Phil Forve: Harris best way forward for America
About the author: McMinnville resident Phil Forve, holder of a degree in international economics from the University of California at Davis, spent 41 years in agriculture and food production with Cargill before retiring as a vice president. He continues to serve as a consultant to corporate executives.
We, the people, must do something to fulfill the challenge of our founders’ ambition for America: “To create a more perfect union.”
Our country was founded on the belief that we, the people, could govern ourselves, without pledging subservience to a king — that in doing so, we could provide freedom for all Americans to pursue life, liberty and happiness in their own way, protected by the Constitution and rule of law.
This noble goal has a champion in the 2024 presidential race in Vice President Kamala Harris, and I ask you to join me in supporting her and her running mate, Gov. Tim Walz. These leaders have served their states and our country in different capacities their entire professional lives.
Harris served Californians as a prosecutor, district attorney, attorney general and U.S. senator before being elected as our nation’s vice president in 2020. Walz has served Minnesotans as a teacher, coach, National Guardsman, congressman and governor. Their track record and experience prepare them well to lead our country in the White House.
America is ready to reject divisive MAGA politics of the opposition in this race to a more positive and uplifting conversation about our future.
[An Opposing View: The News-Register invites submission of a thoughtful, constructive counter-argument in favor of the Trump/Vance ticket at sbagwell@newsregister.com]
Optimism has always been part of America’s identity, but it has been pushed to the background by the politics of fear, lies and intimidation. The opposition playbook, Project 2025, would set America back to a time of less freedom and opportunity.
The opposition has even divided America’s Gold Star Families through illegal use of campaign photography in the hallowed grounds of Arlington National Cemetery. And it has continued repeating the Big Lie about the 2020 election, in which the winner earned 7 million more votes than the loser.
Kamala Harris promises a new way forward for America. She proposes an opportunity economy, building up the middle class so people who work hard have a chance to get ahead, not just get by.
We all know that healthy families are an essential building block of America.
Harris plans to help young families buy their first house, gain access to affordable daycare and pay the added costs of bringing children into this world through expanded child tax credits. She plans to promote marketplace competition to lower the cost of everyday goods and prescription drugs.
She knows, as do all economists, that the added tariffs proposed by the opposition represent nothing more than an inflation-fueling tax on consumers. She knows they will do nothing to reduce the deficit or support our economy.
When America respects its allies, we build a safer world.
After World War II, NATO was formed to help ensure that democracies working together for common defense in Europe would prevent future wars, ensuring a safer world. That goal has been delivered for almost 80 years now.
The Harris team supports NATO. It believes in working with allies to advance peace along with freedom. In stark contrast, the opposition would surrender freedom for a false peace with an aggressive dictator who will not stop in Ukraine.
The significance of this election cannot be overstated. The outcome will set the trajectory for America for decades to come.
The choice is yours. Do you want hope, optimism and cohesion, trustworthiness with our allies, and opportunity and freedom for all? Or do you want to go back to the division, chaos, incompetence and governmental interference of the past?
We must DO SOMETHING. We must vote for Harris and Walz, then support them down the ballot so they can accomplish great things for Oregonians and all other Americans.
Comments
Moe
Don the Con v. the Kamal
Neither choice acceptable.
But President Kamal?
An intolerable embarrassment.
Otis
Well said, Mr Forve. Harris is the better choice.
CubFan
Part 1:
Phil Forve… This is a democracy and we can all have our own opinions. Thank you for sharing yours. But I completely disagree. Harris was unsuccessful in her 2020 run for president, and was tapped by Joe Biden to be her Vice President. She has never successfully run her own campaign. She was then, and still is, a weak candidate.
As Biden’s “border chief”, she has recklessly allowed record numbers of illegal immigrants into our country . This is unconscionable.
Inflation has gone from 2.6% in 2021 to 9.1% in. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics inflation calculator shows that in July 2024, it took $120.25 to buy what $100 purchased in January 2021. American households need + $11,000 more per year to maintain the same standard of living as three years ago.
She supported giving Medicare to all people who are in this country illegally. Yet, people on Social Security and Medicare legitimately face a real fear that both programs will become insolvent.
She was in favor of “defunding the police”.
In 2020, she favored one insurance for all. This is a certain way for us to lose a voice in our own personal healthcare.
She has flip-flopped on her positions about some issues. In 2020 she stated she would ban fracking, now she says she won’t.
CubFan
Part 2:
Listening to Harris is like a “kumbaya” song around a campfire. She has lofty plans that tickle people’s ears, but those plans lack substance. She talks of helping young families buy their first house, expanded child tax credits and giving small businesses money. It all sounds good right? Where is this money coming from? The same place the tuition loan waivers came from? By continuing to print more money and running up inflation? The democrats have done everything in their power to get people to vote for them: loosen borders and hand out money so voters will be beholding to them come election time.
