It is funny to see my reaction to Trump this year (okay - here I mean "funny" as related to "confusing and depressing"). I have managed to stay less OUTRAGED, albeit still annoyed and appalled.
And yet, I am more depressed by his debasing the America I knew - and had hoped we still were. This drift into the abyss of lies, hatred, and rejection of norms has been continued, normalized, and reinforced*. None of that would surprise me from a tiny minority, but the acceptance of Republican tactics across the board is truly soul-crushing. They (first Trump, now so many others) have devalued the truth by lying and by general acceptance of those lies.
Even the lying is nothing really new. Politicians have distorted their and their opponents' positions as long as elections have been held. But to sell a bill of goods that elections are not fair, judges cannot be trusted, and election officials should be threatened is one thing. For at least the 33% that refuse to acknowledge any news except what they desire is unAmerican.
And a serial liar, sexual abuser, African American hater, misogynist, anti-gay (and those other letters), and anti-science buffoon is in a tie-race with Kamala Harris!?!? You should be able to run Mayor Max III of Idlewyld against a charlatan like that and win 95% of the time.
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| Even Mayor Max III should be leading in a race against DJT. |
I just do not see the country I grew up in, reflected today. I guess that makes me as set in my ways as a MAGA supporter. I think they don't see their America today either.
I also want America to be great again. But my "great again," would involve a move back to where the Rule of the Law was our goal and where we strive to be an example in parts of the world where cruelty and crushing poverty are endemic.
And the casual dismissal of our shared American values shows that hatred is winning. Winning enough to just ... hurt.
* Two Oxford commas in one sentence is one too many, but I like it.
I share your pain.
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