By Corey Gustafson
Chairman, Republican Party of San Diego County
As we all know, cleaning up a mess after it happens is far more difficult than preventing it in the first place. My wife reminds me all the time to make sure the cap on our toothpaste is on before one of us accidentally squeezes it. As I have learned as a newlywed, it saves me a world of trouble by listening to her good advice.
Governing and leadership are no different: preventing problems before they arise is far more effective than dealing with them after they become crises. Prevention saves resources, time, and, often, lives.
A government that reacts to problems instead of preparing for them is always a step behind — and that means its citizens are too.
We see this today in San Diego County, in California, and across the nation. Under Democratic leadership, Americans — and the world — are grappling with problems that Democratic politicians have not only failed to address, but in many cases helped to create.
Take crime, for example. Crime rates have surged under Democratic policies that do not create meaningful consequences for lawbreakers. The San Diego Democratic Party has consistently favored lower penalties for felonies and continues to oppose Prop 36, which would increase penalties for felonies. Enforcing penalties that carry meaningful consequences is essential for deterring crime.
Immigration presents another example. Securing a 2,000-mile border is challenging — even more so without a wall — but it is possible to deter migrants, cartels, and human traffickers from attempting to cross it in the first place. Unfortunately, the Biden-Harris administration has incentivized illegal crossings, making it easier for all three groups to enter unlawfully. By using executive orders to end the Trump administration’s “Remain in Mexico” policy, Biden and Harris encouraged immigrants to enter our county illegally to apply for asylum and wait in America. Many never turn up for their hearings.
The consequences of this lack of deterrence extend into foreign policy. Under Biden-Harris, wars have erupted in Europe and the Middle East. Following their surrender to the Taliban in the disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal, Vladimir Putin began amassing troops on Ukraine’s border. Instead of confronting Putin firmly, President Biden suggested that “minor incursions” by Russian forces would be tolerated, effectively encouraging and empowering Putin to invade. A tougher stance would have deterred Russia, potentially preventing the conflict and the billions in American aid that have since followed.
Finally, the Biden administration failed to prevent the cost-of-living crisis. Upon taking office, they embarked on a massive spending spree that fueled inflation. Inflation happens when too much money chases too few goods and services. As a result of irresponsible liberal spending, prices have increased by 20% on Biden’s watch, eroding the purchasing power of working Americans and making it harder for them to get ahead.
There’s a reason why crime, illegal immigration, war, and inflation were down during the Trump administration: competence matters. Democrats have ignored the importance of outcomes in favor of pandering and victim narratives, which do not empower Americans. Instead, liberal polices divide Americans into groups and blame society for individual struggles.
The Republican approach is different. We believe America thrives when individuals are empowered to shape their own destiny by seizing opportunity. That means focusing on real solutions to prevent crime and inflation, giving Americans the chance to achieve their dreams and create better lives for their families. It means putting Americans first.
Working- and middle-class families cannot thrive when crime is rampant, nor when inflation makes groceries and utilities unaffordable. Under Democratic leadership, the American Dream has become increasingly unattainable, especially in places like San Diego County, where housing is in short supply. The radical left’s utopian vision of a world without borders takes from hardworking American citizens to fund benefits for illegal immigrants.
On Tuesday, San Diegans have a chance to hold Democrats accountable for their failure to prevent, deter, and resolve the crises we face. San Diegans deserve better. Republican candidates across the county are committed to fixing these problems by balancing budgets, supporting law enforcement, and standing up for working- and middle-class families in San Diego. Armed with bold, common-sense solutions, Republicans are ready to lead San Diego County into a brighter future.
