Friends of the Earth emailed me asking for my signature on a petition against Donald Trump. They claimed he has started unnecessary wars in Venezuela and Iran. However, there were valid reasons for those conflicts.
Iran was enriching uranium to 60% — a level with no realistic peaceful purpose — and could relatively easily reach the 90% weapons-grade level required for nuclear weapons. Many Americans consider a nuclear-armed Iran with missiles capable of striking U.S. cities unacceptable.
Venezuela had been ruled by a dictator who suppressed free enterprise, empowered gangs and bureaucrats, and drove the country into economic collapse. Removing that regime offered a chance to restore liberty and opportunity.
I appreciate Friends of the Earth’s passion for the environment, but we must choose politicians based on ideas and principles — not personalities or party loyalty.
Even though Donald Trump’s ideas are generally preferable to those of the Democrats on national security, borders, energy, and economic realism, they are still not adequate on their own to directly correct the serious ecological insults to the Earth and its atmosphere. We urgently need a genuine policy of ecological economics — yet neither major party is seriously pursuing it.
Democrats, in particular, seem afraid to take clear, practical stands on critical issues: securing borders, verifying voter eligibility, raising wages for working Americans, increasing taxes on the ultra-wealthy, and managing a fair transition to sustainable economics as the economy rapidly shifts toward robotic and AI-driven production.
Instead, the Democratic Party has largely become a vehicle for anti-Trump hatred and cults of personality. That approach offers no real solutions.
Since the end of the Cold War, the Dow has risen roughly 1,500% while median household income has grown only about 30% in real terms. This massive disconnect, along with exploding public debt and wealth concentration not seen since the Gilded Age, shows how badly we need better ideas.
I support a strong, practical environmental agenda for a sustainable planet — but it can only succeed with a secure nation, secure borders, and a sustainable citizenry first. Without secure elections and secure borders, even the best environmental goals will fail.
Elections should be decided by substantive ideas and principles, not tribal hatred or personality cults. That’s why many Americans back Trump: not because of his style, but because — imperfect as they are — his ideas currently align better with the real challenges facing the country.
