LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Why does “America First” freak out the left?

“America First” resonates with millions of Americans and is despised with a passion by many others, with the phenomenon of its impact felt in families and church life as much as the larger culture. No assessment of the American political drama can explain the levels of contention without taking into account the fact that the very words “America First” causes positive approval while evoking in others an extreme paranoia of so-called “isolationism”, the most heinous sin of populism to the elite.

More than a few religious people, (probably a majority of members of churches with liberal priests or pastors) actually think it’s a sin to advocate “America First”, or to fight vigorously for American job creation and widespread economic prosperity. Somehow, to these Americans, the very goal of encouraging more successful business ventures is evil. Since many liberals are very financially comfortable, it’s not living at ease that bugs them exceedingly. To them, it comes across as crude and impolite to openly advocate the goal of increasing American wealth, including ALL Americans, without embarrassment. They are upset when America First is made into a vital central ambition of a candidate or party with great zeal! Wealth is something to be quietly assumed as the rightful property of the elite, but it has to be socially paid for by virtue signaling about just how much they love the downtrodden (who cannot make them feel so good if too many of them become the “up-trodden!”).

The political ebb and flow of 2020 includes many things, of course, notably the fact that only by the import of a Chinese Communist coronavirus did a lackluster candidate like three-time failure Biden have a hairball’s chance of winning the Democratic primary, let alone being in a position to possibly obtain the White House. Before Facebook arbitrarily limited my audience, I had conversations with Democrats throughout the primary season. I encountered enthusiastic Bernie folks, as well as Dems who hoped to see Elizabeth Warren. There was at least some excitement for most Democrats running… except Joe Biden! I never ran across a single fellow citizen whose first choice – was Biden!

The fascinating reality to me is that America First is such a controversial message at all. To me, it’s like saying we need to take care of our families or expecting your Mayor to care uniquely about the problems and wellbeing of your city more than cities in general. (Taking care of your family helps your fellow citizens to enjoy a better community, by the way.)

For global bipartisan economic machines, President Trump took America First too seriously. They had to use whatever tools available, legal and otherwise, to stop it. Building the wall cut down on the unlimited supply of labor for nickels a day. Getting tough in negotiations with China made it a little more difficult to wine and dine the bigwigs at the Bank of China.

So what really happened in 2016? It was a combination of the success of Ron Paul’s hesitation to make international military intervention an ongoing hobby with Pat Buchanan’s desire for American workers to get a better result from trade deals, and simply a celebration of ordinary Americans who actually beat the elite.

And that was an unpardonable sin.

Paul Richard Strange Sr., 119 Marvin Gardens, Waxahachie, Texas 75165