I don’t like to watch election
night results real time; I wait until the following morning when I am as ready
as I will ever be to face the new reality. As a left leaner in a blue city in a
blue state I was not prepared for the gut punch that was the election of Trump
in November 2016. From the first second of his presidential run (which I could
only assume would be taken as the joke it was), until Wed. morning following
the election, I could not fathom how anyone took him seriously. My theory at
the time was that his followers were no longer capable of discerning what
policies were in their best economic interests (my take on non- wealthy folks
supporting the dumpster fire that the Republican Party has morphed into). But to fall for such obvious hucksterism was
beyond understanding. My second theory was that some folks were so angry with
economic and social changes and so distrustful that any vote would lead to what
they wanted, that they decided to throw the ugliest available wrench into the
works: Trump. That made (misguided) sense which turned out to be VERY effective.
Later I learned that lots
of folks held their noses and voted for the Republican candidate (whoever the
fuck it was) to get at least one more conservative Supreme Court judge (the
seat stolen by the scruples free Mitch McConnell and his minions). Also, should
they continue to hold the Senate, they could pack the lower courts with more
judges who saw corporations as America’s primary constituency because that was
what our founders had in mind. (I could not disagree more)
So, in addition to Trump’s
election which was an existential threat to our democracy, continued support
for Republicans in Congress sealed the suicide pack for this country.
Too strong? We will see. Will we be able to restore a
working political system for the majority of Americans, and regain some respect
from the rest of humanity? Will voters comprehend the dark forces that they
have unleashed? Will we be able to overcome the current capture of representation
by a minority of the population? And most critically, will we be able to
reclaim our original organizing principle: Government by and FOR THE PEOPLE?
So, although I have always
voted my values, it became crystal clear that was inadequate to today’s
crisis. Politically awakened, I increased my support of charities supporting
families in need and added support to the RESISTANCE.
Here are my new support
commitments in the political arena: ACLU, Protect
Democracy.Org, and Equal Justice Initiative
Wow, impressive use of the
checkbook! (That was sarcasm) I am still trying to find a local resistance
group to work with. I do not find myself impressive in this fight, but I have
not retired from it yet.
"Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups."George Carlin