Almost exactly a year ago I wrote an episode called What If... Please forgive the hubris of quoting myself: What if all of this is just a show to divert attention away from the long-term purpose?
I was listening to CBS News this morning, and Ian Bremmer, head of Eurasia Group, a risk analysis company, was interviewed, talking about the global risks of 2021. He said something that caught my attention. He said Joe Biden's presidency will have an "asterisk," like A-Rod or Barry Bonds, meaning that the record doesn't count. Hear what he has to say:
A year later, I'm even more convinced this January 6th insurgency was exactly that: a red herring.
On last night's CBS News, there was a report on a poll taken almost a year after the attempted insurrection. The results are basically terrifying. But four questions really stood out for me.
 |
The full results of the poll taken December 27th -30th, 2021 |
I found the results terrifying. Especially the third question. 12% of the sample believes Feckless Leader must continue to fight to wrest the presidency from President Biden. 12%. Double digits. A number above statistical error. 12% of 332,915,073 (the approximate US population in 2021) is 39,949,809 people who think the election was not only stolen from Feckless Leader, but he should continue the fight to get it back. Almost 40,000,000 people. That's a big number no matter how you want to look at the statistics. But think of it this way: 40,000,000 are drinking the KoolAid put out there by the Marjorie Taylor Greenes of this country. 40,000,000 people are listening to Q-Anon and other alternative news outlets selling them on the idea that they are the oppressed masses and have to take back their country from the commie liberals. These are the same people who believe Feckless Leader gave them access to healthcare when all his administration did was work hard to remove access to health care. Those are the same legislators who are stopping any bills that pertain to the social safety net and have no plan or proposal for taking care of Grandma when she can no longer take care of herself. These are the folks voting for the same legislators who refuse to confront Big Pharma on drug costs even though they won't be able to afford insulin when Type 2 Diabetes sets in. 40,000,000 people who continue to vote against their own self-interests, believing these clowns care about them.
No, these clowns care only about their wallets. Democrats, for the record, are not exempt from this either. Both sides are guilty of malfeasance, so don't think I'm prejudiced about this. I'm not. If the billfold fits, expose it.
A recent article in The Atlantic stated that about 18% of Americans are unwilling to get the COVID vaccine. That's approximately 59,924,713 unvaccinated people. Now, that doesn't include those who, for a variety of reasons, cannot receive the vaccine, and yes, there are some individuals who are vulnerable. This number reflects those who are unwilling to be vaccinated. That means there are about 60,000,000 people, give or take a few, who don't give a shit about themselves or their families. They would rather play Russian Roulette with a close cough or sneeze than protect their elders or children. Whatever would Jesus say about that, I ask you?
As we head into the midterm elections, I would caution every sentient voter, whether you be Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Green, or Pastafarian in your party affiliation, to think not only about stuff like abortion and voter rights, but to consider that which falls out of your favored candidate's mouth in the coming months. recognize that party affiliation is nice, but we need a government that can sit down together to find that common ground while hammering out the differences. Not everyone is always gonna get what they want, but people, we ALL live in the country and we should be striving to find communal answers.
The answers must go beyond the political posturing to include everyone with a stake in the country, and that means the Indigenous Peoples are more than simple shareholders; they are the original owners and cannot be dismissed from the table. It means respecting the inalienable rights of every religious group: the Jews, the Muslims, the growing Hindu population along with the Buddhists, the Baha'i, Rastafarians, and about a zillion other belief groups. Majority does not mean running roughshod over everyone else. Majority means working with the other side to make sure of our nation's survival.
In a perfect world.
In our less than perfect world, however, there is something that is all too often lost in the shuffle and that is the real moral compass of our elected officials. I don't mean a stand on abortion, I mean knowing the difference between right and wrong, truth and lies, caring and selfishness. These are all intangibles, but require public affirmation every chance we get. You can't elect someone who has a history of cheating his workers, making totally inappropriate statements, or dodging taxes with a big grin and expect that person to act on behalf of an entire nation. That person has nothing to recommend that they will lead by anything other than self-service.
Like Aaron Sorkin's character Andrew Shepherd said in The American President:
I can tell you without hesitation: being President of this country is entirely about character.
As the midterm election year begins, maybe it's time We, the People, made character the big issue on the ballot. I cannot speak for anyone else, but I'm really tired of wallets running the country. Maybe we should be asking better questions at the debates, like
- tell us about the strongest aspect of your character
- when facing a tough scientific question that impacts the nation, to whom do you turn, what questions do you ask, and what resources do you check for yourself?
I don't think I want a legislator who cannot answer either of those questions. No one should.
The insurrection did not materialize out of nowhere; it was always out there, but suddenly given new legitimacy. If you're like most of the people in this country, you already know our democracy is fragile and growing frailer each month. Be aware, people; this is out there, it's real, and it can happen.
The Wifely Person's Tip o'the Week
Now is the time for the first stage of reclamation to begin:
Ask your elected representatives for an accounting of their character inventory.
If they can't back it up with FACTS supporting their case,
it's time to shop for a new candidate.
No comments:
Post a Comment