Bob Rees and Clifton Jolley: Ten Reasons Why Republicans Should Vote Democrat

The reason Republicans vote Democratic in the next presidential election is that Donald Trump is the most likely Republican candidate. And a vote for Donald Trump is a vote for the dissolution of the Republican Party.

We both like to think of ourselves as progressives. But we have a republican family (or at least distant acquaintances). We therefore respect the fundamental principles of republican capitalism: an autonomous and debt-free republic, protected by a military budget large enough to protect dozens of less ambitious democracies.

Certainly, Trump has already managed to break the bottom of each of these boats, creating a society in which only billionaires can afford to be autonomous; in which the republic continues to incur more debt; in which the army, the police and the security services receive money rather than respect.

If Republican principles must survive, Republicans must vote Democrat – for 10 reasons:

1. Trump is a racist. We had other racist presidents, but (with the exception of Woodrow Wilson), they lived in the 19th century, which we thought was less enlightened, more inclined than modern times (we thought) to tell women of colors and different religions go out "of our white America. Trump reminded us that we are many for whom the 19th century is today.

2. Trump is a liar. We know because the Washington Post tells us so. What we may be inclined to doubt, as our President calls WAPO "False news". But Trump's lies are too big and too numerous for even the false news to be false. (More than 12,000 lies since he became president, and it's not over.)

3. Trump does not pay taxes. According to a comprehensive report (from the New York Times), Trump would have swindled US taxpayers on a half billion dollars. It would take the annual tax of 55,000 citizens like us to fill the deficit due to the stiffening of the IRS by Trump.

4. Trump's tax cuts are untrue (unless you're rich). The Koch Brothers received a $ 1.5 billion boon from the Trump tax bill. Sheldon Adelson received $ 650 million. If you are an average American, you have $ 1,800. And that will be more than offset by the extra cost of the goods you will pay because of Trump's ridiculous trade war.

5. Trump is a demon of deficit spending. Trump's tax and spending bills announce a deficit of $ 1 trillion next year. It's 1 followed by 12 zeros. But do not worry. Republicans – who hate deficits – We are already talking about offsetting the deficit by reducing Medicare and Social Security benefits.

6. Trump is a woman abuser. He persecutes and constantly belittles women. Women of color. White women. All the women. He is criminally accused of sexually assaulting 19 women, and counting.

7. Trump hates children. He illegally (and heartlessly) separated thousands of immigrant children from their parents. (And counting.)

8. Trump is a climate change denier. The old nautical charts, when they ran out of "known world," simply said, "Beyond here, be monsters." We found the monster.

9. Trump has the despotic opinion on the media. When it threatens the press, it threatens our democracy. And our security agencies. And our congress. And whoever does not agree with One True Trump.

10. Trump continues to lie, destroy, corrupt the republic and the moral and decent attitudes of a free people.

If he is re-elected, will he destroy the world? Maybe not.

Maybe just the Republican Party.

Bob Rees, PhD., teaches religion at the Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, California.

Clifton Jolley, PhD., is president of Advent Communications, Ogden.