-
Where Is My Country?
I read the morning news and wonder, “Wtf happened to the US I used to inhabit? Where did my country go?” I once lived in a place that, though there might be conflict and discord, was still civilized, somewhat predictable, and I felt safe. Now daily I read reports of science being under attack, mass-shootings, the unceasing rollback of LGBTQ rights, police targeting African Americans, and more. So much more thatmerely opening a newspaper feels risky. I have to steel myself for bad news.
We have a POTUS (#notmypresident) who is unstable, vicious, petty, and often incoherent. No-one, not his staff, his administration, nor even himself knows he will say or do next. Other nations are understandably nervous about this. He has insulted more countries and heads of state than I care to note. Rather than going about the business of governing, he spends his time reacting to whatever catches his attention and attacking anyone (esp. women) and anything that he feels threatened him.
Meanwhile, though the GOP controls both the House and the Senate and the Supreme Court, they have been unable to pass a healthcare bill. The infighting in the GOP and the continuing resistance from Democrats reflects the fractured state of the country and the chaotic trickle-down of instability from the WH. The polarization is so extreme that a citizen attempted a major attack on Congress members, driven largely by partisan frustration. Protests continue to roil the landscape and often turn into violent confrontations.
The situation is dire enough that states do not feel secure in the union. I read about movements in both California and Texas to SECEDE entirely, both being stark examples of the the left and the right. States and cities increasingly have to act on their own to protect vulnerable citizens-religious minorities (Muslims, Jews, basically anyone who is not Christian), LGBTQ individuals, immigrants, minorities, and women-in an effort to shield them from fallout from the capitol. Sometimes they do so, but often they fail and even join in the efforts to curtail their rights and safety.
I could go on. The utterly dystopian ad by the NRA comes to mind. But I will stop here. I wrote this largely out of grief. I’m in a state of mourning for a world that seems far removed from the country I inhabited only a year ago. I wish this were just a momentary lapse in continuity. But I fear now: for my nation, my fellow citizens, and myself.
-
WTF: Trump’s Iowa Rally And The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test
I’ve come to the conclusion that there are Republicans and then are Trump supporters. His Iowa rally proved that for me beyond any shadow of a doubt. After that campaign rally-and that’s what it was, call it what you will-I now think that WHAT Trump says matters not one bit to his base. What matters is his PRESENCE, and I keep getting unnerving flashes of Hitler at HIS rallies, when I see Trump among his followers.
Why do I say this? Let’s look at one of the things they were cheering: A solar-panelled wall that would save money for Mexico. SERIOUSLY??? Trump has consistently spoken out AGAINST clean energy. He disparaged wind turbines, a notable source of energy for many Iowans. He took the U.S. out of the Paris agreement, causing us to rebuked by NORTH KOREA. Trump claimed this was HIS idea, btw. Ahem, not true. This idea was explored in a WSJ Op-ED piece AND by one of the companies that submitted a design to the government. But, despite this, the crowd cheered on. Why let some glaring inconsistencies and downright lies spoil the fun. Let’s not go into the whys and wherefores of why this wouldn’t work and would be a waste of money, even should it be proven possible.
Then there’s the whole “save money for Mexico” bit. People thought THIS was great, too. After all, we want to do as much to help our neighbor to the south as possible, right? Trump and his supporters have ALWAYS been strongly in favor of aiding Mexico….ABSOFUCKINGLUTELY NOT! Trump has done more to anger and disempower Mexico than any president in my lifetime. I won’t say ever b/c I haven’t done enough research. But he talks about NAFTA, factories moving to Mexico, and we won’t even go into what he says about actual Mexicans. (I know I get keep saying “Let’s not go into….” . Sorry. So much Trump, so little time.)
That was just a dissection of one of the things he said. I’ve said this before but am more convinced of it than ever: Trump supporters do NOT care about Trump’s words, tweets, ideas, or positions, content-wise. I truly believe he could announce that he would be personally sacrificing a kitten to Satan (in whom I don’t believe FYI) on the White House lawn EVERY morning, surrounded by 3 Goldman-Sachs execs, sorry, cabinet members and people would be convinced that this was FINE. Fox and Friends would provide commentary on how kitten sacrifices were an American tradition dating back to the Revolutionary times…and did you know that Abraham Lincoln himself sacrificed a BLACK kitten in the Oval Office? SMH in disgust……
-
WTF: Trump’s Iowa Rally And The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test
I’ve come to the conclusion that there are Republicans and then are Trump supporters. His Iowa rally proved that for me beyond any shadow of a doubt. After that campaign rally-and that’s what it was, call it what you will-I now think that WHAT Trump says matters not one bit to his base. What matters is his PRESENCE, and I keep getting unnerving flashes of Hitler at HIS rallies, when I see Trump among his followers.
Why do I say this? Let’s look at one of the things they were cheering: A solar-panelled wall that would save money for Mexico. SERIOUSLY??? Trump has consistently spoken out AGAINST clean energy. He disparaged wind turbines, a notable source of energy for many Iowans. He took the U.S. out of the Paris agreement, causing us to rebuked by NORTH KOREA. Trump claimed this was HIS idea, btw. Ahem, not true. This idea was explored in a WSJ Op-ED piece AND by one of the companies that submitted a design to the government. But, despite this, the crowd cheered on. Why let some glaring inconsistencies and downright lies spoil the fun. Let’s not go into the whys and wherefores of why this wouldn’t work and would be a waste of money, even should it be proven possible.
Then there’s the whole “save money for Mexico” bit. People thought THIS was great, too. After all, we want to do as much to help our neighbor to the south as possible, right? Trump and his supporters have ALWAYS been strongly in favor of aiding Mexico….ABSOFUCKINGLUTELY NOT! Trump has done more to anger and disempower Mexico than any president in my lifetime. I won’t say ever b/c I haven’t done enough research. But he talks about NAFTA, factories moving to Mexico, and we won’t even go into what he says about actual Mexicans. (I know I get keep saying “Let’s not go into….” . Sorry. So much Trump, so little time.)
That was just a dissection of one of the things he said. I’ve said this before but am more convinced of it than ever: Trump supporters do NOT care about Trump’s words, tweets, ideas, or positions, content-wise. I truly believe he could announce that he would be personally sacrificing a kitten to Satan (in whom I don’t believe FYI) on the White House lawn EVERY morning, surrounded by 3 Goldman-Sachs execs, sorry, cabinet members and people would be convinced that this was FINE. Fox and Friends would provide commentary on how kitten sacrifices were an American tradition dating back to the Revolutionary times…and did you know that Abraham Lincoln himself sacrificed a BLACK kitten in the Oval Office? SMH in disgust……
