agree with Gandhi that an eye for an eye leads to blindness.  I believe in talking to my enemies.  I would ask the leading Imam’s around the world to denounce Islamic terrorism.  I would call for an immediate dialogue with all Islamic terrorist enemies  of the United States, including the leaders of Al Qaeda and ISIS, to seek ways to put an end to all of this senseless violence.  The only path to success is to talk to one another.  The terrorists agenda cannot be put forward by consistent killing innocent people and, quite frankly, we can’t “bomb the shit out of them” either.  We need to seek to understand our enemy.  Having a conversation doesn’t mean submission, it simply sets the groundwork for a potential peace by trying to come to some common ground.

The Rule of Law and the Constitution

I believe in the rule of law and in upholding the Constitution.  Our frightful leader thinks he’s above the law and so far he’s been allowed to get away with it.  His lies are remarkable and yet, his supporters blindly allow him to get away with everything.  The Republican-led Congress has failed the American people because they don’t know how to govern and won’t reel in  this reckless, heartless, sexist, racist, and narcissistic leader.  All Americans must be bound by the rule of law and our governmental leaders must uphold the Constitution as the law of the land.  Only the Judicial branch of the Federal Government has, so far, done the right thing.  Let’s hope the Supreme Court this week strikes another blow to the President’s crazy agenda by upholding the Appeals Court’s rulings against the Muslim ban.  Justice must prevail.

Stop the Hate Speech & The Lies

What will truly make America Great is to stop the hate speech and the lying.  It is frightening to note, according to NBC News, that hate crimes have gone up 20%.  It is no doubt caused by the Trump effect with his divisive speeches and hateful comments during the campaign and continuing today.  He lies more than any public figure I have ever seen and it’s affect on Americans is encouraging the most deplorable amongst us, instead of hiding in the shadows (where they belong), to be emboldened to come out and share their vile prejudice.  This must stop.  I would hope all Americans would feel like I do that there is no place for hate no matter your gender, age, sexual orientation, education, religious beliefs, or color of your skin.  Hate brings more hate.  Black lives matter.  Words matter.  Truth matters.

Country over Party

Nothing frustrates me more when I hear conservatives not getting angry about Russia meddling in our country.  Damn it, I believe it’s time to put our country over your party!  We have become the laughingstock of the world and must not allow a foreign government to influence our political process.  For 241 years, this country has been the model of democracy and let’s fight to hold on to our principles even if we may debate and disagree on the issues, we all love this country.  So, let’s all start acting like it.  Take a stand.  Who’s with me?