By SJ Otto
As the pundits keep saying, this is one of the dirtiest elections in US
history. One candidate has a problem convincing people she is honest. The other
candidate has problems convincing voters he is sane and rational. Of course I
am writing about the two presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald
Trump.
For those of us who consider ourselves left-wing and issue oriented,
this campaign is a terrible mess. Both candidates have some real problems that
will plague us if or when he or she wins.
Neither candidate is really that far to the left or right. Compared to
most Republicans Trump is to the left of the others. That is not to say he is
left-wing, rather he is a right-wing candidate compared to his far-far-far right-wing
Republicans. Clinton’s politics are almost right of center. She is best labeled
a center-wing candidate—maybe even a right of center candidate.
On the domestic side Clinton will be choosing the next Supreme Court Judge
if she is elected. That is a good thing as she will probably pick someone who
will stand up for abortion rights and civil liberties. Also if she wins the
Republican Party will not be able to consolidate their power they have massed over
the last few years. They have used clever organizing tricks and gerrymandering to
take over the Senate, the House and most state level governments in this
country. With Trump in office the agenda of the Republicans is set to take off.
Nothing will stop the most repressive political establishment party in US
history (at least in my lifetime). Most important to me and others will be the
end of Obama Care (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act/ PPACA, or Affordable Care Act/ ACA). While it may be a disaster, as
the Republicans have claimed, for some health businesses and some middle and
upper class patients, it is the first time many lower middle class and poor
workers have been able to afford health care. The Republicans seem to want to
see those classes of people go without insurance and die. As a member of the lower
middle class workers, I resent the idea that I should die for the convenience
of wealthier workers and business people. I don’t owe them anything like that.
But Clinton’s benefits come at a price. She is the most hawkish and
pro-US imperialist candidate for office in years. So far she has voted to go to
war at every opportunity that came up when she was in the US Congress. She
voted to go to war in Iraq. She supports arming the Free Syrian Army, a
right-wing pro-imperialist pro-NATO guerrilla movement. She will probably
increase troops in the war against ISIL (the Islamic State). She may increase involvement
in Afghanistan. She may make havoc for left-wing governments in Latin America. She
is way more hawkish than our present leader Barack Obama.
As a member of the Peace and Social Justice Center in Wichita, Kansas
and as a major activist in the anti-imperialist movement, this means we will be
busy working against Clinton’s pro-war pro-military policies.
On the other hand Trump has said that NATO is obsolete. He is right
about that. He has indicated he will oppose nation building, which usually
means our occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan. He has said he will negotiate
with North Korea—another good idea. He may increase involvement against ISIL.
But that would be expected of such a Republican politician. Most of this would
be a positive change over the present foreign policies of the US.
So we have to choose between a possible positive change in foreign
policy or defense of expanded health care and some working class benefits.
I’m supporting Clinton. Not enthusiastically, but I just really don’t
like Trump. I endorse Clinton, but just barely. It’s the old lesser of two
evils.
Pix by www.davegranlund.com.
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