Why I Voted for Trump

It happened. Trump shocked the world. Expected to lose by 3.5 percentages points, he ended up narrowing losing the popular vote, but carrying the electoral college by 306 votes to 232 for HRC, due to his strength in the Rust Belt. The last Republican to carry all three states of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania was Ronald Reagan in 1984 when he defeated Walter Mondale by over 18 points in the nationwide popular vote. Donald Trump won all 3 of these states despite narrowly losing the popular vote.

Starting as a strong Marco Rubio supporter, eventually becoming a #NeverTrumper and Gary Johnson supporter, I finally changed my mind in the last week of the race and voted tentatively for Donald Trump.

Yes, I said it – I voted for Donald Trump. This is anathema to nearly everyone who posts on my Facebook feed. In fact, if Hilary had won, I wasn’t even going to post anything, but since the opposite has happened I feel the need to explain why I voted this way. Because of this, I have decided to take the time to post some lists that I hope you will take the time to consider.

Why I Voted for Trump (despite my many, many reservations…):

1. I realized that I was taking what Trump said literally, but not seriously.
2. The Technological Singularity won’t happen unless America makes some fundamental policy changes. Technological progress must be revived for a better future.
3. He might be a terrible President, but I knew Hilary would be horrible, so I decided it was worth a calculated risk. Besides, this is what checks and balances in our Republic is all about.
4. Trump’s victory will make liberals rethink their beliefs about the world, many of which IMHO are fundamentally incorrect. I think it’s important to have 2 parties that share power in governance; that’s why I voted for 4 Democrats in North Carolina. Before this election, I’d never voted for a Democrat.
5. I believe the economy is going to undergo a deep recession in the next 2-3 years, and I want to make sure that our policy makers respond correctly this time. I can’t think of an economic policy they got right in 2008-09.
6. (I admit perhaps not a good reason to vote for Trump) I have never felt so bullied and ignored in my life for being a conservative / libertarian thinker as I have by my supposedly tolerant, liberal, educated community as I have in the past year. I have never felt so socially isolated from the people who I consider to be my friends and coworkers and who I truly believe are good, decent people. Almost all my conversations about politics and culture have taken place 1-on-1 over text and Facebook messenger because I just got so sick and tired of everything I said being caricatured as being racist, sexist, or privileged. Apparently a lot of people felt the same way, and felt like they didn’t have a voice either.

Lessons for Liberals:

1. Stop assuming the worst in people who disagree with you. Stop talking down to people. Vox – The smug style in American liberalism.
2. Weigh results more than promises and good intentions. Peter Thiel - RNC Speech
3. Consider the economic interests of people who are different from you. Joel Kotkin - War Between the States
4. Be flexible and willing to change. Matthew Yglesias – Democrats are in denial.
5. Realize it’s never, ever over for what you believe in.

Don’t Forget What You Accomplished:

1. The end of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
2. Marriage equality for all.
3. The tide is finally turning on the War on Drugs.
4. The first black President was elected not once, but twice. It still matters.
5. You nominated the first female nominee of a major party. It’s not the same as winning it all, but it still matters.
6. It’s inarguable that the United States is becoming a more tolerant, pluralistic nation. You’ve helped shape that destiny, and no one, not even Donald Trump can erase it.

Originally posted on Facebook on November 9, 2016:
https://www.facebook.com/notes/10159156478556934/