I am not someone who panics easily or believes the sky is falling. My faith and my spirituality keeps me grounded in worldly matters, especially concerning our country. This doesn't mean I'm oblivious to current events. After all, I have a background in political science and a Master's in Public Administration. However, it seems that what I learned during my undergraduate and master's studies at the University of Georgia and the University of Oklahoma in the early '80s and '90s is outdated, as many principles of political discourse in our democracy no longer seem to apply. Numerous factors contribute to our current situation, including social media, the internet, 24-hour news (real and fabricated), extreme views on both the left and right, and a lack of effort to find common ground on issues that genuinely benefit the people. However, the most troubling is the deliberate effort to sow distrust in the systems and institutions that uphold our democracy. It's difficult to understand how groups of Americans have been misled into voting against their own interests, and how their elected officials seem uninterested in serving the communities that elected them. The poor, small business owners, educators, farmers, federal and state employees, legal immigrants, military members, certain minority groups, and many others somehow believed their best interests would be served only to now begin to realize this is not the case. An old axiom that "the best place to hide something is in plain sight" is in play as huge segments of our country have been conditioned not to believe what they actually see but what they are told!
I am not upset with those who voted their conscience in the last election; I just disagree with the result. However, I did not try to storm the Capitol (pardon me, take a tour of the Capitol building) to change the election outcome. I'm also not upset with those who found both options unfavorable and chose not to vote, though by not voting, they voted! My main disappointment lies in how many ignored the warning signs and in many/most cases, support what poses a significant threat to our democracy. The concentration of power in the Executive is not only unconstitutional but dangerous—it is a model for authoritarian leadership! I believe many Americans take freedom for granted and will only realize its value when it's gone! I try to see this situation as another step toward achieving a more Perfect Union (as stated in the preamble of the Constitution), as our flawed democracy must withstand and counter all threats, both external and internal. Yet, as our institutions, including the military, are being dismantled and competent leaders are replaced by unqualified individuals whose only qualification is loyalty to a false narrative that believes the few can control the many (I've read Project 2025 and find it treasonous, reeking of white supremacy) and a person whose only interest is self-interest, I am concerned. I firmly believe all involved will be held accountable when this coup attempt (yes, I believe that is exactly what is happening) ultimately fails, and I only hope the damage isn't irreparable.
I have to mention the billionaire in the White House, and I don't mean the elected president, who may or may not be a billionaire (but that's beside the point)! Allowing elon and his band of hackers unrestricted access to all our government institutions' systems without oversight or accountability is a mistake. Neither he nor his team have been vetted or granted clearances for their activities, and no one truly knows what they are doing or how it will affect US in the future! I am all about finding and eliminating fraud, waste, abuse, eliminating unnecessary spending etc in our government and will applaud any efforts that expose and eliminate these activities. I just don't trust someone who effectively bought his way into the White House with questionable motives and who holds billions in government contracts to do it—this seems like a conflict of interest on many levels!
I must conclude with a brief discussion on the basics of our democracy. I paid attention in Government 101 when we learned about the three branches of government: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial. The Constitution includes checks and balances to prevent any branch from becoming too powerful and they should work together to provide a government for and by the People. However, currently, congress and the judiciary have abandoned their check and balance powers by not challenging the numerous questionable orders and actions of the executive branch. They have been blitzkrieged by executive orders (part of the plan in Project 2025), and the republican-controlled Congress and ineffective judiciary are leading us into a constitutional crisis that I contend has already occurred, and we are now facing something even more dangerous!
Comments