Why hasn’t Harris done anything in the last 3.5 years as vice president to address problems in this country?
Walz is a bad choice. He imposed heavy-handed and restrictive COVID policies. He is another liberal who will join ranks of Democrats in calling for open borders, higher taxes, reckless spending, energy dependence and defunding the police.
Do you think Harris has the backbone and respect from world leaders to stand up to world leaders in Russia, Iran, China and North Korea? Nope.
Is Trump perfect? Not by a long shot. But I think he has what it will take to make tough decisions to get our country headed in the right direction.
Otis
I was all in for DJT until I saw this:
https://www.trumpytrout.com/
Don Dix
I'm still waiting for a cogent answer to the first question of the debate --"When it comes to the economy, do you believe Americans are better off than they were four years ago? ....... Crickets!
CubFan
Don Dix... Completely agree. There was no answer to that first question of the debate, and the can't be. The Dems have made a mess. "Funny" how the debate moderators didn't hold Harris' get to the fire and press her to answer the question. (One of many passes they have her
CubFan
Oops... Should have said...(One of many passes they gave her)
CubFan
(I shouldn't use my phone to post comments). The debate moderators didn't hold Harris' "feet" to the fire)
LieslForve
Rather than leaving FoxNews sound bites here in the comments section, I would encourage any of you who are defending the former president to submit an evidence based argument for your candidate to the News Register.
As for me, I am much better off than I was four years ago.
Do your research before you simply supply talking points by the fear mongers.
Don Dix
Asking for that answer isn't a sound bite or talking point from anyone, and not support of either candidate - but I did watch nobody answer the first debate question - they still haven't. That's the evidence that was never discovered, right?
Moe
"Don Dix
I'm still waiting for a cogent answer to the first question of the debate --"When it comes to the economy, do you believe Americans are better off than they were four years ago? ....... Crickets!"
Remember, 4 years ago is not just any 4 years ago.
Wasn't that during big time lockdowns, supply chain disruptions, etc.? Starting from that sort of low point, wouldn't it be easy for the economy to be doing much better today? Meanwhile, today Biden-Harris is courting war right on Russia's doorstep, which means on our doorstep too, as we have been warned by the so far patient Russians.
tagup
I doubt Putin wants any part of a war with the US…. His military is second rate, and he knows the nuclear option means his own destruction.
His strategy is to use Trump & the Republicans to stop supporting the Ukraine, that’s his only path to victory.
CubFan
LieslForve… I don’t listen to Fox news. I don’t need them to tell me what my pocketbook tells me every time I buy something. Nearly everything is UP, WAY UP in the last 4 years: Taxes, Utilities, Rent, Groceries, Gas, Prescriptions, Car Prices, Major Appliances and more.
Oh… wait a minute… I do know something that HASN'T gone up in the last 4 years: MY INCOME.
So, if you are better off than you were 4 years ago, then you’re in the minority.
You suggested we do our research before voting, which is exactly what I’ve done, and still come to the same conclusion: TRUMP gets my vote!
tagup
Do you think trumps proposal of 10-20% import tariffs will improve your situation? Will mass deportation of the people that harvest US crops reduce prices?
If you’re worried about inflation, then Trump should not be your choice.
Mr. R
Be it certain, if the Harris regime wins, we will be entering into WW111.
The Middle East sees this current establishment as weak.
Mr. R
….. yes the best way forward for America - if it will not longer be called the United States….just whatever’s left of it
CubFan
Mr. R... I venture to say it's not just the Middle East who sees our country as weak, but also China, North Korea, Europ... We need a strong leader.
tagup
One that will hand over Ukraine to Putin?… that’s strength?
Mr. R
Tag up:
Something different has to be done… whatever that is. We’ve seen this country’s rapid descent in the last four years.
This world agenda is on a fast course for destruction.
Just because we have been provided the privilege to live in peaceable conditions for the most part, doesn’t mean we will have that much longer. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see what course we’re headed, politics aside.
tagup
Well Mr R…. I’m not sure I agree….I think it’s important to remember that this country has been through wars, depression, recession, race riots, assassinations, and all kinds of natural disasters. Americans pull together in times of need. Thats why the US is now and always has been great. If we step back from the negative & divisive rhetoric in the media, and respect each other, we can overcome anything. FDR had it right- “The only thing to fear is fear itself “
Drew
Willie Brown's "Party Girl"
Otis
If Kamala would just start hawking her own new shady cryptocurrency, gold watch, gold coin, NFT, sneakers, talking mounted rubber fish, or hell....even some bottled tap water....she might get some maga votes.