The Very, Very Important 2024 Election
By Tim Tremblay
The Mainstream Media, with a slavish devotion to the daily proclamations of the Democratic National Committee, continues to spin a narrative that there are millions of Trump acolytes and devotees who mindlessly support Donald J. Trump without regard to his tone or tenor. The Left uses dog whistles intended to evoke the image of Trump supporters as mesmerized automaton Germans in the era of Hitler.
My interactions with the former president’s supporters tells a completely different story. Trump supporters reflect that they have studied the issues, balanced the risks and benefits, and have concluded that they will vote for Trump, despite misgivings or disagreements with the former president.
This is the case specifically because of a Trump Administration agenda that includes, among other things: lower taxes, fewer superfluous and outdated regulations, sensible control of the borders, judges who adhere to the rule of law, school vouchers, a commitment to uphold federal and state criminal laws, and a healthcare program not dependent on yet another federal bureaucracy.
Put another way, these people, whatever their party allegiance, support policies that reflect an understanding that the great wealth of this country was created because of a free enterprise system that encourages entrepreneurship, work, tenacity, perseverance, family, ethics, community, and faith.
Frank Discussion Required
We are now at a place where there can and should be a conversation about the challenges remaining. However, this conversation must include the question of why policies enacted to defeat poverty have not only not defeated poverty, but have instead created a culture of violence, despair, and disillusionment.
The evidence is particularly apparent in our big cities – notably in cities that have been controlled by Democrats for decades. Leaders in those cities have governed by spending billions of tax dollars to no appreciable benefit to their constituents.
This will not be an easy conversation, as many on the Left don’t want to have that discussion at all. Indeed, they want no dialogue, because a dialogue necessarily involves listening respectfully to points of view with which you may disagree, not just speaking about your own point of view. Such an exchange of ideas also does not involve uncontrollable emotion by yelling, threatening, intimidation, or a rejection of the basic principle of free speech.
Perverse Incentives and Bad Schools
This is not a white or black problem, but an American problem, because it is largely governmental policies – though often well intentioned – that have brought about the destruction of the family and a horrific and disproportionate inner-city crime rate.
This is a conversation that must take place with honesty and sincerity. If progress in opportunity and outcome are to be realized – which is the undoubted hope and desire of all Americans of every stripe, –we must begin this process.
Simply stated, race is not to blame for the disparity in wealth in this country, and race-bating policies will not solve the problem. Indeed, the blame is far less about racism than about the perverse incentives of the welfare state and the deplorable status of inner-city educational opportunities.
No Quick Fix
We cannot expect a quick fix for a problem, decades in the making. We have a public-school educational system that is grossly underperforming, in some areas to the point of near collapse. We could begin with an overhaul of the public-school educational system, requiring responsibility and accountability as a basic premise. This is not to understate the contributions of those teachers who remain dedicated to their profession, and who care deeply about their students.
Reform can come about at many levels. We can acknowledge the tremendous value of the school voucher program. This should be done now. Throwing more billions at a broken system while ignoring the part of the educational system that works so well, resolves nothing.
The current election contrasts could not be more stark. Under a Harris Administration, we can expect: the continuation of a broken border, increased regulations, higher taxes, and an abandonment of the economic system that has made our country so long a model for the rest of the world.
What we need to understand is how critical our 2024 vote is. Our future and the future of our children may well be determined with this election, more so than ever before in our lifetime.
People need to keep this in mind and not make decisions based upon a convenient and catchy “slogan of the day.” Emotion is not a substitute for reason. Neither is the volume of one’s voice a replacement for thoughtful discourse.
Be sure to vote and remember to “stay the course!”
Fewer than 50 tickets left for this Tuesday’s Presidential Watch Party
Your friends at Santa Barbara Current are organizing a Trump / Harris Presidential Debate Watch Party at Mesa Cafe from 5 pm to 8:30 pm, on Tuesday night, September 10. We would very much like for you to join us.
You’ll enjoy a Cash Bar, Heavy Appetizers (provided by Mesa Cafe), Mutual Respect, and, most of all, Friendship (and maybe even some Laughter)
Please invite your friends. This presidential debate is sure to be a pivotal (and probably only) 2024 presidential debate between Trump and Harris!
Mesa Cafe is ordinarily closed after 3 pm, so tickets will be $20/in advance or $30/at the door (if still available). Only 150 tickets will be sold so please order in advance by clicking here
Thanks, Tim. I hear you about the need for a political conversation in this country, and of course you are right. And what I'm about to say will no doubt strike many as a trivial comment to make. But I want to go back to a time when politics weren't all of every conversation I have. I think life was much better and more civilized. Politics belong on SB Current where they're lively, enriching, provocative and, thanks to Jim Buckley, largely polite.
But I want them out of the rest of my social life. I used to love giving parties and throwing our doors open. I don't do it anymore. The party that did me in was in 2018. I was cooking up some Jambalaya when several guests came over wanting me to be as furious over Russian Collusion between Trump and Putin as they were. I said “I'm sorry, but I've read everything on it and there is no evidence of any collusion whatsoever.” One of the guests became enraged at me and said he would have to leave my fascist party. He grabbed his girlfriend and stormed out. But not before stuffing some of my cornbread in his mouth. Later, another guest wrote me that I was no better than Eva Braun because I don't think Trump is a racist, pussy-grabbing Hitler. Much as I love to cook and entertain, I'd had enough.
I blame the Democratic Party for this. They wanted to divide and conquer America and they have divided us through their manipulation of the media, which makes its money now off the divisiveness they caused and the sure fire hit with their audience of blaming Trump for it. They will never conquer America, though, because no one really wants be on their joyless Kamala joyride.
My Pasadena society grandmother always instructed me to never bring up anything of any substance at her parties. I think that was going a bit too far. I mean, it was hard to keep from dozing off at her dinner table given the conversation which was confined to who was related to whom (pronounced whoooom) and doesn't Babsy make the best martinis. And then I'd be awakened by the guy next to me squeezing my knee. Amazing how minds will turn to sex when the conversation pales. But, it wasn't fraught and I didn't get indigestion. Which has been what I've mostly gotten out of social events for the last eight years. I never kept Tums in my purse before 2016.
This is the most important election of my life. And I'm convinced Trump will win if the Democrats actually allow a real election to take place and don't do a Macron. But even if they cheat their way to another four years, Trump will still be my leader. Who else can dodge an assassination bullet and make jokes the next day? We are a better America already because of him. As long as we don't forget to laugh at the comedy called the Democrats.
A very, very important election in deed. The Democrats are getting desperate. Why? Because people are finally waking up to the disastrous results over the past four years. No matter what metric is being discussed; the economy, crime, immigration, education or foreign policy, the Dems have a dreadful track record. Never mind the country is going down the tubes, they CANNOT come to grips with reality. That’s right, their searing hatred for Trump will not allow them to admit liberalism is a complete and utter failure!
During tomorrow night’s debate, Trump MUST remain focused and drive home the fact that people are facing economic hardship and ruin due to liberal, tax and spend, give away policies.
Mr. Tremblay mentions our inner cities and the hellscape many have become. Many cities are facing bankruptcy from failed economic policies and massive influx of illegal immigration. Will liberals ever admit this? Of course not.
Our once golden state is facing devastating consequences resulting from these same policies. Do we have to have an economic meltdown in order for liberals to finally admit they were wrong? No, most likely the Dem party creed will remain the same old tired talking points. “Trump is a racist, criminal, crazy, agent of Russia.” All while our adversaries are laughing at us in disbelief that half of our adult population can be so STUPID.
Enough is enough, ready for change!