Friends don't let friends vote Trump.

I try my best to refrain from commenting on politics, but this time ... enough is enough. If I alienate you as a reader, so be it. I don't want to be like the German citizens who looked the other way during Adolf Hitler's rise to power. Of course, we all want America to be great, who doesn't? Trump's rhetoric is racist, damaging and divisive. Let alone that he is inciting violence. I came across the following as a comment online. I would give proper credit, but I don't know where I found it. Good information, here it is:

"On several occasions, Trump is recorded at his rallies exhorting his minions to commit acts of violence against those who disagree with him and offering to pay the legal expenses of anyone who acts on his "suggestions."

Nov 22, 2015: Video showed a gang of men kicking and punching a Black Lives Matter protester at a rally in Birmingham, Alabama. When asked about the Alabama incident, Trump blamed the victim. "Maybe he should have been roughed up because it was absolutely disgusting what he was doing."

Feb 1, 2016: Trump told his supporters, "There may be somebody with tomatoes in the audience. If you see somebody getting ready to throw a tomato, knock the #$%$ out of them, would you? Seriously. Okay? Just knock the hell -- I promise you, I will pay for the legal fees."

Feb. 22, 2016: Trump has even threatened to personally get in on the action. "I'd like to punch him in the face, I'll tell ya," he said of a protester.

Trump should be charged with a Federal offense, Solicitation to commit a crime of violence:

18 U.S. Code § 373 - Solicitation to commit a crime of violence

(a) Whoever, with intent that another person engage in conduct constituting a felony that has as an element the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against property or against the person of another in violation of the laws of the United States, and under circumstances strongly corroborative of that intent, solicits, commands, induces, or otherwise endeavors to persuade such other person to engage in such conduct, shall be imprisoned not more than one-half the maximum term of imprisonment or (notwithstanding section 3571) fined not more than one-half of the maximum fine prescribed for the punishment of the crime solicited, or both; or if the crime solicited is punishable by life imprisonment or death, shall be imprisoned for not more than twenty years."

Some of Trump's Positions (from his campaign site):

Immigration Reform:

A nation without borders is not a nation. There must be a wall across the southern border. Make Mexico Pay For The Wall

Gun Control/ Second Amendment:

The Second Amendment to our Constitution is clear. The right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed upon. Period.

My Comments:

Immigration Reform according to Trump:

Build a wall AND make Mexico pay for it? How exactly is that supposed to work? How can we make Mexico pay for a wall? Many of us would like to see the immigration laws enforced, I include myself in that, but at what cost? Do we want to completely alienate Mexico, which despite all their foibles, has always been a U.S. ally. Are we to believe the Mexicans come and take our jobs? Why not punish the employers who hire undocumented workers? Are we to believe that Mexicans over burden our welfare system? I doubt it, at minimum you need to prove who you are to collect any sort of welfare benefits. There are not really hand-outs to undocumented aliens, other than emergency medical care. Are we to be so lacking in humanity to deny that as well?

Gun Control/ Second Amendment according to Trump:

I don't really have a dog in that hunt. I see both sides. My problem with Trump's statement on his site, is that he MISSTATES the Second Amendment. That is not what the Second Amendment says. Period.

The Second Amendment:

 "A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."

Gun advocates, including Trump, tend to leave out the first clause of the Second Amendment, particularly the part about "A well regulated militia..." to drive home their point. When Trump misstates a constitutional amendment on his campaign site during a run for the republican nomination, he makes himself a complete liar to me. Remember, Hitler always advised to go for the big lie.

An article I came across that is a first hand impression of a Trump rally is here.