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David Estey is a fine-arts painter in Belfast and a retired IRS regional manager of public affairs for five Mid-Atlantic states and the District of Columbia.
Americans have been improving democracy for 250 years. Now, most of us want a compassionate superpower admired around the world, where we can earn a decent living and a chance to get ahead, live peacefully with our family and friends, expect equal treatment under the law, and have a fair say in our government.
I believe we want:
Free and fair elections upheld by the courts, not gerrymandered districts, voter suppression, election interference, frivolous legal challenges and partisan court rulings.
A mentally and physically healthy president serving us, not a would-be emperor who builds monuments and riches for himself while the country suffers.
Government appointments based on merit, not incompetent, political hacks plucked out of central casting.
Administration officials who uphold their oath to serve the public, not enrich themselves by selling influence and insider trading at our expense.
A Congress that performs oversight and legislates the public will, not a cultist body in perpetual gridlock to serve the president.
Ethical, fair and just Supreme Court justices with term limits, not partisan jurists with lifetime appointments who place the president above the law, rubber stamp his policies, and allow unlimited dark money to buy elections.
A government that will restore the rule of law, uphold equal justice and hold all wrongdoers accountable, not one practicing political retribution and personal vengeance.
Complete, immediate release of the Epstein files to learn the extent of political corruption and ensure accountability, not endless delays and coverup to protect the powerful.
Complete compliance with court orders and congressional subpoenas, with honest testimony under oath, not defiance or informal discussions without consequences.
An expert, ethical and independent FBI and Justice Department, not one weaponized by political loyalists to punish perceived opponents of the administration.
Real checks and balances, guardrails and regulations for a healthy, peaceful and secure society, not hollowed-out expertise and unreliable norms.
A comprehensive, fair and humane immigration system, not one with masked thugs in military gear and unmarked cars yanking neighbors off the street and deporting them to foreign prisons without due process of law.
Everyone paying their fair share of taxes, not a system in which the wealthiest corporations and individuals pay lower rates than firefighters, nurses and teachers.
Excellent public schools, trade schools and institutes of higher learning that conduct invaluable research, not cuts to public education and private-school vouchers for the rich.
Government welfare benefits and health care decisions based on need, not who we are or who we love.
Affordable health care for all, not deep cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security that close rural hospitals in order to give huge tax cuts to billionaires.
Science-based vaccinations that prevent horrible diseases around the world, not crackpot theories that risk our health and cuts to USAID that have already caused over 700,000 preventable deaths worldwide, two-thirds of them children.
Safeguards around social media and artificial intelligence, not sprawling data centers using massive amounts of electricity and water so tech oligarchs can control our lives.
Preservation of our national parks and cultural treasures, not diversion of funds to corporate development or tasteless monuments in the name of our leader.
Overwhelming, nonpartisan military strength as a peaceful deterrent, not depleted weapons stockpiles and our blood and treasure wasted on forever wars based on lies.
A strong, stable economy that works for all, not roller-coaster tariffs that drive up prices, alienate our trade partners, ruin whole industries and threaten the global economy.
Good relations with international allies and institutions, not disrespect or abandonment.
Historical alignments with sovereign nations, not a global realignment into geopolitical, power zones controlled by a few ideological oligarchs.
If these are truly our American values, I believe our only choice on Nov. 3 is to vote overwhelmingly for Democrats in order to prevent a stolen election, the end of democracy and an authoritarian takeover of our lives by a small group of powerful billionaires.