LETTER TO THE EDITOR

To the Editor:

I am a registered Democrat. However, I do my best to not be dirty and mean. Of course, sometimes I am and I admit it and do my best to change my ways.

Unlike the Republican party presumptive nominee to run for president of the United States, who is never wrong about anything, I am human. I guess Donald J. Trump is some kind of deity or cyborg (who knows).

I haven’t felt politically united with anything since Jan. 6, 2020. The attack on our Capitol and disruption of the peaceful transfer of power was bad enough. The incitement of the insurrection by our own president who was elected four years before (no problems with our democratic election process then) was even more distasteful. At that time, I did feel united with Democrats and Republicans who voiced initially their fear, then later their condemnation of the events of that day.

Today, I’m not so united with the Republicans who have completely changed their version of what happened that day.

The push-and-pull between conservative and progressive ideologies will continue forever. Unfortunately, executive, legislative and judicial branches of our government have many elected officials who have forgotten, or don’t care about speaking or acting decently.

From national to local officials and representatives, we need people who can do their job by listening to each other and following the collegial process of compromise to achieve the best version of what their constituents are hoping for. I suggest that voters avoid casting their ballots for loudmouths or cry-babies.

Just to make all of the MAGA zombies out their get a dose of outrage, I’ll be the dirty Democrat for this thought. All Republicans have seemed to become anti-science and anti-medicine. My question to them is: Do you want to continue moving forward with science and medicine or should we just stop where we are or go backward?

Of course, no matter what politicians think, scientists and doctors march on, and our abilities to heal and kill march onward with them.

My fear at this stage of my life is that our moral guide rails are not keeping pace. Those guide- ails don’t come from executive decree or even from legislation. They come from what parents teach their children.

Final thought, or question: How can an election be fine and dandy to Trump if he wins, but rigged and corrupt if he loses?

Truthfully, I’m not sure what I want the outcome to be. I’m pretty sure that a peaceful transfer of power will take place if Trump wins. Of course, our America that is so awful now will be great again. If he loses, at the very least, the circus of which he is the ringmaster will continue and he will continue to cry and wave his arms and invite everyone to stay for his greatest show on earth. Sorry I’ll pass.

Al Vogt

Monongahela