Almost from its beginning the United States of America has been considered great, the hope of oppressed people on the rest of the planet with the possible exception of the indigenous people of what we now know as North America. Currently, we have a political party that for its own reasons—power?—decided to denigrate all that the nation was and capitalize on the political phrasing of “Make America Great Again.” Oh how we would be thrilled to return to that previous greatness!
What they have created is great?
- A nation of immigrants categorizing many of those long settled here as well as those begging for refuge from the travesties of their home countries is mistreating them horribly, actually inhumanely, not even a mild unwelcome regardless of their reasons for being here or aspiring to enter the country.
- Separating children from parents including nursing mothers.
- Building a holding place for these unfortunate people based on Alcatraz, heretofore known for its most dangerous prisoners, in the Everglades of Florida?
More greatness?
- Eliminating Congressionally approved funding for various serious needs throughout the country.
- Pardoning those legally found guilty in trial of attempting to overthrow the government.
Still more greatness?
- Demanding that a state come up with extra votes by gerrymandering the voting district boundaries off the normal 10-year Census. Clearly not the intent of the law but perhaps a bit better than calling a governor after a legal election and demanding that he find a certain number of additional votes to change the electoral outcome.
- Not swearing in as a duly, correctly elected member of the House of Representatives leaving her citizens unrepresented because she has promised to vote differently from the power party. Her voters knew her intent, so what right does the Speaker of the House have to discount them? The same speaker adjourned the house to avoid losing a vote on other serious national matters.
Many who have sworn an oath to follow those documents so carefully created instead choose to stay quiet, thereby following a leader arguably of the most maniac ego ever known. They fail to realize that it does no good to hold public office if they don’t serve beyond their own personal desires.
Likewise, they miss that his loyalty to them disappears with the least deviation of bowing to him. In other words, his needs for worshipers at his feet will never be sufficiently satisfied.
Accordingly, with a compliant Supreme Court, this so-called leader has a free hand to become the king he intends to be. Appointing and getting confirmation from the Congress of people for more loyalty to the appointer than for any qualification whatsoever.
We are already well on our way to allowing the collapse of democracy as we have known it. One man (or woman if we ever elected such to the high office of President of the United States) is exercising action by simply signing a proclamation for whatever idea creeps into his head without regard to our Constitution designed for protecting with its long accepted principles of full rights for all.
He has even had the gall to attempt to change birthright citizenship long accepted by every nation on the planet. If you have tinted skin you had certainly better lay low from the agencies meant to enforce the law for cause but directed to ignore it. Nor are they clearly identified or identifiable for their actions. Worse yet, the military in the form of the National Guard is being misused against citizens, clearly forbidden by our Constitution.
Where does it stop, particularly with our Defense Department now being designated as the War Department? High military officers were called from their duties in worldwide military operations to hear a propaganda presentation by the President and his war secretary.
Many are being unexpectedly removed from their positions because they did not clap and praise sufficiently, bow low enough, for the ego maniac. No doubt their minds were more on what lower, less experienced, less knowledgeable officers were managing duties in the positions they left to attend this pep rally.
Tariffs? Is this making America great? Eliminating management departments designed to coordinate various existing needs or unexpected ones such as FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency). FEMA is not helping California’s recovery from the devastating fires of last season because it votes Democratic.
Plain incompetence why North Carolina still is in such bad shape following the floods of the last hurricane season as another approaching hurricane season damage is likely. Neither action or lack of such makes us “Great Again.”
At this writing, we are in the second week of a government closure because the Congress could not make a budget by the deadline. It is beyond the comprehension of why they are fighting over which is the need of the country: tax cuts for the already filthy rich or healthcare for the multitudes.
I for one would not worry about citizens or illegal. After all, injuries and contagious diseases are not confined to one group, but even one has its effect on society as a whole.
Unfortunately, this government shutdown gives the egotistical leader even greater power for his most egregious ideas. The military and essential workers of all kinds are expected to work without salaries in the past to be paid afterward, but this time threatened along with the many fired for no reason except to destroy the department.
And that is long before we have even thought about how the Department of Justice affects the nation’s justice system by going after those officials who have somehow irritated the “leader” in carrying out their duties according to law. How this makes America greater escapes me. We really should not be surprised when the President is a convicted criminal who shows no regret for his actions.
For a while, it appeared that the MAGAs might be embarrassed about the Epstein list of sexual crimes against young girls/women but even that seems buried. Nevertheless, we would not have to look far for that and other actions not exactly Making America Great Again so far as many of us are concerned.
We could go on but all this is becoming more discouraging, and we are not becoming greater unless and until we get a grip on civil matters in an ethical way. In short, is it to be healthy for the normal ordinary citizens or more money than the rich accepting these tax gifts know what to do with other than buy elections?
What kind of country do we want? What are we doing to make it happen? It certainly does not seem to be happening under the party abusing the system under the leadership of this elected official and his cohorts.
