Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save In his letter of Dec. 3 (“Sad, embarrassed, disillusioned”), Bill Lauer asks how we can explain the election of Donald Trump to our children (and lists the many negative attributes of our soon to be president. Here are some explanations I have thought of or read from others: 1. Many Americans are still racist and sexist, and Kamala Harris is a woman with color in her skin. This is the very image that many Americans fear beyond all others. 2. Many of our colleges and universities have stopped teaching psychology, except to psych majors. So very few Americans have the knowledge that would help them recognize the severity of Donald Trump’s multiple mental illnesses. Many of our past presidents have had some level of psychological disturbance, of course, but never anything like what we see in Donald Trump. 3. Our high schools stopped teaching civics/government quite awhile back. So most Americans do not understand how our own government works and what is needed for it to work well. People are also reading... The real reason Corvallis' Pastega Lights moved to Linn County Corvallis chemical manufacturer eyes Albany for expansion UPDATED: GAPS teacher strike NOT off after talks over returning to the classroom break down Recently made-over park sees this change after Albany got an earful Corvallis decides layout for new civic campus — with a side of strife Agreement reached (again), GAPS teachers get new contract Albany man pleads to numerous sex crimes Strike to end, GAPS reaches tentative deal with Albany teachers Philomath moves forward following July Nazi flag controversy Court dismisses jail-related Benton County whistleblower complaint 2025 to bring rate increases, new fee for hauling Corvallis waste Corvallis woman cuts hair for homeless: 'The Lord gave me a calling' OSU football: Beavers add 18 players as signing period opens Graduate employees reach deal with OSU to end strike Family objects to Jefferson man’s sex offense sentence 4. The Democrats failed to appeal to the working class of America. 5. Americans have been angry and scared about the economy for a long time, and we blame whoever is in power. This all began when Ronald Reagan changed the tax laws, so that the rich paid less and the middle class paid more. He gave so much to the rich that it also required gutting social programs for the poor. After several years of “Reagonomics,” people were angry and scared and turned to Bill Clinton. Clinton solved some problems but did not change the tax structure back to what it had been, so the harm to the middle class continued, as did the lack of programs for those that now fell into poverty. Consequently the fear and anger increased, and Americans swapped parties and made George W. Bush the next president. Bush, however, created two more tax cuts for the rich, driving even more middle class folks into poverty. More anger and fear developed, and there was a switch of parties over to Barack Obama. Obama did nothing about changing the tax laws to help the middle class, and folks were so scared and angry that they elected Donald Trump, a man with no political experience or acumen. Trump immediately provided yet another tax cut for the rich at the expense of the middle class, pushing ever more working class folks into poverty and Americans swing, yet again. This time to Joe Biden. Biden did some good things for the economy, in general, but did not change the tax code. So the average American continues to suffer, and in their desperation the American people swung back to Trump. 6. Americans have a long-standing habit of voting against their own best interests. Mark Weiss Mark Weiss lives in Corvallis with his brilliant wife, two cats and a dog. He was a counselor in our community for 39 years. Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly!Serverless Architecture Market: Serverless Architecture to Hit USD 50.86B by 2031

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