As a Republican and Christian, I have struggled with President Donald Trump as our standard bearer.
I admire truthfulness, and Trump has been shown to speak mistruths on a daily basis.
I'm disgusted by bullies and cheaters, and Trump not only cheated on all three of his wives but many of the small subcontractors who built his real-estate empire. He sometimes threatened to sue them if they didn't take what he offered. He called this smart; most cheaters would if they got away with it.
Trump's policies for our economy will end up a boom-to-bust scenario. Taxes were cut nearly 60 percent for corporations, some of which already were enjoying record earnings. It resulted in a short-term runup of the stock market, as companies bought back their own stock. In return, the country's 2017 deficit was the largest since 2012.
Republicans as big spenders and increasing deficits? Not what I thought the party stood for.
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Trump's trade policies hurt average citizens, who must spend what they earn to live. Why is it when the Chinese put a retaliatory tariff on soybeans, the price to our farmers goes down, but when we put a tariff on steel the price of domestic steel goes up? Higher steel prices are great for the steel corporations and Minnesota, but the average citizen is going to pay more for everything they consume. These tariffs will eat up the meager tax relief individuals received. There won't be affordable clothing and shoes available if we keep this up.
I will not vote for any Republicans who support the Trump agenda. I believe they will end up hurting everyone except the very rich. Trump's disdain for the environment and climate science, his love of dictators, and his willingness to burn our allies only further support this.
David Baumgarten
Duluth
