by Ruth A. Sheets
Every single day, the Republican Party jumps in with either
a proposal that attempts to restrict people’s rights or presents plans to cut
an essential program or service that sustains a lot of Americans, even
during a pandemic. At the same time they are refusing funding for the
immediate needs of all who are not rich, white, mostly male individuals and
corporations. Why would these destructive actions be their focus?
The Republicans are the "only I matter" Party
(OIMP). They are and have been working to undermine or actually destroy
every government program that is working for the American people. It is
unclear to me what their ultimate goal is. I keep wondering if they could
possibly like the world they are trying to create. The OIMP probably
doesn’t even know. It has been working overtime during COVID19, but has
been sowing the seeds for a long time.
- Social Security has been a target since its inception 85
years ago and Medicare/Medicaid since the 1960s. Currently, the move is
to cut the payroll tax which is the funding for these programs. Senate
leader McConnell wants to hold “The Heroes Act” or other legislation hostage to
Democratic capitulation to this one. They may succeed because Democrats
actually care what happens to the people of this country and that may be the
only way to get the funding. They’ll hope they can make it up later, but
somehow that won’t happen and our seniors, disabled persons, and impoverished
people will suffer and the OIMP will rejoice and be glad in it. They’ll never
be held accountable either.
- The State Department which was a critical link between us
and the rest of the world is being gutted day by day as is our overseas media,
like Voice of America, which share the American dream of freedom for all
with the world. What message that matters could the OIMP possibly put out
there, don’t even try to come to America?
- The Justice Department has been absorbed by Donald Trump,
an ignorant fool whose only claim to fame is that he is a rich white
supremacist. The white supremacist community mounted huge “get out the
vote” and smear Crooked Hillary campaigns in 2016. That, along with
Russia and the FBI, combined to make Donald Trump president. OK, massive
misogyny helped too. In any case, the Justice Department is having a hard
time with justice for anyone but the rich, white, male friends of Donald
Trump. AG Barr is seeing to that. The “Only I Matter” Party has
been busy.
- Voting, a basic right, one would have thought, has been in
OIMP sights for generations. Republicans want only folks like themselves
to hold office and they wish to pass legislation at the state level that
suppresses the votes that aren’t for them, and gerrymanders for even
more.
- Despite evidence of consistent police brutality, the OIMP
has given the green light to the various police entities to stomp any protests
into the ground or into the jails. Trump and the OIMP are now sending up
their test balloons in Portland, Oregon to see how this will work to benefit
the OIMP and Trump, the “law and order president.” Stop laughing!
He doesn’t really mean it! Trump means “law and order” to keep people of
color in their place. Using unmarked vehicles and unidentified
“officers,” peaceful, legal protesters are being tear gassed, injured with
rubber bullets, and dragged off to the federal building in unmarked vans.
My guess is that if the OIMP can get away with this and our pathetic Supreme
Court goes along with it, which they probably will, the OIMP will send
their troops all over the country to silence protesters because they’re the
“Only I Matter” Party and protesters make them uncomfortable.
- The Senate continues to refuse to provide funding to help
states make elections safe for voting in November. Doing nothing works
well for the OIMP. They are especially pleased with the hours-long lines
that Black voters and other people of color will have to experience, hoping
those voters will have to get to work or be fired, so can’t wait to vote.
Then, there’s COVID19. Since none of this will impact the
Republicans in power, they don’t care. It’s the “Only I Matter” Party,
remember?
- The Senate has been off far more than it has been on duty
due to Mitch McConnell’s complete control of every Republican in that
body. He allowed them to pass a few bills to help the people, but only
because their rich white friends and corporate donors got a large slice too,
courtesy of the OIMP, and they won’t forget. Corporate hands are already
stretched out for more.
- The Post Office has also been a major target of the
OIMP. The US Post Office was one of the first departments to
integrate and I think Republicans have resented it. They have been
working to wreck the USPS at least since the middle of the 20th
century. A bonus for them is that vote-by-mail will be at risk if the
post office is compromised. Hmmm, Just what the “Only I matter” Party
ordered.
- The Donald cannot deal with the science of COVID19.
He doesn’t like how he looks in a mask, so can’t/won’t demand that people wear
masks to save lives. His self-centered, misplaced idea of freedom has
kept many people from wearing masks in public situations. Most of those
followers are white, generally well-fed and resourced, so at less risk for the
virus. It doesn’t matter that these “freedom-loving” white folks pass the
virus to the people who were forced to live and work in environments that make
them more susceptible. Why should they care, they are the “Only I Matter”
Party?
- Republicans are anti-science unless they think it directly
impacts them. Cancer research, OK because I might have cancer
someday. If Science recommends hand-washing, 6-ft. distancing, and
wearing masks to protect one another from COVID19, Trump’s response, I’m
not doing that. There’s no proof. Science doesn’t know. 5
months ago some health care gurus said we should not wear masks (actually,
because there were not enough for front-line workers). Trump implies “I
am not going to because “only I matter” and what works for me right now is what
counts. Although, if I should get COVID19, I expect you to give me the
most amazing care, attending me every minute. Only I matter, you
see.”
Alas, I could carry on with this for additional paragraphs,
but I think the idea is clear. One party, the Republicans are only for
themselves and what feels good for them “Only I Matter.” The other party,
the Democrats are critical of the most minute infractions by their members
regarding ethics, harassment, racism, and other stated standards, using “we”
more than “I,” it should be clear which party will stand by the American
people, all the people. The “only I matter” party has the money, the
media, the tricksters, and a lot of the power right now, so their anti-Democrat
messages get out. They have no actual platform beyond anti-abortion and
sneaking in more unqualified judges.
A minimal platform is no problem for Mr. Trump,
though. He and his enablers literally make it up as they go along, lying
around 20 times a day in public and on Twitter, more than 20,000 times since
his inauguration. Donald is the cult leader of their party and they will
never force him to change. They love him just the way he is. I
suspect they don’t realize in the “Only I matter” Party, as much as they love
The Donald, they don’t matter to him at all.
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