Race Toward The Apocalypse

So, here we are; more than a month removed from the 2024 presidential election, and many of us are still reeling from the outcome. It wasn't entirely inconceivable that he could win though, given the level of cynicism and outright fear that's been served up by the 'extreme right wing' of his party even before President Biden's Inauguration in 2021.

For the political juggernaut it showed itself to be, the delusion of power had been effectively bestowed upon an ex-president whose path to his party's nomination required little to no accountability for the number of 'flaws' that characterized him, and ultimately the tenor of his campaign.

The culmination of his odyssey can't really be labeled as his re-emergence onto the national stage because, like the truly unscrupulous salesman that he is, he made sure he never really went away.

Even while he was still the sitting president, it seemed an elaborate 'dress rehearsal' for his ultimate desire of morphing into the supreme autocratic leader he has imagined himself to be. His party's complicity had emboldened him to the extent that even his legal team breached ethical and legal boundaries, as well as the constitution, providing the political cover he enjoyed while orchestrating that failed coup attempt in January of 2021.

It was probably the public's most dramatic glimpse into this man's psyche, and his willingness to employ the most malicious tactics to hold on to power; even if it meant breaking the law. The fact that not even a hand-full of more formidable republican candidates bothered to step forward to try and topple him to make their own bid for the white house was at least curious; since many of them had stated their objections to his candidacy long before the primary season, but reversed their positions when he became the presumptive party favorite to recapture the white house.

The toxic narratives that he allowed to thrive, even in the face of his own criminal convictions, and other looming legal entanglements should have been the 'death knell' for anyone watching it all unfold, but the level of animosity directed at his opponents, even by those on 'the right' who considered themselves traditionalists, was more than puzzling.

For a campaign that was really built on veiled threats of violence against his political opponents, innuendo, denial of the facts, and the subverting of the rule of law, he had pulled off the ultimate 'rope-a-dope'.

When the need for laying out policy initiatives by the opposition was almost abandoned in the latter days of the campaign, in favor of simply presenting claims made by 'the right' and his plans to reshape the government as we know it and those statements backed by video evidence, it seemed the path they chose to victory was almost suicidal.

To expect any real sensibility to be extracted from what they were proposing was outlandish, and my money would have been on the majority of the American people feeling the same, deep within their souls.

The results of the election seemed a direct contradiction to the sentiments shared by leaders of both parties. The euphoria over Vice President Harris' campaign was palpable. All the right messaging about the creation of 'an opportunity economy' hit all the right chords. There was a push for voter engagement and calls for a more inclusive economy with the expansion of civil rights. In contrast, no details about republicans' policies on any level were being offered by Mr. Trump's campaign, except the extent of cuts he plans to make to several public assistance programs, and the outright elimination of some departments while his legal woes were still unresolved; or so we thought. When the dust settled though, the republicans had achieved the 'Trifecta' with majority wins in both houses of congress to compliment their 6 to 3 Supreme Court majority.

'We're Not In Kansas Anymore'

What became painfully aware during election season and after all the votes were counted, was how much less a candidate with loose morals, or a criminal disposition seemed to impact the outcome. If a breach in the laws that govern the conduct of a candidate is not scrutinized universally across the board, then it opens the door for private interpretations of what the rules should be; usually in favor of the person who's in violation.

If republicans were proficient at anything, it would probably be how effective the inundation of scare tactics with voters would become. They intended to paint a 'doomsday scenario' for the country if democrats retained the white house and at least one house of congress; even though there were no facts to bolster their claims. What they seemed to prove about the public's perception is that they had a higher tolerance for 'sound bites' and generalities with little substance, versus a broader, more detailed explanation of how they would be impacted by governmental policies.

I'm going to go out on a limb here about public sentiment, but as obvious as things appeared to be based on what transpired, there were several realities that glared like bright neon after the election that we, as citizens, should never abandon:

(a) Don't allow yourself to be intimidated by the opposition to vote a certain way or not at all. Your vote should be treated like currency that can't be traded at any price; not even in the face of threats. Securing the right to vote was at the expense of a long and arduous fight for many of us and those that came before us, and represents the most coveted aspect of civic engagement. To take the position that the absence of your vote won't really affect the outcome seems an act of betrayal.

