Dear Undecided Voter,

I’m hoping to aid your decision-making and help clarify what’s at stake in tomorrow’s election.

Here’s what we know:

According to Washington Post fact-checker, Glenn Kessler, since his time in office, Donald Trump as made a total of 22,247 false or misleading statements since assuming office. FactCheck.org and Politifact.com offer similar lists.

Absent any evidence, Donald Trump has touted so many wide-ranging conspiracy theories that the online encyclopedia, Wikipedia, has devoted an entire page with links to research that has debunked them. Here are just a few:

– Trump Tower wiretapping allegations

– Biden–Ukraine conspiracy theory

– Conspiracy theories related to the Trump–Ukraine scandal

– Deep state in the United States

– Windmills cause cancer

– Global warming conspiracy theory

– COVID-19 conspiracy theories

– Voter impersonation

At the beginning of his administration, Donald Trump said that he would hire “the best people.” Here are just some of those Trump touted then turned on.

Jim “Madog” Mattis. Trump referred to Mattis as “one of our great, great generals.”

After Mattis’ resigned, Trump called him “the world’s most overrated general.”

Among those who spoke out against Trump’s characterization: Gen. David Petraeus, Gen. Stanley McCrystal and Four-Star Admiral William McRaven.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. Trump said, “The thing I like best about Rex Tillerson is that he has vast experience at dealing successfully with all types of foreign governments.”

After he was fired, Trump called Tillerson “dumb as a rock” and “lazy as hell.”

Other Trump office holders who left or were fired, (The list is too long to include Trump’s remarks):

John F. Kelly, Chief of Staff.

Kirstjen Nielsen, Dir. of Homeland Security.

Michael Flynn, National Security Advisor.

H.R. McMaster, National Security Advisor.

John Bolton, National Security Advisor.

All people Trump, himself selected.

According to the non-profit public policy Brookings Institute, the turnover rate of the Trump administration is 91 percent, as of October.

More immediate, however, is Trump’s impact on the country’s national security. More than 70 of the nation’s most senior Republican national security officials signed a public letter, (worth reading) warning of another Trump term as president. In part, it states:

“We are profoundly concerned about the course of our nation under the leadership of Donald Trump. Through his actions and his rhetoric, Trump has demonstrated that he lacks the character and competence to lead this nation and has engaged in corrupt behavior that renders him unfit to serve as President.”  

According to a story in The Washingtonian, Trump recently signed an executive order reclassifying more than 100,000 federal employees involved in policymaking so they can be fired without cause, like political appointees. A clear abuse of power and a clear indication that Trump only wants “Yes men or women.”

Topping the list of irresponsibility, however, is Trump’s handling of the coronavirus.

In late February, Trump initially labeled the virus as Democrats “new hoax.” However, as we learned from a tape-recorded interview by journalist Bob Woodward, Trump had advance knowledge that the virus was “more deadly than even your strenuous flus.”

At campaign rallies, Trump continues to mislead supporters stating, “We are rounding the turn.”

According to the latest figures (Nov. 1) from the CDC:

Total cases: 9,105,230

New cases: +80,932

Last seven days: 551,403

Total deaths: 229,932

New deaths: 823

Sunday’s total U.S. cases reached 100,000, the highest one day total since the virus began .

Even as the Centers for Disease Control, medical officials, hospitals and governors around the country are asking everyone to wear a mask and socially distance, Trump continues to hold rallies with large numbers of supporters who refuse to follow these simple guidelines.

In the last four years, this president has fostered hate and division with his angry rhetoric, embrace of dictators and white nationalists’ groups that he refuses to publicly condemn.

What’s on the ballot is critical to the survival of our democracy.

Responsibility is on the ballot. Respect is on the ballot. Honesty, Justice and Truth are on the ballot. What the country stands for is on the ballot.

“Our country stands for… freedom and liberty and democracy that our Founders gave to us.”

Those words come from a speech by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in January.

As an undecided voter, your vote and the vote of other undecideds might very likely determine the future direction of the country. This is a time to put country before political party. This election is about preserving “freedom and liberty and democracy…”

Leaving the grocery store, yesterday, I came across a sign with a powerful reminder of our responsibilities to each other.

“There is NO room for Hate. There is NO room for Racism. There is NO room for vandalism. There is room for Dignity, Respect and Civility.”

If we can practice those principles, we can set an example for our children and together, move forward into a better tomorrow with reverence for all.  

Respectfully,

Jim Lichtman