I am proudly voting VP Kamala Harris and Gov. Tim Walz, who understand that a thriving middle and working class drive a healthy economy. They have solid plans focused on that goal — Harris’ policies center us. trump’s center the rich. Having grown up in the middle class themselves, Harris/Walz live in the real world and understand the problems of everyday Americans. Investing in start-up businesses, making home ownership more affordable, building 3 million new homes, drilling down on mega-corporate price gouging on food, and home health care paid for by Medicare are but a few policies that are game changers for average Americans. Per the Wall St. Journal, Economists Say Inflation, Deficits Will Be Higher Under Trump Than Harris. I encourage you to read more about Harris/Walz specific policy proposals HERE.
Other reasons for my vote follow:
On abortion rights. Reproductive care is healthcare. It is also a civil rights issue. Women must have the right of self-determination over their own persons. Women having equal rights under the law includes making their own moral decision about their bodies without the interference of government. If there are no laws governing what a man may or may not do with his body, the same must apply to women. Draconian 6-week abortion bans, in Georgia for example, don’t take into consideration most women don’t know they are pregnant at six weeks. Based on Congressional hearings I’ve watched, most GOP officials clearly did not pass 9th grade biology so they are not aware of this fact. They also seem not to understand that an ectopic pregnancy or a miscarriage can be life threatening. Nor does the government have the right to force a child or woman to carry their rapist’s fetus to term. But this is impossible to cover in a paragraph. There are so many other circumstances that government (or State) mandates cannot begin to address. Therefore, the government has no place meddling in this decision. It is a difficult one and must be a private one between a woman and her doctor.
On gun control. I don’t know how anyone can claim to be pro-life and be pro-assault weapons at the same time. Harris/Walz believe in the 2nd Amendment. No one is coming for anyone’s hunting rifle. But it is also possible to have sensible gun laws. There is no need for any average citizen to purchase an AR-15. When I was growing up. I never had to worry about active shooter drills. We didn’t have to arm our teachers. These are preposterous solutions from a Party beholden to the gun lobby and I want no part of it. Our children deserve to be safe from gun violence, as do we all.
Protecting Social Security and Medicare. trump tried to cut both every year he was in office. Democrats stopped him. Harris/Walz understand that after workers have spent a lifetime paying into both programs, they deserve to retire with dignity and have our government deliver on the promise of workers’ lifetime of contributions. My mother was in the work force for over 50 years, paying into both programs with every paycheck. Given that much of her pension was stolen by the corporate crooks administering it, if not for Social Security and Medicare, she would have been left destitute. Social Security and Medicare are programs that are funded by the workers receiving them. They do not add to the debt and must be protected. I trust Harris/Walz to do that.
I also have no intention of funding corporate welfare — and trump is pushing more tax cuts for billionaires, which will explode our debt by trillions of dollars for no good reason. It is a fantasy to believe billionaires take those tax cuts and invest in workers. They do not. History teaches us they are used for stock buybacks and further self-enrichment. I am and always have been a capitalist. Costco, an incredibly successful company, is a splendid model for corporate success while not being “piggy” about it. Their work force is loyal because they are treated properly – with good salaries and benefits. While their CEO is very well compensated, his salary is not astronomical. If only more companies looked to them as an example. I’m voting for Harris/Walz because they will continue to grow our economy while making billionaires pay their fair share. Why should billionaires object, since America rewarded them with so much success.
On another matter, trump insists he will impose tariffs to “make China pay.” Perhaps he does not understand how tariffs work. The American company importing the goods pays the tariff (not the Chinese manufacturer). Therefore, that tariff will also be passed on to the American consumer. An economic disaster. Even FOX News admitted as much. President Biden repealed most of the tariffs trump imposed in his first term (except on China). trump is promising a new round of tariffs and the sticker shock to Americans would be high. See here.
National Security and Protecting NATO. I believe in the Constitution and strong partnership with our NATO allies. I know Harris/Walz have deep respect for both. trump has repeatedly demonstrated – and stated – that he does not.
Border Security. The GOP has also proven themselves to be an unserious party. Instead of solving problems, they would rather run on them. Earlier this year, GOP killed the comprehensive bi-partisan border bill at trump’s behest. This is not effective governance. And since the most effective way to see what someone’s going to do is to take a look at what they’ve done, I would never put people like this back in power.
Since any personal disgust I have with trump/vance, and their xenophobia, seems to have no effect on people, let’s employ enlightened self-interest here. Realize that the only people that they’re interested in helping are billionaires. They’ve proven it time and time again. Why would I want to give the keys to government to people who have shown they have no regard for my advancement, my civil and equal rights, my health care or my ability to retire with dignity?
A great example is the Affordable Care Act, which trump has said he wishes to replace. But with what? After 9 years of campaigning and 4 years of that time as president, he still (per his own words) only has the “concept of a plan.” That will not help the 130,000,000+ people with pre-existing conditions – and any replacement plan would surely repeal protections for the same. Again, I am voting for Harris, who with President Biden, already capped insulin prices for seniors at $35 a month. Something ALL GOP voted against.
I’m voting for people who have Americans best interests at heart. Billionaires, I’m not worried about.
Under the Biden/Harris administration, the stock market has never been higher. Domestic investment and manufacturing are at the highest level in many years, as are oil production and oil exports. Gas prices are lower. We have a low unemployment rate of 4.1% – near our 50 year low, which was achieved in 2023. Inflation has been coming down steadily and interest rates have just been cut. And as to food prices, it has been proven in Congress that high grocery prices are mainly due to price gouging by companies like Kroger. So, who do you think is going to help lower grocery prices? People who have shown they only exist to give tax cuts to their rich buddies who are causing the high prices in the first place? Or people who have shown that they are pro-worker, pro-union –- like VP Harris who actually cast the tie breaking vote to save the pensions of 400,000 teamsters.
Every time I listen to VP Harris and Gov. Walz speak, I feel them to be on our side. I trust them to work their hearts out to achieve their policy proposals so, I’m also voting blue down ballot to help them succeed.
I am proudly voting for Harris/Walz. I invite you to do the same.
Please make a plan to VOTE.