Supporting Our President

Our Republic was founded on the precept of a government that serves the common good and general welfare of all its citizens.  That not only requires hard work and commitment but most importantly doing what is right when it can be extremely difficult to do. 

Upon the election of President Barack Obama, the so-called loyal opposition immediately stated that their primary, if not their sole function, would focus on making Obama a one-term president.  He hadn’t proposed any new legislative action or initiated any policies of any kind.  

Those thinking more clearly saw this as partisanship or tribalism – some as racism and bigotry – a blind loyalty based upon some form of hatred.  The blindness is glaringly apparent in that the country was faced with serious difficulties requiring immediate attention and a unified course of action.  Yet a hatred of the new president was the most predominate element in their thinking.  Demonstrating, once again, the most destructive and evil nature in hatred. 

Now we are at it again. 

Some Americans are of the belief that support for President-Elect Trump should be withheld.  They argue that he won the election based on the support of bigots and therefore to support him would be to further the cause of hatred.  They also believe his failure to win the popular vote justifies their outrage and opposition.  Like President Obama, Trump has not proposed any new legislative action or initiated any policies of any kind.  We are supposed to learn from history to avoid repeating the same failings from the past.  It appears that wisdom is escaping us.  Yet, another residual of hatred. 

To be certain Trump’s lack of civilized and moral demeanor is a concern.  Yet we have no idea how his demeanor will affect his governing. Everything surrounding this objection is purely speculative.  

The other major objection is that he was elected without winning the popular vote suggesting his victory is bogus.  What is necessary here is a reminder that this nation is not a democracy.  We are a Republic based upon democratic principles.  This is crucial to the stated objective of our government to be representative of ALL its citizens.  Thomas Jefferson; “…that the MINORITY POSSES their EQUAL RIGHTS, which equal law must protect, and to violate would be oppression.” 

Next it would be wise for us to remember that the popular vote still has a strong influence in determining the outcome of an election.  To win the electoral votes in any state requires winning the popular vote in that state.  As well, the number of electoral votes is based upon the population of the state.  It’s a brilliant system in that it still gives a strong voice to the majority while also providing the minority with a voice that cannot be ignored. 

Trump is the fifth president to win election without the support of the popular vote.  There is absolutely no evidence that this has been extremely detrimental to our Republic.  Would Al Gore have been a better president than George W. Bush?  To believe that is completely speculative.  Al Gore would have to serve as president for us to honestly answer that question. 

Therefore, it is disingenuous to suggest that Trump’s victory was bogus.  He managed his campaign with the goal of achieving electoral votes, NOT with a goal of winning the popular vote.  Had the popular vote been his goal, he would have conducted his campaign in a far different manner.  The point isn’t that he would have won the popular vote, but rather, that it is hardly congruent to suggest he failed when he achieved what was required of him to win the presidency. 

We have mistakenly begun to believe that total opposition is justified upon one difference of opinion or misgiving.  We have never had a perfect president nor have we ever had a president we can all agree with in total. 

What is required of us is to evaluated thinking and course of action on each individual issue.  We then formulate an evaluation on the merits or drawbacks resulting from those thoughts and actions.  This sometimes takes years to properly assess.  Once a president’s time in office is completed a tally of his influence and direction can then be properly assessed.  None of this seems to be an exercise most Americans wish to engage in today.  

With the help of an irresponsible press devoting much of their time to supposition and speculation, we have become a knee-jerk society in our evaluation process.  This has not benefited to America. 

In the final analysis, if we are committed to strengthening our Republic, we must suspend all this irrational thinking.  We must abandon our polarization and intransigence.  WE must begin this process by supporting our president when he is serving the best interest of all Americans, regardless of how we FEEL about him.  We must recognize our criticisms surrounding flawed thinking and failings, while necessary, isn’t more crucial than our earned support.  We must realize that our support lends far greater credibility and legitimacy to our criticisms.  We must base those criticisms on issues and actions and NOT on some predisposition embedded in hatred.  We must act as Americans.