DICK BAYNTON: Your Vote Could Stop Our Downward Spiral

Dick Baynton
Dick Baynton

On Tuesday, November 8, 2016, we will vote for candidates for President of the United States. The winner becomes President, Commander-in-Chief and Chief Executive of 320+ million citizens. Those of us that trudge to the polls and make an ‘X’ or pull a lever for our choice may not realize that the choices are broader than we realized. While the Democrats and Republicans get most of the publicity, there are about 25 candidates that are vying for this highly regarded leadership post, one of the most powerful and responsible positions in the world.

To name a few lesser personalities seeking the presidency and vice presidency, Laurence Kotlikoff, an economics professor at Boston University and Edward Leamer, an economics professor at UCLA are ‘Independent’ candidates. The American Delta Party features Rocky De La Fuente, a California businessman for president and his running mate, Florida attorney Michael Steinberg.

Today’s column could be filled with the names and occupations of the more than 20 other candidates running for the U.S. presidency representing parties like ‘The Nutrition Party’, the ‘American Solidarity Party’ and the ‘Legal Marijuana Now Party.’ These candidates depend heavily on write-in votes that probably won’t get them more than a listing on page 19 of the New York Times. Unfortunately, none of these candidates qualified for any of the debates to display their verbal promises, threats and warnings.

Evan McMullin, a Republican politician and former CIA operative from Utah may carry his state’s voting due to the disdain by many Utahans for candidate Trump. McMullin’s VP choice is Mindy Finn, founder and current president of the non-profit, ‘Empowered Women.’ The ‘Green Party’ candidate is Jill Stein, a physician from Lexington, MA. Running mate is Ajamu Baraka, a Washington, D.C. activist. Currently, the Green Party commands 2% to 3% of votes according to polls.

Libertarian candidates Gary Johnson and William Weld receive accolades for gathering 5% to 7% of votes as determined by polls. Johnson was governor of New Mexico from 1995 to 2003 while Weld was governor of Massachusetts from 1991 to 1997.

The leading candidates are clearly Hillary Clinton of the Democratic Party and Donald Trump representing the Republicans. Recent polls show close races between these two candidates who both have high negatives according to press reports. Does this mean that voters may ‘hold their noses’ and vote for the candidate with the least negatives? It could turn out that way, but let’s consider the alternatives. The most important consideration is, ‘do we want to change the direction of this country? The current president has had almost eight years to patch the roads, the racial, economic, political and religious divides and these and other fractures have been made worse.

From the rhetoric that spews from the lips of Mrs. Clinton, Obamacare will be patched up, free educations will be offered at public institutions of learning and we’ll enhance the nation’s population base with amnesty and thousands of new refugees from all over the world.

In reality, healthcare premiums will rise by an average of 25% in 39 states and considerably more in several states (Arizona = 116%). Free educations for college students at public colleges will increase taxes only for the rich who ‘do not pay their fair share.’ Currently the top 1% of taxpayers pays 37% of federal taxes and the top 50% of taxpayers pay 97% of the taxes and the lower 50% of taxpayers pay 3% of all taxes. Student (government) debt is now $1.4 trillion with about 40% delinquency. Back page reports show that Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson is seeking jail cells for up to 47,000 undocumented aliens through the first half of 2017.

Nine women have come forward to condemn Donald Trump for misogynist behavior while the Obama’s bring performers to the White House like Beyoncé and Jay Z who sing lyrics with strong sexual overtones and refer to women using the ‘B’ word. And who could be a better symbol for illicit sex than Hillary’s husband, the ‘presidential hustler.’

A vote for anyone other than Donald J. Trump/Mike Pence could elect a duo that could accelerate the downward spiral of the United States as an economic, industrial and military powerhouse and debtor nation.

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