To the Editor:
At the recent Republican mid-term rally in Texas, Trump offered voters a monetary “reward.” He calls this the “Trump Dividend.” For $5,000 he hopes to buy your vote, your loyalty, and your adoration. Mostly your adoration.
Trump probably thinks of this as the deal of the century like nobody’s ever seen before. And he would be right. Nobody has ever seen this before; at least not from a sitting U.S. President. That’s because it is illegal. Surely someone by now has explained that to him.
But $5,000 is a lot of money, and it could buy a lot of votes. Trump’s little “incentive” or monetary “nudge” is an offer he hopes you can’t refuse. And many will not refuse, even though it is just a mirage, a slight of hand, bait on a hook, an illusion.
Some would call this a bribe — which it is. But I call the “Trump Dividend” the ultimate temptation of Satan. Yep, that Satan. The one who will buy your soul if you let him. And at $5,000 a pop, that’s a real steal!
In addition to the possibility of a $5,000 reward, consider this — that if you don’t vote for Republicans in November (which is your end of the bargain), then you will also go to hell. Trump said so himself. In fact, he said it twice. Maybe he thought that was funny, but in actuality he wants to keep you guessing. What if Trump does have insider knowledge about hell?
To be clear, the problem isn’t with the $5,000, per se — not if it were given from an altruistic hear with no strings attached in order to help every American, while also not raising taxes or adding to the national debt. However, none of that is true of the “Trump Dividend.” This would be a transaction. Money in exchange for a vote. A vote in hopes of getting money.
And that’s the real problem with Trump’s deal. You have to sell your soul to get it. You have to give up your belief in right and wrong, as well as your dignity. That’s the price you always pay to do business with Satan. You must become dirty.
Therefore, if you don’t want to go to hell, and you do want the money, then according to Trump, you better vote for Republicans in November. But a warning — if you are tempted to take the bait, make sure your soul is worth it.
Faye Kennedy
Whittier