I believe in personal responsibility.

I too believe in "personal responsibility." I have never seen Trump or any of the GOP take any personal responsibility for the damage and chaos they intentionally inflict. Name a public policy that was championed or endorsed by any democratic candidate that made you believe we don't believe in "personal responsibility."

I believe in free speech — even when it’s uncomfortable.

I too agree with free speech. The GOP and Trump are outlawing free speech on a number of fronts. Here is the list of words that are no longer allowed to be used when discussing any needs of our people at the federal level. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/03/07/us/trump-federal-agencies-websites-words-dei.html?unlocked_article_code=1.3E4.qHEM.d61cLHw6U6rF&smid=url-share

If you believe in free speech can you please point to any decree or law by any democratic leader / representative that denied you free speech. The GOP is currently outlawing the teaching of basic US history if it makes them feel in any way uncomfortable.

I believe in economic policies that prioritize work over dependence.

I too favor economic policies that prioritize work. The GOP does not value work or labor. Doesn't value worker protections. In order for public policies that "prioritize work over dependence" would require that companies like WalMart pay their workers living wages so that they didn't have to rely on public support from tax payers.

Between 2000 and 2010 the number of people insured through their employers dropped over 10% from just over 61% to just over 51%. Meaning that 49% of people who had jobs had ZERO access to a health plan. At the height of the financial crisis 50% of bankruptcies and 60% foreclosures were due to inability to pay for necessary medical care. 80% of those forced into bankruptcy for this reason had health insurance. Over 80% also had jobs and worked. They weren’t just laying around wanting free things. We paid more than double than any other developed nation for the privilege of having more than 1 out of every 5 people uninsured or underinsured. And 45,000 people per year died due to lack of access to affordable care. Mind you, less than 8% of that many Americans died on 9/11 and we have determined that we can spend unlimited money fighting this "threat.” We have determined that we have unlimited funds to build border walls and to check people’s papers. But no money for one of the greatest threats confronting our aging population.

I believe in a government that serves its people rather than controlling them.

The GOP and Trump are outlawing women's right to medical privacy.

On a number of fronts the federal government is behaving in a controlling manner. Keep in mind that our 1A right to “free speech” is about the government not punishing people for their speech. It doesn’t mean that private citizens can’t suffer consequences meted out by other private citizens. Ironically, the GOP is demonstrating throught their laws and public policies that they are intent on “controlling” “we the people” rather than serving us.

party that increasingly embraced open-ended government spending,

Whenever there is a crisis it has been demonstrated that the federal government plays a key role in stabalizing the economy. Both Obama and Clinton reigned in the out of control spending by the GOP. Remember the GOP's goal is to starve the federal government of its oxygen so that they can "drown it in the bathtub." Meanwhile bridges and freeways are falling down because as a country we are childish and refuse to pay for the upkeep on our assets. Moreover, it does us no good to slash spending on those who mind our nuclear stores. Have you read “The Fifth Risk.” https://www.shortform.com/summary/the-fifth-risk-summary-michael-lewis?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=531505710&msclkid=a81433c7f2a11a3103505415b9886b90

higher taxes,

The GOP has just reupped a series of tax cuts for the very wealthy that blew an even larger hole in both our debt and deficit.

Which taxes where raised, for what purpose? Why do you believe this?

weaker borders,

For the past 40 years the GOP has used the border in order to whip up hate and fear about migrants. This claim of "weaker borders" is merely a claim. Ask why each time there was a bipartisan agreement on the border did a GOP politician insist that GOP politicians not vote on them? This is the easiest bogeyman. It has been years since the GOP has agreed to any sensible plans, they have twice backed out of deals that took them months to hash out the details solely to have something to complain about to their constiuents. They are rewarded for this bad behavior with votes.

policies that seemed more focused on ideological purity than practical governance

Trump's entire policy platform is one of ideological purity and has nothnig to do with practical governance. His threats against our largest trading partners of Canada and Mexico is shredding long standing alliances and relationships that are bi-directionally good for all of us.

