Well, clearly, somebody neglected to take her anti-depressant when she penned the last post.
It has been nigh impossible to manage any sort of cheerful outlook since the U.S. presidential election. At first, I felt somewhat vindicated, as I contemplated all those voters who swore they'd leave the country if Trump won. I am already out of the country, with no plans to return, but it doesn't really matter where I hang my hat. I am a U.S. citizen, and I am desperately afraid for the near and continuing future of my country. I see an ignorant, pompous, self-absorbed ass with absolutely no concept of how complex and critical his new job is, to both the country itself and the rest of the world.
I felt proud of my sisters and cousins as they marched in Washington last Saturday, but also sadly detached from the event. I wonder if anything good and lasting will result from their efforts and those of people around the world. Just as the lowest number of annual abortions since Roe v. Wade was announced, due in part to better availability of contraception to poor women, Republican senators are enthusing about defunding Planned Parenthood as soon as possible. Many women did not participate in the Women's March because it embraced liberal priorities and LGBTQ issues. Will these conservative women be able to compromise when they, too, become afraid that Trumpish chaos threatens the country's existence?
Remember the "camp-in" of the 98%? Did anything lasting come of that? We have just put one of the 1% (and a pretty repulsive one, at that) into the driver's seat of the free world.
The tyrant in the White House seems incapable of political triage, of putting aside petty or minor annoyances in favor of acting promptly on pressing problems facing the nation. Yes, he is focused on developing jobs, as he promised he would. But what I see is deal-making AT ANY COST; Trump is dangling tax breaks and federal support on one hand, and daring industry leaders to risk his rage if they do not accept the taxpayers' largess. That is no way to create or save lasting jobs, to pay companies to hire Americans.
Of course, we have only Trump's dubious word that "everyone will have great healthcare" when he and Congress repeal the Affordable Care Act. And is America's long record of supporting democracy abroad and aiding impoverished nations in times of pestilence or catastrophe next on the chopping block? It does seem as if Trump is a spoiled brat demanding his own way or he'll take his toys and go home. Perhaps The United States is finally going to act like the global bully many nations accuse it of being.
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