“A longtime student of American democracy, Alexis de Tocqueville once said, ‘America is great because she is good. If America ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.’”

This is a quote from a statement recently issued by The Harvard Republican Club. They go on to say, in explaining why they just can’t support the Republican candidate for President this year, “Donald Trump is a threat to the survival of the Republic. His authoritarian tendencies and flirtations with fascism are unparalleled in the history of our democracy. He hopes to divide us by race, by class, and by religion, instilling enough fear and anxiety to propel himself to the White House. He is looking to pit neighbor against neighbor, friend against friend, American against American. We will not stand for this vitriolic rhetoric that is poisoning our country and our children.”

Wow! What a scathing indictment from a Republican group which has supported every Republican candidate for 128 years. Now, I know that the Tea Party folks in Fountain Hills will say, “So what? This is the Republican elite—not the common people.” But the fact is that Trump supports and encourages the worst parts of our nature—torture, machismo, lack of empathy, religious, racial and sexual bigotry and discrimination, and fear of each other.

Plus, there is a total absence of any form of actual policy. Just a, “Believe me, I will make America great again.” How? By pitting Americans against each other? We’re better than that.

Let’s start locally to counteract this way of thinking. Let’s vote for people who will unite us, not divide us. Ginny Dickey and Mike Archambault will listen to everyone and work for what is best for our town! Let’s put our political differences aside for the good of Fountain Hills.