Rationalizing the Lesser Evil

Like this image? Get it on a t-shirt here!

Well, it looks like 2016 has found its contenders for America’s November Mud Wrestling Derby:  Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.  Now, for a man generally accustomed to voting for the lesser of two evils, I was initially perplexed upon who to vote for.  It was like trying to decide whether I wanted my prostate exam to be performed with a pineapple or a straight razor.  Ultimately though, it did not take much thought to come up with the lesser evil after putting a few minutes thought into it.  I cannot vote for Trump.  The reasons being:

1. First and foremost, I want someone with at least a HINT of impulse control with their finger on the button.  I am no pacifist, but I do not want our young people sent into harm’s way because some entitled thin-skinned sissy got his ego bruised
2. As a veteran, I am tired of being used as some sort of patriotic prop by a draft dodger who avoided Vietnam not out of some sort of principle, but because he lacked the dedication to his country to serve, and had the resources required to get out of going.  Sure, he gave a few millions to veteran’s groups recently, but only because the press called him on it
3. Hostility to the press:  Granted, our press is a mockery to the profession of journalism, but it still remains the ONLY tool we have to ensure at least SOME transparency among our elected officials.  Trump’s extraordinary efforts to muzzle them, bully them and restrict them show me he has little respect for, or intent to uphold, the first amendment.
4. Fear mongering:  If there is one tool dictators the world over employ it is fear.  They use some sort of bogey man to spook those under their control into relying upon them alone to keep them safe from whatever it is that scares them.  Usually it is the threat of invasion (North Korea) or the ascension of some sort of rival ethnic group that will commit all sorts of atrocities against them if they ever seize power (Iraq).  Trump uses illegal immigration, terrorism and socialism to whip the weak minded into the required apoplectic fit of hysterical xenophobia.  A worthy politician will sell hope to get elected, not fear to divide and conquer.
5. Trump is not exactly stoking fear in our potential adversaries such as Vladimir Putin or Kim Jong Un.  He is, on the other hand, stoking a considerable amount of fear in our allies.
6. Moral Depravity.  I can’t disagree with you on how corrupt or depraved Hillary Clinton may be.  I have no doubt that she takes all kinds of corporate money and intends to do her sponsors’ bidding once she takes office.  The idea that Trump is any better is laughable.  Where the Clintons took the money, Trump provided it (by his own freakin’ admission!)  Trump is not running to fix this system – he is just cutting out the middle man.  I firmly believe that a Trump presidency will do nothing to benefit anybody but Trump.
7. Education.  The fact that Trump has made it this far is a damning testament to just how badly our educational system has failed us.  Trump will do nothing to improve this because, if you remember his victory speech in Nevada this year, he loves the poorly educated!
8. Trump supporters.  People like the KKK love Trump.  I am not saying all people voting for Trump are like the KKK but those who enthusiastically support him do not strike me as deep thinkers.  In fact, if I listed all of those I know whose counsel I would seek to enlighten me on some topic I just could not get my head around, every one of them is a steadfast Trump opponent to a man.  On the other hand, those I do know who enthusiastically support him are typically followers who parrot what they hear on the radio or read on Facebook.  They are people generally not accustomed to doing their own thinking.

I could throw up a few more why Hillary would be a better president than Trump but I have to get to work.  Don’t get the impression I am endorsing Hillary, she is a deeply flawed candidate and probably one of the most repulsive people to ever run for the office (fortunately for her, she is not THE most repulsive).  What she is though, is the candidate of the status quo.  By electing her, we will just keep things the way they are, maybe buy us a little time until someone can come up with a shot of political penicillin to make the burning go away.  I personally will not be voting for either, unless it looks like Trump has a real possibility of taking Michigan as I do believe her to be the proverbial lesser evil.  Michigan is a comfortably blue state though, so I will probably pick a 3^rd party to cast a protest vote for.  I am under no illusions though, this will make no difference as most Americans will vote for either Trump or Clinton because either party could nominate Satan himself and the party faithful will vote for him anyway because we are too weak minded to do anything else.