Two Choices: Two Roads for America

The November 3rd election presents each voter with two contrasting choices. One choice is to re-elect the current President and his Republican cohorts. The other is to elect Joe Biden the democratic challenger. One choice continues what we have come to expect for the last 3.5 years. The other choice ushers in a different domestic and international agenda.

Choice One

A re-election of Trump would more than likely continue policies meant to divide, policies that demand absolute loyalty from supporters, and policies that continue efforts to stifle dissent through threats, character assassination, and the like. Opponents of Trump would continue to be vilified and characterized as unpatriotic, enemies of the state, or worse terrorists. On the domestic front Trump and his Administration would continue to implement policies which benefit he and his family personally and those that he deems as loyal. The wealth gap between the wealthy and the rest of the population would continue to grow and dissatisfaction and anger by those disadvantaged would continue to increase. Domestically, Trumps' assault on the federal institutions, judicial system and the free press would continue by continuously sowing mistrust among the general population via conspiracy theories, misrepresentation of facts and outright lies. Missteps and mistakes on the domestic front would be laid at the feet of his opponents, with no accountability accepted by Tump or his supporters. Continued consolidation of Presidential power would be a number one priority for Trump with the end goal of systematically dismantling the idea of separation of powers.Trump would seriously consider running for a third term. Our democratic system such as it is today would begin its march toward authoritarianism with little hope of reversal. Potential violent civil unrest could follow in the wake of unpopular policies that restrict not only the freedom of the press but also exacerbates racial, social and economic disparities. Although highly unlikely, States, individually or collectively, that Trump has painted as havens for anarchy, terrorism, etc. may attempt to secede from the US and establish their own "country. Given Trump's nature, he would respond with force thereby setting up violent confrontations between Americans which could very easily become widespread and violent. Trump is already setting the stage for such by labeling democratic states and democrats in general as harbors of criminals, Satanists pedophiles and the like.

On the international front, Trump would continue his policies of isolating the US from the rest of the world. Long standing Allies would reluctantly reassess their relationships with the US and form their own global collaborative economic, defense and climate agreements, etc. without US participation. Defense pacts would have to be revered and possibly modified. US international influence and image would wane and other nations such as China and Russia would step into the vacuum. Our preeminent position as a technology leader and bastion for freedom would decline and our legitimacy as a world power would be challenged including our ability to influence international events. The US role as a economic power or as a deterrent to global ambitions by other nations would be diminished and rendered ineffective. Other nations would not come to the aid of the US should a aggressor nation threaten US interests unless such aid was in the best interest of those nations.

At the end of another 4 or 8 years of a Trump Administration, America as we know it today would be vastly different, no longer a Democracy, deeply divided, with an economy that is under performing and having lost its position as a world power. The best and the brightest the world has to offer would no longer seek to come to the US, rather the reverse would be true with an outflow of talent to other nations. Freedom of speech would be discouraged, ideology would dominate, intolerance would become even more commonplace, compromise would be discouraged. The mantra of the day would be " you are either for me or against me". Facts would give way to opinion, critical thinking will be out of favor and those who speak out in opposition will be vilified, fired, denigrated or worse. Politicians will continue to develop amnesia about previous statements or just engage in hypocrisy. All the while the general electorate, particularly the young and the disenfranchised, will continue to become more frustrated and angry.

Choice Two

Trump loses the election to Joe Biden and Congress remains divided, (or not). Under this scenario, Biden's election would have to be decisive, ie. a significant edge in the number of votes garnered. Otherwise Trump will maintain that the election was rigged. He is on record as stating that the only way he can lose this election if there is widespread voter fraud thus setting the stage for a possible Supreme Court fight, (keep in mind that he will have a 6/3 majority on the court). Assuming Biden wins decisively and Trump vacates the Presidency, on the domestic front Biden will have to go about the task of returning decorum to the Presidency specifically, and to national political dialogue generally. That will not be accomplished overnight but can be done if the will is there by all parties concerned. Obviously Biden will replace many if not all of Trump appointees with his own, hopefully those will be qualified individuals that will speak their minds without fear of retribution. Biden will have to move quickly to address policy differences between the Party moderate and progressive elements if he has any hope of successfully addressing issues like healthcare, income inequality, the economy, and long term viability of entitlement programs like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid during his first Administration, (obviously this will be much easier if the Democrats control both Houses). In a divided Congress, Biden will have to find a way to create bi-partisan support if he hopes to accomplish his agenda. An important element will be his effectiveness as the leader of the US to reduce the enmity and acrimony which currently exists not only between parties but within the nations population itself. That would include reaffirming the doctrine of separation of power, and depoliticizing the Supreme Court, the Justice Department, etc. Biden's temperament, character, sense of honor and honesty can go a long way toward repairing the deep divides that currently exist within our Nation. However, one of the biggest challenges for Biden will be issues around racial, gender and ethnic bias. Although these are deep-seated components of our culture hundreds of years in the making, advocacy groups have expectations of timely and meaningful change. How those expectations are responded to and met will help define Biden's legacy and the future of the Democratic Party.

Internationally Biden will have to quickly and decively repair frayed relationships with Allies, including reassuring Allies that the US can be trusted. Simultaneously Biden must make it clear to autocratic nations that the US will not support dictatorships or turn a blind eye to oppressive regimes. More than likely under Biden the US would rejoin the Paris Climate accord, rejoin the WHO and assume a more productive/assertive role at the UN and Security Council. Foreign affairs would once again be orchestrated by career diplomats. Biden will also need to, with his Secretary of State, reassess the US /China relationships on Trade, China expansion efforts, etc. Biden, unlike Trump, should not politicize our relationship with China, demonize China or any other nation. China is a rising world power - ignoring such flies the face of reality. Trump in his UN speech encourages putting national interests before international cooperation. History has shown us that nationalism does not end well. Nothing in todays environment suggests that a world interconnected by technology is better off by each nation isolating itself from the rest. Therefore diplomacy, not harsh words or threats will be needed to accomplish international cooperation and global stability--that includes China and Russia. It also means that diplomacy must be accompanied by a plan which includes a desired outcome in order to be effective. Biden, based on his experience understands the. He also understands that given the destructive power of the nuclear arsenals held by many, no Nation's government, in their right mind, would engage in actions that would ensure certain mutual destruction.

( but then again it depends on who has their finger on the button).

#myturnmyvoice