Let’s review, shall we?
What is a rocket without its guidance system?
40% of this country apparently wants an authoritarian, seemingly racist, anti-science, anti-environmental lobby.
Currently, 60% don’t.*
Will this balance hold until November, or will Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Florida once again send our lives careening in another direction—a second suicide by Electoral College?
On the subject of guidance, where has Mr. Trump taken us these last three and one-half years?
Jamal Khashoggi
The Washington Post columnist and Saudi dissident went to the Saudi embassy in Turkey for marriage documents and ended up dismembered. President Trump walked softly and endorsed the prime suspect’s point of view. The result—a complete loss of what remains of America’s moral authority and an abject collaboration with iniquity.
COVID
The response is in shambles. Where would we be if the president had taken this crisis seriously from an informed scientific point-of-view, rather than a self-interested economic one?
Climate
Another absolute disaster. We‘ve seen industry executives and lobbyists appointed to sensitive government positions, and witnessed more environmental rollbacks than a 90’s Walmart sale. They’re burning the midnight oil – along with all the other oil – to undo whatever years of rational behavior have accomplished. Furthermore, they’re just starting their engines.
Immigration
This issue is a public stain on our humanity. Liberty weeps and tears her garments at this signature issue. From “rapists” and “bad hombres” to private detention centers – and no one at ICE capable of using a spreadsheet to keep track of all the immigrant children they tear from their parents. Apparently, it’s not ICE’s problem once they finish the tearing apart.
Refugees
Syria is still minting refugees, as quickly as it is able. The issue of accepting these unfortunate souls spurred nationalism throughout Europe and played a large role in precipitating Brexit. Where are they now? Where have they gone? You can bet that these refugees are still suffering. Yet, to rid ourselves of any pretense of caring, we’ve abandoned our former allies, the Kurds, backed Turkish repression, and let Russia orchestrate unbridled military action in Syria. Perhaps this advances the interests of some Americans, but I don’t wish to see myself in their reflection.
Russia
Arguably – from any vantage point – Vladimir Putin couldn’t ask for a better relationship with the United States: As opposed to checks and balances, or having to hear whining about Crimea and human rights, he gets to do whatever he wants. One striking example, is throwing doctors out of hospital windows. They had refused to work without protective gear. Perhaps Trump would like to employ the same practice here?
Race
Where to start? Probably with the accursed wall and the statement “there are good people on both sides,” about Charlottesville – and ending up with the campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, site of an infamous black massacre in 1921, where hundreds died and “Black Wall Street” was bombed into oblivion from the air (yes, the air). To add further insult, the rally was scheduled for June 19 – “Juneteenth” – the day that marked the end of slavery. Full marks, as usual, for racial sensitivity. Adding to this sorry record is his response to peaceful protest. At every opportunity, he inflames and escalates violence. Rather than meet with the protesters gathered outside the White House, he chose to gas and club them, in order to walk across the street for a photo op, lifting a bible in front of a church.
Racist Symbols
With the world crying out for sensitivity and redress, this man signs an executive order protecting statues that commemorate the good works of Confederate racists. He calls for increased federal prosecution for acts of desecration, while not commenting on the damage these monuments represent.
The Constitution
—In tatters. At every turn, this bully tries to weaponize the Executive Branch. It’s not “uphold”: It’s more like “skirt” and “ignore.”
Congress
Instead of a deliberative body, we have an obstructive one. Progress is blocked, pockets are lined, and critical needs go unmet. Meanwhile, the president dismantles hard-won policy and regulations, while freely dissembling at will.
An unparalleled track record: huge, absolutely huge...the biggest.
Can we really survive these actions for four more years...and would we recognize ourselves afterwards?
It‘s one thing for a President to be aggressive. It’s another when he is antagonistic, destructive, and rudderless, except in cases of personal self-interest.
We have been leaderless for far too long, subject to a moral compass that is completely out of whack.
It’s time to get our bearings, and replace what we’ve lost.
*“Presidential Approval Ratings -- Donald Trump,” Gallup,
https://news.gallup.com/poll/203198/presidential-approval-ratings-donald-trump.aspx