(b) Don't pass on the opportunity to cast your vote in Primary Elections. Study candidates involved in local and regional races to make sure the candidate of choice gets your vote. Look at their voting record on certain initiatives in the past and what professional organizations they may belong to that may give you a glimpse into their character. It improves the chances of your candidate of choice becoming the one that represents your party in the general election. Down-ballot races are important in the broader scheme of things.

(c) Character matters, so don't feel pressured to compromise your values, and what type of character traits you expect in a candidate just because the 'prevailing narrative' surrounding character flaws makes it seem insignificant. To try and persuade the electorate that a candidate's character doesn't matter is a trick of 'the enemy'. Imagine how you would feel if someone you called a friend decided to steal money from you, then tells you he did it because he didn't think you would mind, even though it's money you really needed. It shows that person's moral compass is way out of sync, or non-existent, and your welfare was not really a concern of theirs. Your first impulse would probably be to sever ties with that person because you would have felt your trust was violated, and more importantly realizing your value to that person had been diminished in a big way.

What it shows is how we should scrutinize our acquaintances more carefully before calling them 'friend'. Politicians should be held to an even higher standard since they're charged with deciding how regional, state, or even national policies will impact whole populations.

The 'Boomerang Effect'

If we can respect the universal rule in mathematics that 2 + 2 = 4, then what affects our political decisions should be subject to certain universal rules as well. In almost every instance we as voters will respect policy trends that are typical of our party's identify, but nothing so 'far off the reservation' that it seems absent of any real fiscal responsibility, oppressive in its nature, void of compassion, and dismissive of cultural norms. For everyone who feels the incoming administration has been given a bad rap, and things will just work themselves out even though they've promised to 'gas light' a number of programs, as well as departments, that have been beneficial to all Americans for decades, your optimism would not be well-considered.

The likelihood that the incoming administration will suddenly change its stripes on inauguration day is unlikely. The truth is, if they were bold enough to remain unfiltered in their rhetoric during the campaign, no matter how destructive, and were still handed the reins of power, where is the incentive for them to change? But the larger question is, how could expectations, and perceptions, be so skewed that voters were still willing to just 'roll the dice' concerning the country's future. I'm sure at least most of you have heard the phrase, 'If it walks like a Duck, and quacks like a Duck, it's probably a Duck'.

The behavior witnessed during the election season seemed to be nothing short of a forfeiture of our dignity as a republic. Because a portion of us may choose to see with blinders on, when it comes to our conduct, it doesn't follow that the rest of the world will also. The more people that are shoved toward the margins and denied liberties that had been previously won, just for the sake of a privileged few, the more vigorous the outcry for change will become. None of what is being proposed by the new administration will happen in a vacuum. What goes around, comes around, and the 'boomerang effect' is a very real phenomenon. It will surely present dire consequences unless 'Real Equity' becomes the common denominator of our politics. Regardless of who the real power brokers are, enough voices united in their discontent can still force meaningful change.

For those of you who may not be familiar with the story of Joseph in the latter chapters of Genesis, it is one of the most dramatic examples in the bible of how the plans of men can be derailed to achieve just the opposite effect. Joseph's brothers were so jealous of him that a few of them felt he was better off dead, and conspired against him to where he was eventually sold into slavery to the Egyptians.

Because of his ability to interpret dreams, he became favored in Potiphar's house. Potiphar was captain of the guard for the Pharaoh, and Joseph eventually rose to prominence as part of the Pharaoh's court. His brothers and their father had to suffer through a famine in their homeland, until Joseph decided he would rescue them; even though it took several years and him having to spend time in prison for all of this to unfold. To echo what Joseph said to his brothers when he confronted them in Egypt - 'What you meant for evil, God meant for good'. - So, we should not despair, but also recall the words of the prophet in Isaiah 40: 31 - 'But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint. GOD BLESS..