Photo Credit: Flickr // The White House
The following is an opinion contribution and reflects the author’s views alone.
For decades, party lines have divided our nation, and, unfortunately, things don’t seem to be getting any better. As a woman who holds conservative values, I have faced a multitude of attacks from strangers. Too often, my attackers do not not treat me charitably. They attack me on blatantly false premises, construct straw man arguments, and draw upon hyperbole. In defending my vote for President Trump, I will note that I do not dismiss my fellow citizens’ emotions, but merely prefer to examine the facts.
In the past, I have been subjected to typical sexist attacks, decrying me as a voter for someone who “wants to deprive me of my rights as a woman.” An article published by BMJ states that the Trump administration is threatening women’s “basic rights” by enacting the Gag Rule. I firmly believe that abortion is not a basic women’s right, but is murder. I will not go into depth regarding why murdering a fetus is wrong, but I would never stand behind a candidate that supports abortion. President Trump is helping to prevent abortions by preventing federally funded clinics from providing them or advising them. Even if one disagrees with my beliefs, it is nearly indisputable that the majority of the modern Democratic Party has moved on from their belief that abortions ought to be “safe, legal, and rare.” This topic is one of the most controversial points of debate, with the options diametrically opposed: I am pro-life.
Economically, one cannot deny the success of Trump’s presidency. Unemployment rates were at an all-time low prior to the pandemic, and this was especially true for minority groups. Unfortunately, President Trump’s economic victory has not received equal attention to social issue victories, but how can we fix social problems with no money? Biden, on the other hand, has promised to raise taxes for those making over 400k and, surely, will punish the middle class with higher taxes to pay for a public health option. If Biden is elected, I would be entering the workforce under his presidency, and my opportunities would be limited. I will not vote for a candidate who wants to unfairly penalize me for simply desiring to work harder. While laudable, many economic assistance programs are extraordinarily bloated and inefficient, disincentivizing work and societal improvement. Personally, I know several people who preferred to be fired from their jobs because of COVID-19, because they received more money on unemployment than they had while gainfully employed. Furthermore, despite its placement as a trendy catchphrase of our generation, I believe that the “redistribution of wealth” should not be approached casually or with ease. This a major moral statement. Supporting a redistribution of wealth fundamentally undermines the concept of ownership, freedom, and natural rights. I support Trump’s approach of reforming, bettering existing programs and taking a cautious view towards new social programs.
Race is another issue that is relevant for this election. As a white woman in contemporary society’s identity politics culture, I am immediately decried by nearly every leftist as a “racist” and called to “check my privilege.” This idea of labeling someone as a racist, something incredibly evil and a serious allegation, due to the color of their skin or who they support is something I cannot stand by. I agree that President Trump could refine his rhetoric to be more appealing; however, he has yet to say a racist reference. Joe Biden, on the other hand, said that if you don’t vote for him, “you ain’t black.” Overlooking Biden’s flagrant racism, which is possibly related to his dixiecrat idols, means dismissing his controversial statements, such as when he said that “unlike the African-American community, with notable exceptions, the Latino community is an incredibly diverse community with incredibly different attitudes.” So why does the left ignore and ardently defend his blatantly racist comments? Perhaps it is because their focus on black lives is disingenuous and secondary to their political agenda? Biden needs the minority vote to gain power, but that doesn’t mean he has to care about minorities. The point is also true when looking at policy. Joe Biden helped write and implement a 1994 crime bill, which led to mass incarcerated for small offenses for minority groups. President Trump has been a hero for these communities. He signed an executive order, the First Step Act, that released thousands of those impacted by Biden’s 1994 crime bill from unnecessary punishment. Additionally, I cannot support a candidate like Biden who wishes to defund the police and reallocate funds when it is the minority communities in inner cities who need them most.
Joe Biden might seem like a kind and affable man, but he is unfit to be the president. He will be overruled by progressives on the left, such as AOC, and his running mate, Kamala Harris. AOC has already asserted her ability to “push Biden in a more progressive direction.” Joe Biden, advanced in years, is routinely showing his difficulty communicating without losing his train of thought, and is beginning to sound senile. All one has to do is watch a video of prime Biden to see the difference. Biden has already confided that he is pushing his limits with his nomination of Kamala Harris. We all that the vice president takes over in cases in which the president is incapacitated; however, candidate are rarely as candid about this as Biden is. Biden clearly stated that he needed Kamala in case of his death due to his age. On top of that, I cannot and will not stand for Kamala’s radical views. She is a stubborn progressive that holds no value to her words. The unfortunate reality of the Democratic Party is that the radical progressives are well on their way to taking over.
My rationale for voting for President Trump is multifaceted and broadly rooted; however, the points above lay at the top of my list. I do not give my full support to this man, but he is the best option available. I respect whatever others choose, but, unfortunately, I am rarely afforded this same respect. We might become a healthier nation if we paid a little more attention to proper social discourse, and less to proper social distancing. To cut someone out of your life due to their vote is simplistic and only serves to exacerbate the current crisis. This country is deteriorating: stand up for your beliefs, stand firm, and engage with others based on their ideas, not their identity.
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