Dear Editor:
In less than a year, we Americans have a choice to make; who will lead the country? It’s too early to know who the candidates will be, but as of now, the choice looks to be between Joe Biden and Donald Trump for President. Last election, I voted for Biden, and I have not been disappointed. I find Biden to be a decent and moral man, a fellow who genuinely cares about other people, and successful at getting legislation passed that is helpful in making this a better nation.
But maybe I’m entirely wrong; I’m willing to listen to reason and evidence to the contrary.
Some complaints about Biden were recently printed in your letters section, but they were vague. To be taken seriously, we’d need specifics rather than generalities. First, we have to weigh whether the complaint is valid. Then, we have to consider if the alternative offered by Biden’s opponent is actually any better. For example, “criminal complicity” by Biden was mentioned; where is the proof of this? Alternatively, Trump faces 91 felony indictments issued by grand juries.
A complaint about Biden is that he may be “too old.” “Forced retirement” was mentioned. This would be valid if it was clear that age/infirmity has rendered Biden unable to function as President. In general, Biden’s presidency has seen record employment, record low unemployment, rising wages, inflation on the way down, record stock market, more citizens with health care coverage, and infrastructure improvements not seen in over 40 years. Biden supports Ukraine’s defensive war against Putin’s invading Russia, the opposite of what Trump and the Republicans have shown. Biden supports funding Israel, again an issue Republicans obstruct.
“International weakness” was mentioned, yet it is the “America First” isolationists led by Trump who would BAIL OUT on America being the leader of the world, supporting democracies and opposing tyrants. For example, Trump scorns NATO.
“Bigger government” was mentioned. Trump increased our debt by around $8 TRILLION. What is the definition of “big”? Perhaps “big government” would be signaled by a government wanting to control women’s bodies, stripping them of health care rights, and stripping them of the freedom to choose? Biden opposes this loss of women’s rights imposed by a “big government.”
Other complaints were a “slide into European socialism,” brought about by “un-American woke elitists.” We’d need details of what this kind of word salad actually means in terms of policy Biden supports which might affect us negatively. Perhaps this is about Biden lessening the burden of crippling student loans?
Until some of these vague and generalized charges are fleshed out with valid examples of actual policies which are demonstrably bad for America, contrasted with the alternative policies offered by Biden’s potential challengers, I will once again be proudly casting my vote for Biden and Harris (for her intelligence and competence, not, as suggested, because of her “gender and color”).
Jeff Harrison
Buffalo, Texas
