It seems half of Americans say they are already exhausted by the chaos produced by the 45th president with his head-spinning decrees, such as a ban on people of one religious group, his selection of unqualified people for cabinet posts hellbent on dismantling the departments they are to lead, and by Republican Party moves to:
- Trash everything from health care to financial reform.
- Ensure mentally ill people can have guns.
- End environmental protections, such as safeguards that prevent polluting of our nation’s streams.
Yet, the other half of Americans do not know what all the protest by millions of people is about. Current events show that Republican campaign promises are being kept. You lost. Get over it. Case closed.
How do we who are alarmed convey the source of our dread, foreboding, horror and worry? Sarcastic skits by talk show hosts and Saturday Night Live open some eyes. Not so warnings from experienced leaders and reports by the national press; since the 45th and his party have fomented so much distrust of them.
Even on a recently aired TV game show Family Feud, when 100 people were asked how much they trust the government – on a scale of 1-to-10 - the majority said “2.” The majority do not trust their own government.
Departures from accepted terms add to the malignant environment. Republicans now refer to their opposition, not to “public schools” but to more sinister “government schools.” If the majority does not trust the government, how long will citizens support public schools over select religious schools or online, for-profit schools – the least-overseen sources of an education?
In an August 22, 2016 article by Ronald Radosh, adjunct fellow at the Hudson Institute, he quoted the 45th president's top adviser Steve Bannon saying he was a Leninist. When asked to explain, he elaborated: “Lenin,” he (Bannon) answered, “wanted to destroy the state, and that’s my goal too. I want to bring everything crashing down, and destroy all of today’s establishment.”
It has taken the Tea Party about a dozen years to make Bannon's statement seemingly acceptable. And, ardent Bernie Sander's activists, such as actress Susan Sarandon in her talk of starting a revolution by any means, even a loss by Hillary Clinton, did the same in one primary cycle. The expressed desire to destroy the government should be troubling to patriotic Americans. But, not a ripple in sight.
Ever since the election, I’ve puzzled over the voting decisions of people who appear to care about their children and do everything in their power for them. It doesn’t jibe with voting for this president.
My mind keeps returning to a surreal scenario; I picture a parent finding a crumpled school form in a kid’s backpack at the end of the day. The form reads:
Dear Elementary School Parent:
The board is reviewing the application of a 70-year old man who wants to be a school bus driver for the district. He says he doesn’t need a salary because he is unbelievably wealthy from a family business; so it would be more like a free service. We can’t confirm his wealth because he did not produce any proof, and we heard a lot of his businesses went bankrupt. Still, if it is true he doesn’t want any money from us, this is a potential budget-benefit.
Facts to consider:
- The man doesn’t have a driver’s license. Someone suggested we could have volunteers ride the bus with him to keep an eye on things until he does get a license. That would be a good idea, given our storms, potholes, traffic and deer darting out onto our roads.
- This man has been recorded making lewd and aggressive remarks about women. He scoffed, saying it was boys’ talk; though he was nearly 60 years old when he made the remarks.
- The man shows he has a short fuse and tends to lash out at any board members questioning his prior experience. He relies on snide personal attacks to silence them.
- He says his firm response shows he can keep kid’s in line - like the good old days. No more coddling, not even students with special needs. He’ll take no guff and toughen them all up.
- He said he is leery of kids from different ethnic groups and religions who ride our buses and will toss them off the bus if he suspects the slightest trouble.
- He’s beauty conscious. Says he can rank little girls from 1- to-10 to predict their future success.
- He says we should trust him.
Please fill out this form and return it to the school. Let us know: Do you trust this man to deliver your child back and forth to school safely and lower our expenses, or should we go with the facts and pass on this candidate? If it is a “Yes” to hire him, would you volunteer to ride the bus and stop him from driving off the road?
Obviously, putting such a man in the school bus driver’s seat would pose a threat to children. Even a school board seriously entertaining his application would be a shock. The facts make hiring him a huge mistake. Right? So, what were people thinking when they supported and voted for an unqualified, ill-tempered, misogynistic and vindictive man to be president? I do not know. Unless they - like Bannon and the Tea Party and the revolutionary Ms. Sarandon - want to bring everything crashing down.
Who knew so many Americans were willing to drive us all off a cliff.
Reggie Morrisey
"View from Here" by Ed Morrisey