Quit saying “How’d this happen”

I’ve been more offline than on on the past couple of days since I’m planning on doing something else with this blog. However, getting back on this morning, I’m struck by how many people are shocked that the United States has gone full Oligarchy, destroyed our alliances, ruined our own economy, and is isolating itself from the rest of the world. People are shocked, shocked I tell you, that Donald Trump, Jr. is once again the Occupier of the White House.

My question is why are they shocked? Loo,. I’m old. But I’ve been watching the programmatic decline of the country since 1980. Reagan getting elected shocked me because I didn’t think so many people would fall for such patent bullshit. His call-backs to a Golden Era, his pushing of trickle-down or supply-side economics, the amped up. Interference in other countries’ autonomy and elections, the saber-rattling and grandstanding; all of it led me to believe the the U.S. was on target to impose its will more. Forcefully on the rest of the world, while domestically, there was n. Increasing wealth divide, a refusal to address AIDS and rise of the Right Wing propaganda machine known as Fox News. 

Make no mistake. This last was hand in glove with the rise of cable news, over which the FCC had no jurisdiction.  Reagan through out the Fairness Doctrine (among other regulations) and the Wild West of talking heads who could say anything became a major factor in the dumbing down of America.

Higher began to be a market commodity as tuitions board as costs to run universities skyrocketed. We also saw the first strains of an attack on public education owing to Tipper Gore and her movement to police Rap lyrics and profanity, but also, Anita Bryant and her ant-gay movement did no small amount of harm, as well. It was “political correctness” that was under the gun, not “wokeness”, but under whatever name, the concepts of civility to others, diversity, equity, and inclusivity, were targets from the beginning.

Trump is no Reagan. I don’t like Reagan. I like him less as time goes on because he and his administration laid the groundwork for where we are today. Beginning with Reagan, though, was the additional corrosive effect on the presidency overall. The Executive Office grew to the assumption of greater agency through every subsequent president’s administration. Yes, that includes Clinton and Obama’s. 

But, but, but, Clinton and Obama couldn’t be held responsible for the rise of Trump. Yes and no. I’d argue thet Clinton made some deals that were more Machiavellian than people realize (NAFTA, for one) and showed a way for other presidents to dismiss the power of the other branches. Was his impeachment a farce? Of course, it was. Was Clinton a predator and an asshole? Yep. But the Republicans were more interested in smearing a sitting Democrat than with the substance of their claims against him.

Both the House and the Executive Branches did a swell job of showing how inane a serious procedure could be and with lasting harm to both branches. Clinton was right; impeachment based on personal impropriety is a waste of time, but it gave Gingrich (speaking of a man of sterling character) a platform that would later be parleyed with greater effect and to power by Mitch McConnell.

I could go on, from Bush through Obama to Biden, even. But what’s overlooked without this becoming a long-winded than usual post is that while the Democrats were actually trying to govern and support constituents and do their job, the upper-level Republicans had their eyes on a bigger prize. They needed a figurehead so easily manipulated, with a significant media presence, who could finally give them the keys to the Kingdom.

Sure, before Trump, the GOP was great at continuing attacks on civil liberties and stonewalling meaningful legislation and presidential appointments. At the same time, the Democrats refused to play similar hardball. “When they go low, we go high” is admirable, but politics is low. Always low. It is an ugly, filthy realm in which ideals are dragged through puke and mud and kicked around like two-day old puppies by a grade school psychopath. 

However, ideals continue to guide because they’re ideals. And the best public servants are those who want to see those ideals come true. However, few of those public servants are of the caliber to meet the opposition mano a mano. 

Yes, bipartisanship is nice. It has happened and still does, very often in smaller, less consequential legislation. However, we now have a majority of representatives are very far from idealists. They hold the power, and they’re not afraid to use it. In lockstep with the Occupier and his Regime, they’re both terrified of reprisal and more than willing to prove their loyalty to a grifter.

“Why don’t they all just rebel?” Because most don’t want to. They’re on a teat that is now likely to prove golden for them. They can disappear you or me or at least, cause disruption of lives at the say-so of their Leaders (it’s not Trump, though he’s a factor). 

Still, “how did we get here?” Is a rhetorical question. It might be that we got here through a mis of complacency, stupidity, apathy, and cynicism that has infected all levels of society and bodies of governance. 

Enough people have spent words, words, and more words on the similarities of the United States of just a few months ago and the Weimar Republic and the National Socialistic rise of the MAGA republicans in parallel to 1930s Germany. But the seeds were sown long before. Cassandras have abounded, but few listened.

I’ve been dismissed as overreacting, accused of cynicism and hating my country, and of course, just plain wrong. I’m not the sharpest tool in the shed, but I’ve spent a lot of time listening to people who are, reading what they’re written, have a reasonable talent for pattern recognition, and have never felt that the Republic would endure as a democracy for very long without participatory maintenance. 

What next? Keep on organizing, writing, protesting, showing up. Keep on calling representatives, emailing their offices, and talking to people. 

But let’s dial down the disingenuousness of “shock” at how we got here.