I believe the reality of modern day politics is that policy doesn't matter, only personality. I believe that's largely how Barack Obama was elected and that's why Donald Trump is doing so well this election season.
Donald Trump has no plan, and when asked about any of his plans he speaks in confident vagaries. Apparently "conservatives" adore him but he was a liberal just a few years ago and still holds many leftist points of view. He's even left of Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders on some issues. Yet he's been the front-runner in the republican party for the past couple of months!
I've thought about this at length and have decided we have come to the conclusion that people just don't care about the issues. I have already come to expect this from the left when their main points against Mitt Romney seemed to ranged from Big Bird to Binders Full of Women. However, I expect more from the right. Why has every non-general election in the past decade been a landslide for conservatives? I contend it's because more people on the conservative side are actively engaged even when it's not "cool" to do so like in a general election.
However this whole Donald Trump fiasco has gotten me extremely worried and frankly, sad for our country. Trump doesn't have specific policy ideas on many issues and the policy he does present ranges from hopelessly naive, to straight up progressive/liberal. He's even more arrogant than Barack Obama (I never would have thought that possible). Matching arrogance for arrogance is a very dangerous road to go down.
This is what happens when identity politics enters the conservative movement. Conservatives vote for barely-conservatives simply because they are sick and tired of being pushed around by liberal media and finally someone has the guts to stand up to it. Yeah ok, you got me there, but what is he going to do about Russia and Syria? How is he going to clean up the disaster of foreign policy (or lack thereof) of the Obama administration? Is he going to promote freedom and due process, or just ignore the constitution and congress with executive order in the name of "getting things done". Do you actually think he's going to make Mexico pay for a wall?
Under no circumstances will I vote for Trump, and if he gets the nomination, I'm officially throwing up my hands and giving up on the American people.
Dare to know your principles and how the candidates propose policy aligns with them.
Do some research on the issues every now and then. Try to muster the courage to examine the opposing side of the issue. Our nation's prosperity is not guaranteed, our future will be determined by the decisions we make now.
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