written 30 June, 2024
published 7 July 2024
The first debate showed Biden is indeed an old man. He has spinal arthritis and walks slowly. He had a summer cold and his voice was raspy. He talked softly and lost his train of thought at times. However, when he spoke, he was relatively coherent,
and answered the debate questions with actual facts and policies.
Trump showed his true nature as well. He is a pathological liar, and a totally self-obsessed bully. Post-debate CNN fact checkers documented over 30 major lies. Trump never answered the questions asked, despite repeated requests from the moderators, but returned over and over to his standard fantasy: America is a hell hole, and it is all Biden's fault (or Pelosi's, or migrant invaders, but never him). He refused to take responsibility for any of his actions, claiming America was perfect during his term, but immediately went downhill after he left.
Biden looked weak, but relevant, and Trump looked mentally ill, autocratic, and irrelevant.
Like it or not, these are probably our choices in November. However, in America, we don't have an authoritarian as President (although Trump and Republicans plan to change that). It isn't just the person in the Oval Office, but an entire team, at all levels of government, that actually make things happen. So, in addition to focusing on the strength or weakness of the presidential candidates, it is important to look at the team with which they are aligned.
When the candidates were asked the one question about the climate crisis, Trump described how the water and air were "perfect" during his term, and Biden discussed the IRA legislation, which is the largest climate action yet taken in the US. Despite being hindered by their big business ties, the Democrats understand the climate crisis, while the Republicans deny it even exists, legislating in Florida against any official mention. Trump told the fossil fuel executives if they gave him $1B and he would remove all the climate legislation limiting their desire to kill the planet for trillions in profit.
The Republican dominated Supreme Court (stacked by Trump), is waging relentless war on women, yearning to return us to the days when women "knew their place" (barefoot and pregnant). Republicans in Arizona support laws written in the 1864, having learned nothing since.
Republicans in Louisiana are taking us even further back: to Moses, 3500 years ago. The Ten Commandments are now required in every school in that state, setting a "moral standard" for all, and other Republican led state are following suit. Recently, Bill Maher, a confirmed atheist, pointed out the first four commandments support God's ego, as if he is insecure. Another five prohibit killing, adultery, stealing, coveting, and lying (Trump fails at least four of these), but there is nothing about rape, slavery, or child abuse. Perhaps Republicans aren't too concerned about those, as they make war on women, support low wage slavery, and want to put children to work.
Moses led the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt, and went up on the mountain to commune with God. The masses got bored, and cast a golden calf to worship, a vestige of their previous religion. When Moses returned with the Commandments, he was upset by this retrograde behavior, and the tribes were condemned to wander in the desert for 40 years until all the transgressors had died. Moses's God is judgmental, punishes the wicked, and fear of God is expected.
1500 years later, Christ brought a new set of rules, teaching that God should be loved, the essence of a unity perspective. Both sets of rules are included in the Bible as the Old and New Testament, and fundamentalist Christians worships both sides, so you should be God fearing to be a "good" Christian, but also love God.
This confusion of love and fear seems insane, as they are polar opposites. Despite this, many people strive to live Christ's spirit of love, but the religious organizations founded by men are often aligned with fear, guilt, judgement, and punishment.
The US Constitution declares a separation between Church and State, allowing each to choose for themselves. But Republicans, supporting self-proclaimed "Christian nationalists", self-righteously believe they know what is best, and are willing to force Old Testament morality upon everyone.
Those are the choices this November. The leader of the party is consequential, but so is what their party has in mind.
