Weighing the stakes for November’s vote

I am an independent who watched both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions. The Democratic philosophy represents social and economic equality for all. Liberalism. To contrast, the Republican philosophy stands for conservatism based on the notion that making America strong is dependent upon tax breaks for businesses, big corporations and the top wealthiest 1 percent coupled with the easing of regulations. Free enterprise. It believes the rest of us will enjoy greater economic opportunities by virtue of trickle-down economics. Here’s the juxtaposition. Conventional wisdom tells us both philosophies are flawed.

The problem with the Democratic model for example is that it often encourages some to rely on government more. As a result, government dependency has taken hold of many families. It says, government will do this, that and the other for you. And it permits irresponsible behavior and poor decision making time and time again.

The thing with the Republican ideal is that it overlooks the fact that greed exists. Indeed the gap between those that have and those who don’t continues to swell. So the assertion that the greatest good for the greatest number of people happens when big business and the wealthiest among us are rewarded with tax breaks and deregulation generates economic opportunity for the masses misses its mark. Ironically, many Republicans are for school choice but are opposed to a woman’s right to choose.

Our president supports the rights of those who wish to own a cache of firearms but berates Colin Kaepernick when he exercises free speech. He also demonizes Antifa and denigrates the Black Lives Matter movement. Does the second amendment somehow outweigh the first? Or does free speech only apply to him and to those with whom he agrees? So the choice in this election is not about liberal vs conservative or Democrat vs Republican. The choice in this election is about unity vs division. The choice in this election is about equality vs inequality. I can vote for a Democrat. I can vote for a Republican. I cannot vote for President Trump. Christopher McNeil

Hamden