IT WAS THE ECONOMY, AFTERALL

 So we got a wake up call on Election Night: Trump won...carrying all the battleground states and winning the popular vote! I admit I was disappointed and frankly I was surprised as well.

As the post-mortem of the election results have unfolded I found out about many of the political ads that were shown on channels I do not watch as well as ads shown locally in the battleground states. Had I known about these, I would have been more measured in my hope for Kamala's victory.

Those ads focused on use of taxpayer funds for elective sex change operations for incarcerated individuals touting this as something advocated by Vice-President Harris. There were ads alleging that the Vice-President favored post-birth execution of babies-- that is NOT a thing! There were also ads alleging that boys were being dropped off at school in the morning and being picked up as boys in the afternoon! That, too is NOT happening...any time...anywhere in the country. Period.

As I write this, these allegations are preposterous to me: I know that these things are not happening.

But if I heard it thousands of times and had no other information to refute these statements perhaps even I would have believed them. Probably not, but possibly. 

At least it helps me understand the misinformation those viewers were subjected to, indeed that they were brainwashed into believing. Of course, if these things were truly the positions of an administration, of course, I would have voted against that administration.

But, there's more. Trump focused on the facts that the price of groceries and gas is higher now than the prices four years ago. That is true. And people do tend to blame the administration in power for things that occur on their watch. The fact that there are extenuation circumstances that led to this inflation-- post- pandemic supply chain issues, price gouging, bird flu epidemic---but nonetheless, the prices at the grocery store and the gas pump are in fact higher and the reasons, for those living pay check to pay check, simply did not matter. Something had to change. They would certainly vote for change. And, they did.

In addition, people remember that at the beginning of Trump's first term prices were lower and the economy was felt to be in good shape. However, what is not remembered is that those low prices and good economy were the results of President Obama's administration. President Obama handed Trump a great economy, which as the President in power when people experienced it, Trump received credit for that great economy.

Vice-President Harris ran a flawless campaign, raised a billion dollars, had hundreds of thousands of volunteers who knocked on doors to get out the vote. She brought positive plans to address the economy, small business development, child care costs, first home down payment help, and a positive message to bring the country together.

Her qualifications exceed those of any candidate for President in recent history certainly, having served as District Attorney, Attorney General of California, United States Senator, and Vice-President of the United States. The impression spread that people needed to get to know her could have been addressed by a Google search. She certainly went on countless shows not just 60 Minutes but late night comedy shows, podcasts and others.  In the Presidential Debate, she wiped up the floor with Trump.

During her term as Vice-President Kamala Harris represented the President around the world in many high level meetings with world leaders not the least of which was President Zellinsky of Ukraine. She met with small business leaders and others to facilitate the expansion and financing of small businesses. She advanced a plan to enlarge the housing pool to respond to homelessness as well as the housing shortage.

Trump, on the other hand, advanced no policies. He plans to deport between 11 to 20 million people from the United States. Since there are a total of 800,000 law enforcement officers in all branches of government it would be logistically impossible for them to round up and deport more than perhaps between one million and three million people, with the consequent vast devastating impact of the loss of cheap labor, tax payers, law abiding citizens on the communities of this country.

He promised to stop the post birth execution of babies-- which is NOT happening; and to stop the forced sex change operations of boys being dropped off at school being picked up as girls-- which is NOT happening. The sex change operations that are carried out within the prison system is being done within the law: he is unable to change the law or the practice. He will simply just stop talking about it now that he is President, and in essence declare victory over that issue.

Regarding the economy, which is the most robust in the world at this time, he will soon take credit for it, just as he did when he took over from President Obama who presided over a booming economy with massive job growth, low inflation, and higher wages in 2017.

Regarding character, the twice impeached, convicted felon, serial sexual assaulter, misogynist, racist, neo-Nazi supporting, Donald Trump has no comparison to the character of Vice-President Harris. His supporters know who he is and they chose him anyway.  They believed the false proposition that he is FOR them. 

He has promised to protect them from migrants, criminals, brown and black people, from loss of their jobs, and they believed him. They expect him to do that. 

But in fact he will not. What he will do is to endeavor to pass even more tax cuts for millionaires, billionaires, and corporations, leading to higher deficits that he will want to cure by cutting Medicare, Social Security, Medicaid and other social programs for middle class and working class families. 

He will take no action to decrease grocery or gas prices. Ultimately, his supporters will be deeply disappointed that he will not fulfill his promises to them.

The bad news is that there is suffering on the horizon for many many people who voted for Trump. The good news is that we Democrats now have four years to revise our messaging to let the middle and working class learn that we are in fact the party representing the interest of the middle and working class people, of labor unions, of seniors and veterans.  That is who we are as Democrats. We need to improve our messaging to convey that to our constituencies.

The other good news is that the suffering that is surely coming for migrant families, American citizens who are brown or black, working class and middle class families and other groups who voted for him will lead them to vote in 2028 for change. And that will accrue to the Democratic party and the American people who will then vote in their own best interests and that is to elect Kamala Harris as the next President of the United States.

PREPARING FOR EXAMINATION

 I just completed my American Board of Family Medicine Examination. It is the most significant test of my adult life. Here is how I prepared for it:

Over the recent few months I completed 150 hours of Continuing Medical Education hours as well as the knowledge based units covering pediatrics, women's care, diabetes, hypertension, musculoskeletal disorders, and health maintenance.

I asked my Rooted sisters and my Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) sisters to pray for me, along with close friends and family, I asked for their prayers. Dozens of people prayed for me.

The night before the exam I went to sleep early and I slept deeply and well. I performed my morning routine. I wrote in my journal while enjoying my first cup of tea. My Scripture reading was from Judges 3, the story of Gideon, who through the power of the Holy Spirit defeated an army of thousands with 300 men. Then I read about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who were challenged to worship an image or be thrown into a fiery furnace. They said no. When they were thrown into the furnace they were not only unharmed there was another in the fire who protected them from harm.

I left early for the hour long drive to the testing center. I was the first to arrive, even before the doors were opened. I went for a walk and took in the fall leaves and brisk wind.

In the testing center I went through the routine and began part one of four sections of the test. First unit I completed with 36 minutes left. I reviewed every question and there was still time left, which I took as my first break.

The second unit went the same way as the first one with time left over and complete review of the questions. I went out for lunch to Cheesecake Factory. I had Shepherd's Pie and 2 glasses of iced tea.

The third and fourth units went similarly. I hit "finish the test" and answered "yes, I'm sure", then I was done. It was finished.

Here is the thing: I was not afraid or nervous. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. I am thankful that I have passed my Board Exam and I now have doors opened to me that were not before. No, I have not been notified of the results. I am confident in the Holy Spirit that it is done.