Fighting for Social Justice More Urgent than Impeaching Trump

Albert Einstein said: “The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.”

Fighting for social justice does not have to do with what political party a person belongs to, or their religious beliefs.  Instead, people should transcend their political and religious beliefs to help other people. We should care about the suffering of others and do something about it.

Being uncompromising when it comes to unethical treatment of humans and animals, poverty caused by racial and gender discrimination, political and social injustices, abuse, sexism and greed, among others, are powerful and serious topics that people should relentlessly try to prevent and end.

Our nation faces pressing issues, and the possible impeachment of President Trump would prevent Congress from doing their job, which is to be voice of the people and states in the federal government.  Instead, we must reclaim the power of social and economic justice and ecological sustainability.

Trump is a threat to civilization. He is insecure, impulsive and vain.  He has validated racism and xenophobia.  But the alternative is Mike Pence, sinister and far removed from the social and economic issues that most Americans face.  He is a misogynist and a creationist who rejects climate change.  While he was Governor of Indiana, his anti-abortion law was the most extreme in the country.  He wants to privatize social security, and he compared Obama care to 9/11.  Pence is in favor of mass incarceration, and he advocates for a harsh anti-marijuana legislation.  He represents the establishment Republicans and favors American military intervention abroad.

Perhaps the conservative evangelicals, Trump’s staunchest base, see Trump as a divinely appointed person who prevented Hillary Clinton from being president, but it would be a miracle to them if a porn star would help to make Mike Pence President.

Impeaching Trump would re-normalize public affairs because Pence would mean a return to the GOP platform, and Republicans would find it easier to take advantage of their dominance of Congress, as their policies would see active and early legislation. Impeachment would unleash more polarization and threats, and it would mobilize Trump supporters for the mid-term elections.  Trump supporters would see impeachment as a “coup,” and an attempt to overthrow the will of the people.

Impeachment could backfire and become a nightmare. It would take two-thirds majority in the Senate to remove him, and the Republicans will have to do very badly in the mid-terms to lose their hold.  Mueller’s investigations will have to show collusion with Russia, obstruction of justice, and other crimes and misdemeanours.

Some argue that impeachment is the proper means to controlling a rogue president, and that Trump deserves it.  He is greedy and dishonest and does not run the government in the public interest.  It has been reported that he uses his businesses as a channel for bribes; therefore, he is susceptible to policy extortion and demands.  He did not relinquish his control as owner, operator, and face of the Trump Organization, so he should be removed from office.

However, Trump is doing major damage to the right and does not represent the conservative ideas of most Republicans.  And he has made little progress on his signature issue of immigration.  Pence is far removed from social and economic issues of the common people, and he would alienate and anger the nation even more than it already is.

It is highly doubtful that impeachment will advance any positive political movement. If Mueller can show Trump is guilty of crimes, then indict him and prosecute him after he leaves the office.

Impeachment has no endgame for voters, who can only make a political judgement and not a legal one.

Donating to organizations that fight for democracy and civil rights is more conducive to a thriving nation. By fighting against voting restrictions that target minorities, voting in big and small elections, and for prosecutors who have a huge effect on our justice system, getting involved in local government, and, most importantly, standing up and intervening on behalf of someone targeted by a hate crime, we can fight for social justice and the compassionate consensus Obama spoke about in his acceptance speech:

“That’s the promise of America, the idea that we are responsible for ourselves, but that we also rise or fall as one nation, the fundamental belief that I am my brother’s keeper, I am my sister’s keeper.

That’s the promise we need to keep. That’s the change we need right now.”