Social security threats, gun violence, rise of antisemitism, racism, and hatred, abortion rights, Iran, Israel, Gaza, Russia, Supreme Court corruption, Trump prosecutions, white supremacy uprisings, House Republican failure…what do they all have in common.  Not one of them should have come as a surprise.  They told us, they warned us, we saw it on television and now people are screaming like they didn’t see it coming. 

America knew all they needed to know about Donald Trump before they cast their votes.  No, maybe they didn’t know he was a total fraud, but they knew he cheated the vendors who worked for him, cheated on his wives, joked about grabbing the private parts of women, filed numerous bankruptcies, criticized our heroes, mocked those with disabilities, exhibited a ridiculous level of physical vanity, and lied through his teeth about people.  They knew he possessed a propensity for viciously attacking his enemies, exhibited a tolerance for hate, awakened those who our country had driven into the darkness years ago, worshipped wealth and the wealthy…for heaven’s sake, the man had golden toilets.  Voters then shed their long-held beliefs in truth, honesty, honor, patriotism, and fair play–lessons they had taught their children–and voted for this guy in droves…not the majority I might add, but enough. 

We all watched as he put incompetent helpers in power in local, state, and federal positions…all of this as we watched him rub elbows with authoritarian leaders. They salivated as they harvested the fruits of their labor due to the rape of the selection process for Supreme Court justices. This was not hidden; it was all done out in the open. But even some of those Supreme Court justices are slowly beginning to understand the meaning of America.

But voters stopped them in their tracks.  They elected Joe Biden even with his imperfections (all politicians seem to have them although some far more than others) because they knew Trump had to be stopped.  But Trump wasn’t done with America and our precious democracy quite yet.  We watched…we’re still watching every single day.  Just as his Supreme Court ripped Roe to pieces…not in any type of humane orderly fashion but in a way that has babies having babies for their perpetrators, and taking away the ability of women and their doctors to do what is best for the mother because of inhumane policies forcing them to give birth to their dead children.  We watched, just as we all watched what was happening in Gaza before the Hamas atrocities in Israel…or did we turn our heads and not watch.   We also watched what was happening in Israel before the Hamas attacks…a Trump move in Israel’s government.  Now there is this outcry from everyone from Jews to Gentiles.  Where was the outcry before all of this happened?  And, in the spirit of the discourse of Martin Niemöller, where will we be when they come for you?  Of course, at this point, they have come for just about everyone of us.

Today, we cannot stop the slaughter of men, women, and children on our streets. We are still trying to recover from a pandemic a former President could have mitigated the damage and loss of life had he just trusted the American people with the truth…just been honest.  Women have lost the ability make personal and private decisions on their own…some of the elected GOP are even attacking birth control. It has become clear that for the wealthy birth is about labor, not about life and certainly not about choice.  Individual rights are under constant attack…we are no longer debating our views and taking them to the ballot box; we have a former President who lost an election calling for violence to return him to office…and Americans and every authoritarian leader in the world praying the leader who praised them returns. Rick Scott told us they were coming for our Social Security, and now the new Speaker of the House is coming for your Social Security…there should be no surprise.  Our House of Representatives cannot even handle the basics of government without drama, and without input from a former President…not even the most essential functions such as electing a capable House Speaker, keeping the government functioning, and protecting our military and our Constitution.

I think differently from the people who stormed our Capitol and those who support them. I still believe that as President Biden often says, it’s a bad idea to bet against America. Not only are they betting against America, but they are also fighting America.  I believe we are going to pull through this because we are growing weary of just watching until the next thing drops…and then listening to useless rhetoric and disingenuous displays of sorrow. Trump is on trial…as he should be.  A Democrat is challenging the Republican Governor in Mississippi.  The internet and polls are full contradictions, so neither I nor you truly know what the hell is going on in some instances. But I believe our economy is getting better, but let’s face it…it’s been a rocky road made rockier by those who politically want it to fail–want our government to fail. We have a House of Representatives with a majority that doesn’t even believe in government…and they are governing, getting paid for it, and trying to shut it down.

But most of us still believe in our democracy.  Every other week another corrupt politician becomes low hanging fruit we know must be voted out.  Every single day we hear voices of reason speaking out against the authoritarian leaning entities in our government.   Most of us understand more suffering will not ease suffering. Most of us still believe in honesty, truth, and fair play.  Most of us know the difference between right and wrong. Most of us understand our democracy is precious and worth protecting.  So, I believe a reckoning is coming and just like we saw the signs of what was coming before today, there are also signs of what is to come. Lies are being confronted in plain sight so we don’t have to decipher what happened…the evidence is being shown.  People are admitting their crimes…something about that choice between prison and just telling the truth when confronted with evidence.  We are a country full of colors, religions, and beliefs.  Most of us are getting back on the road of understanding that reality, and that we are all in this America together…so I’m not betting against America.  I’m not betting against you and I…us. That said, we have to work for it.  Get to work…now is not the time to rest and watch from the sidelines.   

How we vote matters…and who we elect matters. America matters.