This commentary is by Ron Lawrence, of Essex Junction.
There is so much talk about division these days. I guess that’s what sells newsletters. For my part, I have made it a point in my life to talk to people with different perspectives on the world than my own. There are numerous examples, but a common thread throughout is how often we make poor assumptions about the other.
Ron Lawrence
I was recently identified as a “right-wing antagonist” in another opinion piece in VTDigger. I’d like to know what the author finds as so objectionable. I’ve been lumped in with a crowd of “Trumpsters” — like supporting President Trump is a bad thing.
And, seriously, just what exactly is the objection to President Trump? For many of us, President Trump did what we all knew was possible right along. We simply haven’t elected any officials, Republican or Democrat, with the backbone to follow through with their promises.
Trump told us what he was going to do, and why. He effectively controlled the southern border. He made us energy independent. He single-handedly breathed new life into our economy through his policies and through his personal charisma. He made NATO members start paying their fair share, turned things around with a crazy North Korean dictator, and succeeded in identifying the Chinese Communist Party as the enemy that they are. Compare this to where we are now. What’s not to like? Do you really object to these policies? Or perhaps it is simply that President Trump was effective?
Why should people be so demonized for supporting him? One very poor assumption is that Trump supporters support Trump, the man, at all costs. Nothing could be further from the truth. We support Trump because Trump believes in our American ideals. His actions conveyed his beliefs that our government belongs to the people, that personal liberty is integral to our prosperity as a nation, and less government is better because it exerts less coercion on our lives. His actions definitely spoke louder than his words.
Another poor assumption is that many Republicans don’t support Gov. Phil Scott simply because he didn’t support Trump. Well, that’s not quite right either. But, how can our governor expect unity when he has made such a show of his vote for President Joe Biden? How does he model unity when he doesn’t show for GOP events, work with GOP leadership, or calls half of his Party “racists”?
The governor could turn this situation around in a heartbeat. But that rests squarely with him and not with the Republican Party.
So all you purveyors of equity, inclusion and social justice, if you are sincere in your claims to promote justice, you should try actually talking to a conservative. You just might find your assumptions being challenged.
Thank you for a very well written, articulate commentary!!
When I hear it’s the elites who hate Trump and those deplorable conservatives, it makes me wonder just who these so called elites are? The ones I’ve suspected of thinking they were elite were the types that had to hire someone to change a light bulb in in their home. These are the educated fools that think they know more than others but aren’t bright enough to know they aren’t. When it comes to those inclusive, bleeding heart types, most of their decisions are made with emotion and the urge to show how virtuous they are. These are the urban dwellers who live where life is easy, the police are just down the street, the city is lit up at night and the sidewalks are plowed.
Yes and there are the rural elites too. Many of them escaped some over crowded state where the only difference from one town to the next is the sign telling you you’re in another town like around Boston. These people found the quiet solitude of Vermont on a ski trip, sold their city house for an enormous amount and moved their trust fund to the local bank and now think they are a Vermonter. They still vote for the same things that drove them out of the over populated, crime ridden hell they escaped from, these are the elites. They got into local politics to save us backwoods Vermonters and look at what they’ve done!
I can spot one of these elites a few yards away either by the clothes they wear, by the Prius they drive or by the smug smirk they always seem to have on their face. These are the Biden supporters. You know this because of the Bernie Bumper sticker displayed beside the COEXIST one right next to the I love Vermont sticker.
I’m sure many of them just don’t get it and are fine people but they’re not Vermonters.
I’ve been around for quite some time and I know a few things myself. First, I don’t want to be with an elite person if trouble is brewing, I don’t trust them. Second, if they can’t fix anything what good are they? Third, why would I want to hang around with someone who knows everything, I’m still learning. Fourth, If you don’t like me or call me names because I’m not like you I’m glad I’m not. From what I’ve seen of these elite people it reminds me of how much I miss my old dog. She loved me no matter what, changed my life for the better, was always happy to see me and trusted me with her life. I just don’t get the same feeling from those elites. They’re just not my people! I like Donald Trump for his love of America and what he did to improve it. He stepped forward, not for personal gain but because he could see the wrong way our country was going. If you can’t see that, you must be an elite snob. If you voted for Joe Biden and the democratic mess we are in now, you owe us all an apology. I wish I could bring back my old dog. I guess I’ll have to settle for Trump 2024!
Re: “I’d like to know what the author finds as so objectionable.”
Why ask why? As Fredrich Nietzsche said: “Sometimes people don’t want to hear the truth because they don’t want their illusions destroyed.”
Yes, that can be said of all of us. But just check out Digger’s Danziger cartoons. Without Trump stuck in his craw, Danziger would be relegated to bathroom wall graffiti… which is where he and Digger are anyway. As another saying goes, ‘throw enough s—t against the wall and some of it’s bound to stick sooner or later’.
My advice: Forget about them. Become James Fenimore Cooper’s ‘Noble Savage’. “Don’t try to understand them; and don’t try to make them understand you. For they are a breed apart and make no sense”.
In the meantime – get your house in order… if you know what I mean.