It’s never only about the money

It seems to happen more and more, as the defensive cover of a last resort at so many gatherings regarding why certain people like Donald Trump. Yes, they confirm to me they recognize his bigotry, his misogyny, his financial delinquencies, his draft dodging etc. but — and it’s a big but — they say they still approve the job he’s done, because look how he’s helped the stock market and their portfolio. And they have a perfect right to consider that enough a reason to again vote for him; after all when he took over the presidency in January 2017 the S&P was at 2,271 and now it’s at 3,036, a 34 percent increase.

Was the market helped by the big tax cut and printing money and hurt by the pandemic and the layoffs? Yes. But the numbers are the numbers. However, if finances are to be the defining factor, instead of ideology, racial justice, basic honesty, confederate support and character of this president, why not apply a similar judgment to the previous three presidents? Under Barack Obama the S&P went from 805 to 2271, an increase of 280 percent; under George W. Bush it went from 1,343 to 805, a decrease of 40 percent; and under Bill Clinton it went from 433 to 1343 an increase of 370 percent. So if it really is just about the money for these folks, they should be (at least a little) annoyed with George W. Bush, pleased with Donald Trump, thrilled by Barack Obama and ecstatic due to the boatloads of money they all made under Bill Clinton.

Again, if it’s not about anything but the money.

Norman L. Bender Woodbridge