To my friends who are thinking of voting Republican,
Hey, I get it. You don’t like Joe Biden. I have some qualms about him too. You are concerned about the price of gas. You think that we need a better policy about the border. You are worried about your family and the future of the country. I share many of your concerns. But let’s take a broader view. Back when I was growing up, the Republican party was been the party of the wealthy and of big businesses, and the Democratic party was the party of the working class. The Democratic party was the party that brought you Social Security, Medicare, the Affordable Care Act – policies that helped create the middle class. All of them are policies that Republicans were against, and which many in the party still want to cripple. Much has changed over the past few years, but the fundamentals of the parties have not changed. All of the major accomplishments of the Republican party over the last century have benefited the wealthy by reducing their taxes and benefited corporations by reducing regulations: regulations that protect consumers, establish safety standards in industries, and protect the environment.
So what, you might ask, have Democrats done for you lately?
Under Biden, Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act, the American Rescue Plan, and (with the help of Republicans) an Infrastructure bill. All of this new legislation reduces the costs of your medical insurance and prescriptions. These acts have created hundreds of thousands of jobs in industries, and in the construction of roads and bridges. These programs have led to higher wages and have reduced childhood poverty.
I suspect that there are many things that we agree upon. We would like responsible gun laws, probably, background checks. We would like a return to the Roe v. Wade decision on abortion. We would like corporations and the wealthy to pay their fair share of taxes. If you agree with these things, maybe you should think twice about voting for a Republican.
Yes, there are still major problems confronting us. Inflation is high, mostly due to supply lines broken by the Covid epidemic and the fighting in Ukraine. There is no resolution to the crisis at the border. Homelessness is on the rise. Global warming continues. These are problems that need responsible government that is committed to giving every individual the opportunity to attain their best lives. These are problems that will not be solved by divisive rhetoric and vitriolic name-calling. As Barack Obama said, “There is more that unites than divides us.”
Peace and love,
Alex

November 4 2022