Hound Trump’s policies, not just his words
By Christopher Overfelt
I was asked to write an opinion piece on the recent reports of Donald Trump disparaging combat veterans. I am a veteran. It would seem that the reports of these comments would be offensive to me, but they are not. Here is why: I feel that the words of Donald Trump are given too much attention, while his policies are given too little attention.
While the headlines are filled with Donald Trump’s latest words, his policies go unheeded and undiscussed. His policies of opening conservatories of land and water to oil drilling; halting all EPA oversight of industry during the pandemic; easing restrictions on pollution in urban areas; withdrawal from the nuclear deal with Iran; withdrawal from the open skies treaty with Russia; selling weapons to Saudi Arabia and the UAE; stacking governmental agencies with industry cronies—including the EPA, the SEC, the FCC, the secretary of treasury (a Wall Street goon), the Department of Agriculture, the secretary of defense (a Raytheon goon), and the consumer protection bureau; his warehousing of innocent asylum seekers by the thousands in concentration camps all across America; and his leveraging of an unaccountable DHS to attack American citizens peacefully protesting systemic racism. These are the policies of Donald Trump that are offensive to me, not his words.
I think it’s important we understand that while words do matter, it is policy that drives change, negatively and positively. So when Donald Trump speaks, we must not lose sight of his horrendous policy. And the same goes for ourselves, as well. When we speak, we must not forget that real change comes through policy.
A good example of this is the recent emphasis on the words Black Lives Matter. While it is important to declare these words in public, it is more important that we change governmental policy directed towards the African American community. Positive policy change will include concrete police reform, increased education spending, and universal healthcare.
It is our actions that will drive the most positive change, not our words.
—Christopher Overfelt, a member of Vets for Peace, serves on the PeaceWorks-KC Board.
