Things that Trump should be criticized for:

1. Sanctions against Iran and Venezuela. A wealth of political science research shows that sanctions are only rarely effective in forcing governments to change policy. What sanctions do is immiserate the least powerful members of those societies. Yes, there are exemptions for food and medicine. BUT, penalties for violations are so severe, many companies hesitate to take the risk.

2. An increase in air strikes, both manned and unmanned, in the Horn of Africa.

3. The disgraceful separation of parents and children at the border.

Things Trump should be praised for:

1. Being less war prone than Clinton, certainly. Or at least the "American boots on the ground" form of war. In his first term, fewer than 150 service members have died in combat. Under Obama--for all eight years--over 1900. Not getting US soldiers killed is a positive good. Recall that both Clinton and Biden not only voted for the Iraq War but championed it. This war resulted in well over 100,000 dead Iraqis--a number that is no doubt a chronic undercount--along with at least 800,000 orphans and thousands of widows. Many women will never marry or have children because of the war.

2. Signing the sentencing reform bill that has freed thousands of prisoners convicted mostly of non-violent drug crimes. On the other hand, Hillary Clinton and Biden both championed this cruel bill that destroyed families and robbed them of husbands, sons, and fathers. In fact, Biden brags about writing this bill.

Not wanting to needlessly kill people in wartime or lock them up for long periods of time for non-violent offenses counts a lot. Since the poor and persons of color are disproportionately affected by war and the justice system, these Trump policies at least have benefited low-income Americans the most.

It is not like the 2020 election presents us with a great choice and a terrible choice. We have a choice between two deeply flawed candidates.