Aug 9, 2016 2 min read

The conventions are over and the major parties have given us Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. I do not find this a happy choice.

I understand the appeal of Trump and can even enjoy the outrage he provokes among the elite and intelligentsia. Given their condescending self-righteousness, they’ve earned some discomfort. But I also find Trump dangerously erratic and an enthusiast for whatever happens to be on his mind at the moment. He also seems to share a quality with President Obama – both seem to think that our problems will disappear when confronted by the force of their sheer magnificent presence. That did not happen with Obama and I doubt Trump would be any different. I voted for Obama in 2008, and eight years later, instead of hope and change, what I have is sympathy for people who bought Edsels. I am reminded of that Who song, “Won’t Get Fooled Again.”

Clinton has parallels to Lyndon Johnson. She has a reputation for deceit and questionable ethics, but we are told to back her because the Republican choice is so dangerous. If she wins and history repeats itself, that means that by 2020 her flaws will have caught up with her, her presidency will be in ashes, the nation will have its worst divisions in decades and the people who told us to vote for her will be looking for some progressive hero to save them.

I will in all likelihood vote for Libertarian presidential nominee Gary Johnson. His positions are close enough to my values, he was a reasonably effective governor of New Mexico and he does not seem to labor under any messianic delusions about himself or government power. I don’t think it’s a choice I will end up regretting.

Robert Fisher

Corona, Ariz.