Editor, Times-Union:
On Thursday night, two American presidents (one incumbent and one former) will attempt to “debate” and win themselves over to you, the voters. I use quotes around debate because what you will witness will not really be a debate as the process is taught in high school or college. Rather, I am guessing it will merely be a back-and-forth, question-and-answer forum whereby facts, figures, truths, lies, humility and egotism will challenge you to stay awake and maybe take many potty breaks. Track records will be presented truthfully by one candidate, and promises will be made by both candidates. You will have to pay attention to determine which track records affected you positively and which promises will continue to improve your own lives personally.
Which candidate will repeat his promise to lower taxes for big business and big businessmen if they donate billions to his campaign? (A video exists with audio of his promise.) The tax promise includes another promise to remove health, environmental, and other restrictions that these businesses do not like.
Which candidate promises to increase taxes only for those who make over $400,000 per year and the wealthiest individuals and businesses who so far have not paid their fair share but have steadily increased their incomes and profits — thanks to those of us who have paid and are paying more for life’s necessities?
Which candidate promised for years to create a new health care plan to replace an already popular one but never did?
Which candidate did make positive changes to an already popular health care plan, significantly decreased the cost of insulin for seniors, and promises to make the same decrease for all insulin users as well as lowering the cost of several more life-sustaining drugs? Based on his track record, he is the one most likely to deliver on those promises if elected.
Which candidate, according to USA Today, was labeled “The worst jobs president in history” with a loss of 4 million jobs? Snopes 2024 fact checking stated, “During Trump’s term in office, the U.S. suffered its lowest job growth and highest unemployment rate since the Great Depression.”
Which candidate created 14 million jobs in less than four years — 4.9 million higher than before the pandemic?
Which candidate is promising revenge to anyone and everyone who ever uttered a negative word about him, voted against him, prosecuted him, indicted him four times, sat in judgment of him, put limits on his verbal abuse, or attempted to hold him accountable for all his misdeeds?
Which candidate is promising to heal the divisiveness, the bitter vitriol, the hate, violence, and ugliness that is killing the soul of our country?
Which candidate is bragging about stripping away decades-long rights of women, minorities, voters, anyone different from white, straight rich men, and promising to make himself an all-powerful leader with total control over everyone and everything?
Which candidate promises to restore all rights to the masses, dignity to the office, and pride in America?
Pay attention.
Jeanne Tuka Schutz
Winona Lake, via email