You have a nice grasp of reality in my opinion, and you are clearly right about so many things! (If you wanted to run for public office, I could see myself supporting you.) Especially you are right about how the average citizen's eyes will glaze over if one drifts off into economic detail. I am a student of economics so I beg your forgiveness on this most glaring of my faults. I'm thinking that what many of us presume to be a general crookedness in our politicians is not that so much as it is a result of what they, the politicians, believe they have to do to get elected and then to keep their jobs. I'm referring to funding of political campaigns, and acquiescing to lobbyists. As part of her platform, Clinton has adopted repeal of 'Citizens United,' something I strongly favor, whereas Republicans seem favorably disposed toward 'Citizens.' And Trump is silent on it. No? In the long run, in addition to all of us being dead, we will have to accept that when the internet arrived a new paradigm of commerce and education entered our world. It seems to be in the nature of our species that the older we are the more we will be given to denial. Nevertheless, it is impossible for us to go back; if for no other reason than today's six-year-olds are not going to let that happen! Let's choose our politicians wisely knowing that there is no going back. There is only denial and strife or acceptance, adjustment and adaptation. Clinton has shown in her campaign that she can adapt. She has adopted nearly two-thirds of the Sander's initiatives! The other candidate has also shown that he can adapt; a different position weekly, or oftener, on each issue. What kind of leadership is such a person so incapable of introspection or analysis capable of?
I'm aware of this. I'm strictly opposed to going to war with anyone without congressional. approval. I am strictly opposed to American lives being put in harms way to defend U.S. corporate interests abroad. Let the corporations hire mercenaries if they will. I believe in absolute and strict adherence to the war powers act. I like Obama's policy of extremely limited involvement of U.S. service personnel on the ground in the Middle East. It is a wise policy. In these same regards I fear Trump even more than Clinton! Let us keep in mind that operational funding of America's continuous wars is by special appropriation; not the DOD appropriation. We can cut Defense a bit by holding it's appropriation constant in the face of inflation. A policy I favor. I think Hillary will look to the defense regular budget for places to cut with minimal impact on Service personnel. Defense contractors would take a manageable hits.
Thank god we don't have to listen to that useless bitch for the next 4 years. Here is what I believe led to her defeat: "It's the Economy Stupid" Hillary should have listened to her husbands advisors. She lost because she was defeated in rust belt states that Trump flipped. When O'Bama won these states in 08' and 12' nobody was saying they were racist, homophobic or whatever is the democrats subset victim group du jour. They did not suddenly become deplorables in 16'. The economic and employment situations in these states is not good. Trump tapped into this economic discontent The hyped-up jobs numbers coming out of the labor department were not all that rosy. New jobs being created were low paying and part time. The liberal elites may not have realized this fact, but the citizens of theses states felt the effects. Throw the recent O'Bama care increases into the mix and you create a perfect storm. As usual the economy ruled the day. If the elites don't realize this the Trumps of the world will continue to win.