The United States has never been perfect. But it has been a beacon in the world for freedom, democracy, equal rights, and human rights. It has been a leader among nations in fighting for those ideals, and it has led by example. Unfortunately, that is no longer true. The United States is now on the road to becoming a rogue nation -- a nation that does not respect other nations or even care for human rights anymore.
Donald Trump started the move toward becoming a rogue nation shortly after being sworn into office. He has made it clear that the United States no longer respects agreements it has made with other countries, and doesn't care how violating those agreements affects other nations. He calls it "America First" -- a misnomer, since the violations don't just hurt other nations, but also hurts U.S. citizens and damages the reputation of this country.
Trump has:
* Withdrawn from the TPP.
* Has tried to re-negotiate NAFTA to favor the U.S., and failing that, says he would withdraw from it.
* Withdrawn from the Paris Accords on global climate change.
* Banned refugees (especially muslims), even though U.S. economic and military action created many of those refugees.
* Announced the U.S. would violate the terms of the Iran Nuclear Agreement (and imposed new sanctions on Iran than would affect many other nations).
* Damaging our relations with U.S. allies, and glorifying dictators (North Korea, Turkey, Russia, etc.).
* Placing tariffs on the products of other nations (Canada, Mexico, China, the European Union).
* Destroying any hope of Mid-East peace by moving U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem
* Announcing the U.S. would withdraw from the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.
That last is because that commission had spoken up against Trump's deplorable policy of tearing children away from immigrant parents (both economic immigrants and asylum-seeking refugees) at the border and sending those children to detention facilities (or a tent city in the Texas desert).
This is just the latest human rights abomination by Trump. He has also rescinded protection for "Dreamers" (those brought to the U.S. as children, and have received an education here and also obeyed all U.S. laws -- many even serving in the u.S. military), making those young people subject to deportation from the only country they have really known.
He has also banned refugees, and wants to stop immigration from places he calls "shit hole countries" (African and Latin American countries).
He has called for harsher criminal penalties, even though the U.S. already has 25% of the world's total prison population.
Refused to keep his promise to provide all Americans with decent and affordable health insurance, and has actually taken actions that resulting in millions more people without any insurance at all.
Refuses to raise the minimum wage (currently $7.25 an hour), which keeps hard-working people in poverty.
Americans have always prided themselves on living in the best nation in the world. Is that still true? Only if you're looking through rose-colored glasses with blinders on. We are on the road to becoming a third-world style rogue nation, and Trump takes us farther down that road with each passing month.
It doesn't have to be this way. We have the power to make a change with our right to vote. But we cannot make that change by refusing to exercise that right. Make your voice heard this November -- by casting a vote for common sense economics, decency, and human rights. Cast out the Trump-supporting Republican officials.
