Are we worse off?

I have already cast my ballot, but here is a run-down of why I voted the way I did.

First, both Social Security and Pensions have increased nicely the past several years under Biden/Harris. DJT/JDV and the GOP want to eliminate or cut Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid, so forget them. Yes, life has been better under the Blue watch, so they got my vote. Also, Harris has a plan to continue funding Social Security for a number of decades. DJT's plan will make SS insolvent within 6 years (or sooner).

Secondly, our grocery bills are pretty much back to where they were when Biden/Harris came into office. Once they got the supply chain issues straightened up (which had been royally screwed by the previous administration (and Covid). Yes, they were higher at first, but are now back to where they were. Lumber prices were high, but are now back to normal. Whatever Biden/Harris have been doing has worked. Blue gets my vote on the basic economy (and I do note the records set by the various market indexes/indices).

Interest rates are coming down, making housing a bit more affordable. Harris/Walz have plans that appear to continue to build or create more affordable housing. DJT/JDV have word salads that don't even begin to resemble concepts of a plan, let alone an actual identified plan. Blues win here, too.

Biden/Harris have rebuilt our relationships with our allies and strengthened NATO. Our "spending" on Ukraine is helping them fight off the Russian invasion, and the money is actually being used to restock our own military inventories. In other words, Ukraine isn't getting our money; they're getting munitions and equipment that has reached their sell-by dates. This is further aiding our national economy. Blues win.

Biden/Harris have had an administration that has experienced no corruption or indictments. From top to bottom, they and their administration abides by the law of the land at every level. The other team has devoted many of their resources (i.e. money their followers have donated) to avoiding accountability for the greatest level of corruption since the days of the robber barons. I'll take law-abiding Harris/Walz over the twice impeached, convicted felon, rapist, etc. Team Blue by a landslide if one is interested in law and order.

Biden/Harris got us out of the longest war in our history with far fewer casualties than we might have endured, despite their predecessors negotiating with the terrorists (without Afghan government input), and releasing 5,000 Taliban fighters, while simultaneously drawing down US troop levels to a level that guaranteed problems with the Biden withdrawal (2,500 troops). Team red loses massively for their lack of integrity and dereliction of duty in this matter. Harris/Walz can be trusted to look out for our national interests and support our allies.

These past 2 summers, we have traveled by car from Washington State to Indiana, and along the Washington/Oregon coast. Our nation's infrastructure is being repaired and rebuilt. The joke that was DJT's "Infrastructure week" is the Biden/Harris reality. Kudos to the Democrats (for the GOP in both houses voted against all infrastructure funding).

Biden/Harris negotiated with big Pharma and have ensured that no one will be left out of the medical care they need. Insulin costs capped. Pre-existing conditions must be covered. Young people remain on parental policies. Medicare can negotiate prices. Affordable Care (Obamacare) continues to operate effectively and efficiently. The GOP wants to return people to being uninsured and/or uninsurable. They have tried to kill the Affordable Care Act countless times. The GOP makes me sick, so I'm voting for Team Blue.

The southern border has been a mess for decades, and the matter of immigration (legal and undocumented) continues to fester. The Democrats basically caved and gave the GOP the Border Bill they wanted (even calling it Bi-Partisan), only to have DJT direct the House GOP to kill the bill. They're obviously not interested in solutions, but keeping the chaos intact for their own benefit. Another reason to vote Blue (and I would suggest Dems hammer out the bill they really want in 2025, since the GOP has no backbone, integrity, or desire to fix anything).

As for Israel and Gaza, all I can say is the region has been a mess for millennia, and neither party has been successful in helping anyone reach a solution (two-state or otherwise). DJT has probably undermined recent efforts as he continues to violate the Hatch Act by negotiating with foreign leaders (Putin and Netanyahu (& others?)). I believe Harris will listen to both Jewish and Arab Americans and work in good faith with every party in the Middle East (and beyond). Blue gets my vote simply for the sake of stability.

Finally, the promise of the GOP for "small government" has been a big lie, big disappointment, and no surprise. The have irreparably messed up women's health care; they have rejected equal rights outright; and they have basically reduced women to about 3/5 personhood. The Democrats want to restore and repair all of the damage the GOP has done at state and federal level, so that's where my vote is going and has gone. I also endorse the John Lewis Voting Rights Act (and all voting right legislation).

Has the GOP done anything right? I've looked under many stones, and will continue to turn them over and let you know if I find anything worth reporting.

Peace.