Trump vs. Biden 2024
Right now (as of July 12th, 2024), everyone seems to be talking about Joe Biden’s cognitive decline, and while that is certainly news-worthy (and quite terrifying as it relates to the fact that he’s our current president), should we be focusing on that, or should we be focusing on the policy differences between the two parties? What ideas make Donald Trump’s vision for America different from Joe Biden’s? We’ve seen 4 years of leadership from both men… a comparison would be helpful. Which vision is better for average American people?
The policy differences are extremely stark. The crevice between the right and the left has been widening for decades, and there has never been an easier time in history to choose which side to be on. Nor has there ever been a time in history in which it was more important to be paying attention to the current political conversation.
The left is arguing that the right is trying to usher in fascism, nationalism and totalitarianism.
The right is arguing that the left is trying to usher in socialism, a one-world-order, and totalitarianism.
Who is right? Well — one thing is certain, they cannot both be right… or can they?
What do these terms mean? It’s important to understand the meaning of words before one weaponizes them against their ideological opponents.
That’s not something large numbers of people concern themselves with these days (especially on social media), but words (believe it or not) do have meaning(s), and it’s time we START concerning ourselves with that fact, otherwise we’ll find ourselves living in a world in which nothing has any meaning at all except for what we’re told.
So. What does the left believe? What does the left want to achieve? The same questions need to be asked of the right. But where to begin?!?
Why do those on the left side of the political crevice call themselves “progressives” and why do those on the right call themselves “conservatives?” What do those terms mean? Why label themselves that way?
Progressivism is the belief that society can be improved through political reformation. By improvement, progressivism seeks to enact equity through direct political action. And by reformation, progressives are constantly seeking to literally re-form almost anything. If they don’t control a mechanism of government, a particular societal way of thinking, or even just a perceived power structure… those fall into their crosshairs as things they must re-form so that it con-forms to their current conceptualization of equity.
Essentially, progressives tend to place a large degree of trust in their government, and the actions government takes in the interest of bringing about equity and equality. So long as the levers of government are controlled by like-minded progressives.
When conservative politicians are in control of those levers of power, progressives tend to be distrusting of the government. To the degree of viewing a conservative government as adversarial to their very existence.
Rather than trying to work WITH conservatives, they actively work against them (often in a hostile manner). So the polarity of the conversation pushes people away from one another, like two magnets pushing away from one another when their positive and negative poles are aligned.
This is how we get to leftists calling conservatives extremist, racist, Nazi, Hitler, etc. if you’re not a friend to a progressive, you’re an enemy. And not just an enemy, but the worst kind of enemy. The worst kind of human. Not even a human. A demon! And so-on.
Once someone gets to the point of viewing their political opponents as inhuman, violence becomes easier to justify. It, in fact, becomes a necessity! And we see that playing out in our culture today. It’s this sort of thinking that continues to widen the crevice between people. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction, and ever farther we are repelled from one another.
Conservatism is the political doctrine that believes in and supports preserving traditional values, institutions, and practices. Conservatives are generally distrusting of the government and government action regardless of which party controls the levers of power.
Conservatives believe in limited, small government. That government power should be reduced significantly. They believe that the government should only be allowed to act when it’s the will of the people. Not to act as an entity in and of itself, exerting its own will UPON the people.
Conservatives also believe in strict adherence to the rule of law. Justice (in the conservative vernacular) means that everyone is bound by the same law. Conservatives find equality in the rule of law. All are judged equally under that rule. No favoritism for anyone, from the President down to a homeless person on the streets.
Conservatives also tend to be more religious, or at least acknowledge the foundational importance of the Biblical law and how the Bible shaped the constitution and the foundation of this country.
They also fiercely believe in individual freedoms. They reject the idea that government gives people rights. They believe that rights are part of the natural law and extend little further than what was laid out in the preamble of the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. That all are free in their pursuit of life, liberty and happiness, and that the constitution limits the intrusion of government upon our lives.
And in those two comparisons — progressivism vs. conservatism, one can start to see the stark differences between Trump and Biden. When you peel back all of the political rhetoric that both sides spew on one another, at the end of the day it comes down to a pretty obvious choice.
Conservative vs Progressive Political Stances
The truth is that there are scores of differences between the parties, but shockingly few really understand their own side of the chasm, much less what people think on the other side.
Generally, people gather on each side and throw insults at one another. There’s never really an effort on either side to understand the other. Which is sad, because we’re all Americans. Brothers and sisters engaged in an endless virtual civil war of attrition. Hurling hatred at one another as the gap between us grows ever wider.
I have always invited people to at least take enough time and effort to understand why they believe what they believe. Don’t just dogmatically cling to a set of ideals just because your family or your friends think that way. Take responsibility for yourself and figure out who you are. What you believe. Which ideology your vote is empowering. Because if you’re voting in opposition to your belief system… why the heck are you voting in the first place?
And remember — at the end of the day, your choice isn’t about personalities; it isn’t about saving democracy. It’s about voting for the person you believe is the closest representation of your system of beliefs. Therefore, choose wisely.