That the electorate is unwilling to require good character in choosing public servants is at the core of our threats to democracy. We’ve recovered from wildly different views of government but it’ll be much harder if we have to start over recreating democracy in America.
“It is not light that we need, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but thunder. We need the storm, the whirlwind, and the earthquake.” - Frederick Douglass
I'm feeling a bit cynical this morning, especially thinking about Christian Nationalism. Having said that, your perennial optimism inspires me to embrace gratitude, and try to spread love today. So, thanks!
It is usually the case that when the economy is going to hell in a handbasket, the party in power will lose. It doesn't matter that other countries are suffering the same circumstances - gas, houses, rent, groceries -all Biden and Democrats fault. Try to explain drought, climate change, Ukrainian grain shipments, Saudi oil output-it all falls on deaf ears.
People , like our animal cousins , all want safety, they want to belong to groups and matter, they want leaders whom they believe will convey strength, uphold their beliefs and prejudices, call out those who might choose other ways, might change the status quo. Horse herds have a head stallion, gorillas have alpha silverbacks, wolves follow the leader. Even cows protect their "boss" by keeping it in the center of the herd, protected. Germans wanted Hitler. We have trump !
A world that gave 50 million lives to obliterate fascism is once again on the same trajectory. Turkey, Egypt, China, Russia, Pakistan, Syria, Iran, even India that calls itself the world's largest democracy. And here sits the United States, geared up, ready to elect Republicans, not because that party has any plans for fixing our troubles, a truth that people have not thought through, just simply because Democrats are in power, therefore, guilty.
Our political "leaders" are what I would call dumb and dumber. Reagan was called by his speech writer a barren terrain. 41 had probably never even been in a grocery store. 43 gloated about being a C student able to be president, how about Sarah Palin-holy ! And trump whom a professor said was the dumbest student he ever had. Nobody liked Adlai Stevenson. Too smart. Want instead a guy you can go have a beer with and can't find France on a map. Even Clinton, a brilliant scholar, realized this. I read he emulated Elvis with his shades and sax to give this impression. Things were good. Who cared about Monica? A lesson Gore did not learn.
So we have Vance even with Ryan in the state that produced the most presidents of the United States, a trumper to the gills. Ryan like Biden: too nice.
In Georgia on my mind, an even race is just pathetic. Georgia loves football. Friday night high school football is the thing to see. Who better to nominate than a black(to be even), lying football player that would have trouble finding his way to Washington. Probably head west.
My biggest hope is for Fetterman. He knows people, he knows Pennsylvania, he is not a snarky carpetbagger, I doubt he has a cruel gene in his body. He never killed puppies.
And so, we wish upon a star, hoping the gods will hear us .If your birthday is coming up, you know what you must wish when you blow out the candles. Let freedom ring.
Of course, it could take weeks for all the election results to be known. Yes, there will be turmoil during that period while the fascists and election-deniers try to subvert the lawful processes. We can only hope that the DoJ will rise to its responsibility and clamp down on the noise and bluster without delay.
The stakes, we all know, could not be greater: fascism or freedom. Is it just me, however, or are there multitudes of fellow Americans who share my quiet optimism that sense and decency will prevail?
“I present you…the ballistic missile submarine Red October..
My officers and I request Asylum in The United States of America”
From the 1984 novel and 1990 film “The Hunt For Red October”. I’m hoping we can still be that America.
In other news..
Your brother was mentioned in an offering from Jonah Goldberg, who seems to feel all of this concern for Democracy is a load of bull..Who the hell is Jonah Goldberg and why would anyone listen to him?
That the electorate is unwilling to require good character in choosing public servants is at the core of our threats to democracy. We’ve recovered from wildly different views of government but it’ll be much harder if we have to start over recreating democracy in America.
“It is not light that we need, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but thunder. We need the storm, the whirlwind, and the earthquake.” - Frederick Douglass
This writing was a balm to my soul. May we be the 'united states of america' again.
I'm feeling a bit cynical this morning, especially thinking about Christian Nationalism. Having said that, your perennial optimism inspires me to embrace gratitude, and try to spread love today. So, thanks!
Thank you for sharing your optimism. It is what I needed today. Concern for democracy should be out priority.
It is usually the case that when the economy is going to hell in a handbasket, the party in power will lose. It doesn't matter that other countries are suffering the same circumstances - gas, houses, rent, groceries -all Biden and Democrats fault. Try to explain drought, climate change, Ukrainian grain shipments, Saudi oil output-it all falls on deaf ears.
People , like our animal cousins , all want safety, they want to belong to groups and matter, they want leaders whom they believe will convey strength, uphold their beliefs and prejudices, call out those who might choose other ways, might change the status quo. Horse herds have a head stallion, gorillas have alpha silverbacks, wolves follow the leader. Even cows protect their "boss" by keeping it in the center of the herd, protected. Germans wanted Hitler. We have trump !
A world that gave 50 million lives to obliterate fascism is once again on the same trajectory. Turkey, Egypt, China, Russia, Pakistan, Syria, Iran, even India that calls itself the world's largest democracy. And here sits the United States, geared up, ready to elect Republicans, not because that party has any plans for fixing our troubles, a truth that people have not thought through, just simply because Democrats are in power, therefore, guilty.
Our political "leaders" are what I would call dumb and dumber. Reagan was called by his speech writer a barren terrain. 41 had probably never even been in a grocery store. 43 gloated about being a C student able to be president, how about Sarah Palin-holy ! And trump whom a professor said was the dumbest student he ever had. Nobody liked Adlai Stevenson. Too smart. Want instead a guy you can go have a beer with and can't find France on a map. Even Clinton, a brilliant scholar, realized this. I read he emulated Elvis with his shades and sax to give this impression. Things were good. Who cared about Monica? A lesson Gore did not learn.
So we have Vance even with Ryan in the state that produced the most presidents of the United States, a trumper to the gills. Ryan like Biden: too nice.
In Georgia on my mind, an even race is just pathetic. Georgia loves football. Friday night high school football is the thing to see. Who better to nominate than a black(to be even), lying football player that would have trouble finding his way to Washington. Probably head west.
My biggest hope is for Fetterman. He knows people, he knows Pennsylvania, he is not a snarky carpetbagger, I doubt he has a cruel gene in his body. He never killed puppies.
And so, we wish upon a star, hoping the gods will hear us .If your birthday is coming up, you know what you must wish when you blow out the candles. Let freedom ring.
Of course, it could take weeks for all the election results to be known. Yes, there will be turmoil during that period while the fascists and election-deniers try to subvert the lawful processes. We can only hope that the DoJ will rise to its responsibility and clamp down on the noise and bluster without delay.
The stakes, we all know, could not be greater: fascism or freedom. Is it just me, however, or are there multitudes of fellow Americans who share my quiet optimism that sense and decency will prevail?
I have hope for America. #fingerscrossed
“I present you…the ballistic missile submarine Red October..
My officers and I request Asylum in The United States of America”
From the 1984 novel and 1990 film “The Hunt For Red October”. I’m hoping we can still be that America.
In other news..
Your brother was mentioned in an offering from Jonah Goldberg, who seems to feel all of this concern for Democracy is a load of bull..Who the hell is Jonah Goldberg and why would anyone listen to him?