Bob Gould: Kennedy supported ‘any friend,’ Trump wants to make us afraid of every foe
On JFK’s 100th birthday, it makes you stop and think about the direction of our country. The contrast between John F. Kennedy and Donald Trump couldn’t be more dramatic. Trump is trying to run the country like a business. All that matters is the bottom line. Money. Greed. What happened to “pursuit of happiness”? Should we really stop helping others? Should we quit caring for the health of our environment and our planet? Is it a good idea to encourage big businesses to destroy our limited resources? Should we take land set aside for all and give to the states so they can sell it to the highest bidder?
How should a president motivate people? Republicans favor using fear. Democrats prefer optimism and the joy of “supporting any friend,” in Kennedy’s words. Isn’t it still better to give than to receive?
Bob Gould, Groveland
This story was originally published May 30, 2017 at 2:05 PM with the headline "Bob Gould: Kennedy supported ‘any friend,’ Trump wants to make us afraid of every foe."