By Gail Drucker
Every nation gets the government it deserves.” - Joseph de Maistre
Well, I don’t know about you, but I do not deserve this government. I voted. I participated. I used my rights as a citizen of the United States. Unfortunately, perhaps not as many shoulda, woulda, coulda voted for the Democratic candidate. No judgement, everyone has the right to their opinions and choices. But everyone doesn’t have the right to choose my government, at least not for the next four years.
What I do have the right to choose is how I manage the unearthly chaos, unpredictable, hand-wringing, gut-wrenching incredulity I watch every evening on cable news, read on the Internet, or hear on the radio as I’m driving to work each morning. Shaking my head, thinking I can’t possibly have heard correctly what I just heard, saw or read. So nope, I will never buy any item of clothing from the Ivanka Trump line. I will not give my patronage to a Trump establishment. I will not buy baseball caps or beer cozies or bobble heads or bad hombre buttons.
What I will do is hope that this has been a blip on the radar of America. An anomaly. A perfect storm of place and time and disgruntled workers who were looking for a different way. Well, sometimes what works is what’s tried and true. Yes, there have been plenty of mistakes and downfalls and tribulations to this experiment known as Democracy. Yes, people are tired, and manufacturing has moved overseas and yes, the coal industry has succumbed to the modern age. And sometimes politicians, like people, just suck. I get it.
What I don’t get is why there is still support for an irrational, tempestuous, xenophobic, wanna-be dictator? Why are those who stand behind him so mired in hatred for their fellow American? Why is the divide so, so great? Coastal elite. Rust belt. There is a much more urgent and larger phenomenon coagulating beneath the exterior of our fifty states. I am worried for our country. I am worried for our huddled masses. I am worried.
With an election just around the corner, as well as a possible impeachment, I am both hopeful and saddened. I am hopeful that our country will come together not to vote out a specific person, but to elect a candidate with a respect and appreciation of morals and values, the oath of office and public service. I am saddened to watch the deterioration of what corruption and greed and hatred can produce. Well, I don’t know about you, but I do not deserve this government. And FDR agrees with me.
“Let us never forget that government is ourselves and not an alien power over us. The ultimate rulers of our democracy are not a President and senators and congressmen and government officials, but the voters of this country.” -Franklin D. Roosevelt
Well said!