Ever since our president elect was announced last Tuesday I have mostly kept my opinions to myself in the wake of all the craziness surrounding the election. I have always believed that one should carefully think about the words that come out of their mouth before they escape and cannot be unsaid. Had I spoken any sooner on this issue what would have likely followed would be a clustered regurgitation of vulgarities and hate filled anger. The real issue with such an outburst is that I would then be speaking in the same fashion as our president elect, the same way that I have criticized him for speaking on many occasions during his time on the campaign trail. It was crucial for me to take this last week and carefully consider exactly how I feel and how I wanted to present those thoughts to those I know.
President elect Trump has successfully won the presidency according to the rules as currently written in constitution of our great nation, even though he was voted for by roughly half a million fewer citizens that his challenger. I will not debate the fairness of this victory, I can only say that I hope enough people are making their displeasure heard to finally dispense with such an archaic method of election and finally let the choice of the people be the deciding factor of our presidential elections.
What I constantly hear now from the Reds and from some of the Blues, is that Donald Trump must now be given the chance to lead that he has rightfully won. And after a week of contemplation and reflection my decision is this: President elect Donald Trump, you have your chance. You have said over and over again that you are going to be a president for the people, not just the people who voted for you, but for all the people. In your own words at your acceptance speech you said “I pledge to every citizen of our land that I will be president for all Americans, and this is so important to me.”
If this is truly what you intend as our president then the chance you are being given will not be wasted. If you do, as you constantly say, plan to become a voice for all the people of our nation and to further the will of our nation’s people by helping to enact legislation that represents the will of the people then you will be a truly wonderful president.
55% of the people of this country believe in equal rights for LGBTQ. Only 42% oppose it. Here you can help enact legislation that further protects and ensures equality for this community. For that is the will of the people, and you are to be a president for the people. You have your chance.
On the issue of climate change 70% of Americans and 97% of scientists believe in and support countermeasures of the issue. Here you can bolster the EPA and follow and the Paris agreements that outline such important actions from our country. You can help transfer workforce and infrastructure from fossil fuels into renewable energy. For that is the will of the people, and you are to be a president for the people. You have your chance.
A majority of Americans, 54%, support a way for immigrants who are already in the country illegally to become citizens, while only 44% are opposed. This gives you the opportunity to further immigration policies started by president Obama that help illegal immigrants living here have a path to apply for and eventually receive their citizenship. . For that is the will of the people, and you are to be a president for the people. You have your chance.
In respect to a woman’s right to choose whether or not to terminate a pregnancy the majority of our people are pro-choice. You can support the will of your nation by appointing the appropriate Supreme Court justices that will uphold the decisions on ROE v. WADE rather than overturn them. For that is the will of the people, and you are to be a president for the people. You have your chance.
Healthcare reform continues to be such an important issue to us Americans, and as a result 58% support a federal funded single payer system. Here you can deliver on your campaign promise to repeal and replace the Affordable Heath Care Act by enacting a Medicare for all system of universal healthcare, rather than letting it just fall back to unfair practices by insurance companies. For that is the will of the people, and you are to be a president for the people. You have your chance.
You, and your supporters have asked that we give you the chance to do your job, the job you have promised to do as a representative of all the people of this country, and you have your chance…. BUT should you squander this opportunity to lead for the people, and instead pander to the minority that somehow got you elected there will be no end to the protests, and long after you are gone you will be remembered not as a great leader of a great nation, but as one of those embarrassing mistakes that was so clearly on the wrong side of history. Your people have spoken, now it’s time to speak for them in the manner that reflects the majority opinion.
You have your chance.
