Do Americans know what they are voting for?

Here in Election 2016, the two major political parties have delivered two most imperfect candidates. In my new book, How to Select an American President by James George with James Rodger (c) 2016 Archway-Simon & Schuster, as far as resumes go, Trump and Clinton are equal. That is, for different reasons they amount to about the same strength. However, both are far below what American voters should find acceptable.  The political parties have failed to produce the most qualified candidates of the caliber needed to address the nation's essential needs.

When it comes to evaluating candidates' manifestos or agendas, there is more difficulty because there is a disparity between candidate's manifestos and their host party platforms.

Party platforms are the core value statements and foundational elements of values and priorities expressed by political parties as their brand. Presidential candidates (and other candidates for elected office) wear a parties badge symbolizing allegiance for which they stand.

A candidate's manifesto is different from the party platform only in the sense that it should be a more detailed and time sensitive accounting for what a candidate intends to accomplish in a two-term incumbency. Those details should have been published for public scrutiny far in advance of the final months of campaigning.

That is not the case today. There remain serious discrepancy between candidates and their party's platforms, arguably more discrepancy between Trump and the GOP than between Clinton and Democrats.

Discrepancies are indicative of two things:

1. Deficiencies in allegiance

2. Degrees of risk

When candidates are too loose at this late date in the cycle, that spells uncertainty and instability down the road.

The process is flawed. Candidates are flawed. Most important, the political parties are failing to accomplish their purpose and service to their member constituents and voters.

There is much more to come about this topic as American political parties are under direct fire, as in "You're fired."

"Two flawed candidates 

The Spectrum 11:32 a.m. MDT August 12, 2016 

Clinton and Trump are flawed candidates running for president. 

Clinton has questionable scruples, and she has made significant mistakes. As Secretary of State, she set up an unsecured private server in her home for government email communications and sent and received secret and top secret information. She had ultimate responsibility for the Benghazi debacle where our ambassador and other Americans were killed by Islamic terrorists. Her foundation accepted contributions from foreign entities. 

Trump is the most unqualified person to ever run for president. He is a vile loudmouth with possible bigoted views who only cares about himself, and he does not respect our Constitution and our institutions. Trump could have dictatorial tendencies. He has no knowledge of government operations and has no understanding of our domestic and world economies. His lack of knowledge in foreign affairs and military matters will hurt us in the world. 

The choices are: Vote for who you dislike the least, or vote for a third-party candidate, or do not vote. How sad. 

Donald Moskowitz
Londonderry, New Hampshire

http://www.thespectrum.com/story/opinion/2016/08/12/two-flawed-candidates/88593802/ 

Originally Published on Clusterfuck Nation June 20, 2016