The year 2017 will ultimately go down in history as a year in which a political party did its best to undermine the American way of life, to promote dysfunction, and to enhance control at all levels by the wealthiest few.
Donald Trump ran as a populist, which in the past has meant support for the common person. It has meant a movement toward civil rights for all and a level of equalizing power and resources among many, if not all groups.
The media were enthralled by this man who would say the most outlandish things - Mexico will pay for a gigantic wall on its northern border, there is a war on coal which he will correct, disabled persons are worthy of ridicule, Gold Star families do not love America as much as he does, Black people should vote for him because things can't get worse for them, the mainstream media only does fake news, unlike Fox News, and so on.
For those not enthralled by this rhetoric, these were shameful words. They and so much of
Mr. Trump's campaign language were clear lies, just spoken loudly and with conviction. Alas, it appears for human beings, the louder and more often something is said, the more believable it seems.
One can understand that Mr. Trump is not ashamed of his lies and despicable actions. These were a pattern during his professional life for decades. Since he can't feel shame, he can say and do things that should be, at least seen by others, as shameful.
But, alas, this shamelessness is spreading.
Beginning in January, 2017, after the inauguration, Republicans in the United States Senate participated in the lying, deceit, and acquiescence to the shameful agenda of Mr. Trump. They rubber-stamped nearly everyone put before them for government positions, no matter how unqualified or opposed to the department, agency, or people they would be supervising or making decisions about.
-Need a Secretary of State, America's chief diplomat? Well, what about a man whose only experience is as CEO of a huge oil conglomerate, without a diplomacy background?
-a Secretary of Education? What about a woman whose only experience of education is through private schooling and anti-public school activism?
-a Director of the Environmental Protection Agency? What about a man whose political career was engaged in fighting the EPA on behalf of fossil fuel and other polluting companies, and by the way denies science?
-a Secretary of the Interior? How about someone who sort of cares about the natural lands of his own state, but anyone else's, not so much?
-a Secretary of Labor? Maybe a person who opposes unions and anything that will help workers?
-an Attorney General, the head of our justice system? What about someone known for his racist and misogynist views, who is OK with police brutality and militarization?
-need a Supreme Court justice, not one nominated by that last president, who of course, was not a legitimate president? Why not another ideologue, someone who does not have to think about his decisions, but simply has to think of what would be best for people like him?
-a bunch of judges for the Federal Courts? How about some of the least qualified, mostly white men, around, especially ones who don't even know the law related to the court they would serve?
-a head of the Federal Communication Commission? How about a man who has close ties to a large communications conglomerate that wants to control the internet, who opposes "net neutrality"
The Senate should be ashamed! They should feel guilty that they have put so many Americans at risk, but do they, not a chance.
Millions of Americans wrote, protested, and called to tell their representatives they did not want the recent tax bill to pass, but those Americans were ignored so Republicans could get a victory. And, aha, they got away with giving the biggest cuts to those least in need of them. Who will pay? The Congress is now preparing bills that will cut Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid as well as many other programs that serve the middle class and poor citizens in this country. Where is there shame? They have none, so the lies they tell themselves and their constituents are only a minor flaw. The bigger flaw is that they are beholden to the money that they have made while in office and the money that will help keep them there.
Admittedly, some Democrats are also beholden to the big money, but they have, so far, mostly felt enough shame they could stand against the appalling legislation brought before Congress. Will they continue to stand firm? That is unclear. A vote to continue funding CHIP, the health insurance for children of working-class families, and DACA, the "Dream Act" among other bills will be coming up soon. We'll see where they stand. We know MANY Congressional Republicans have sacrificed their humanity for some kind of victory. Let's hope this disease is not contagious.
No comments:
Post a Comment