Please name anyone in the federal democratic leadership who has "demanded ideological purity." How did such demands impact public policy and laws?

I watched as debates on critical issues .[see below]... were shut down by accusations rather than addressed with solutions.

Crime

Who did you watch having these debates? Crime is generally a local issue not a federal issue. If you are concerned about "crime" why are you not concerned about Trump's crimes or the crimes committed and pardoned on those who attempted to overturn an election? Why are you not concerned about Trump firing all forms of government oversight?

Immigration

In 2025 the baby boom begins to turn 80. And for the next 20 years we are going to have incredible medical costs as that giant generation sunsets. What the many people aren’t saying is that right now we don't have enough people to care for the medical / personal care needs of that generation. That's why small towns are actively inviting and relocating immigrants to move to their towns. They stimulate the economy! They make great neighbors. Many also come from small towns and want a more rural life.

The incoming kindergarten class of 2019 was majority Black/Brown for the first time in the US history. Many states are outlawing the teaching of US history, as well as refusing to invest in efforts for people to learn to get along across differences, this transition is going to be much more difficult as a result of so many people’s refusal to be honest with their constituents that we need each other.

So yes, immigration is a "critical issue" but not for the reasons that are being espoused by the GOP. We are standing on the deck of the titanic running headlong into an iceberg of our own making.

Education

The GOP doesn't believe in education or value it. Not sure what to say here except for the fact that they only talk about education as a way to denigrate Black and brown people while snorting about "elites."

Moreover, the GOP doesn't support academic freedom, the teaching of science or the teaching of US history other than to lionize the United States.

In short, I saw a future that was unsustainable.

If you notice some of the words that the federal government is no longer allowed to speak are "climate science," "climate crisis," and "pollution.” This is irresponsible public policy.

Both the Army War College and the Pentagon list Global Climate Change as the single largest challenge / threat facing the US. Oh. That and the fact that numerous generals across party lines stated explicitly that Trump is a threat to United States democracy and institutions.

Meanwhile, because Trump is now threatening to invade Canada -- which is not interested in becoming a part of the United States — this saber rattling is setting the tone that North Korea is incites to make incursions into South Korea. That China should take over Taiwan and that Russia can have a merry field day with any and all of the former soviet block countries it would like “take back.”

Trump isn't a world renowned surgeon with bad manners. He is a person who has managed to run numerous businesses into the ground including multiple casinos. Do you know how hard it is to bankrupt a casino?

You use a lot of words that are without specificity "steering the country in a direction I could no longer accept."

What policies weakened us economically? There is a lot of data that demonstrates that our economy always performs better under Democrats than it does under Republicans. Coupled by county by county breakdowns it is easy to see under which party our communities as a whole thrive.

Define what you mean by "weakened culturally" and "weakened internationally."

When you speak to people from other countries they say that they have never had less respect for the US. it takes a LOT to make Canadians say bad things about almost anyone.

What does it mean if someone makes our country the laughingstock of the world where other countries believe that people in the United States are too stupid to function and are extremely dangerous due to our coupled arrogance and ignorance?

Trump wasn't "disruptive" he is ignorant but believes himself to be a genius. He’s smashing value right and left without consideration for whom he hurts.

Would you be proud of your child if he lied for years about one of his classmate’s country of origin in order to whip up hate and fear against people like his classmate?

Although our nations debt has gone up, Republicans have increased it more overall with less benefit to working people. https://www.investopedia.com/democrats-vs-republicans-who-had-more-national-debt-8738104

What sources do you use to get your information? You speak in generalities and feelings without any concrete examples, while ignoring discernible, knowable data.

When a house is on fire with your family in it do you want someone who is going to put gasoline on the fire and burn it down faster or do you want someone who can help you save your family and your largest assets?

Based on the things you say you support, you should have never supported Trump. There was never any evidence that he was interested in or cared about the things you care about.