This has not been a good year for the United States. Elections have consequences, and the country is bearing the full weight of November 8, 2016. The president and his merry band of obsequious robber barons, in their often breathtaking incompetence, have created a mess that will likely take years to clean up, regardless of which political party takes the White House next. The swamp wasn’t drained; it was merely diverted into the Oval Office.
What we have witnessed has been mind numbing: persistent lying, preposterous bravado, poor response to anything requiring a “presidential moment”, excessive bloviating about fictitious achievements, depressingly regular and unnecessary scandals, constant saber rattling, and so on. It’s been quite a display this administration has put on — similar to a lousy reality TV show (surprise!) but with consequences.
Our country has lost its stature in the world, creating a dangerous foreign policy situation and allowing adversaries to assume roles of greater strength. The United States just can’t be counted on anymore…at least for now. Reputation can be rebuilt, and from what I’ve read, some overseas think that America has only momentarily lost its mind and will come to its senses once the current occupant of the Oval Office is out.
The damage this administration has done domestically is significant, too. We are defined by division, acrimony, and a sense that our worst instincts have been given a nod of approval, or at the very least a shrug, from this president. His job approval rating of 37 percent suggests he’s detested as much as he disdains the norms, decorum and responsibilities of the office.
Then there’s Congress, they of the 13 percent job approval rating. Republicans control both chambers and have had a banner year of doing nothing of note. The unpopular attempt to dismantle the Affordable Care Act failed, so they next turned to tax reform, which quickly morphed into a giant mess that’s less reform and more scam — hurting far more than it helps in the long run. Also consider the enormous deficit explosion that comes along with this farcical plan. It’s not sustainable and opens the door to epic cuts down the road in Social Security and Medicare. The GOP is determined, however, to ram a bill through as fast as possible so they can claim a legislative victory in 2017 and keep the donor coffers open. Serious work done by nonserious people. I suspect this will be viewed as a Pyrrhic victory come the 2018 midterm election.
As a registered Independent, I’ve not been afraid to vote for a moderate Republican in the past, but that’s unfathomable now. There aren’t any moderates left. Frankly, can they even be called Republicans at this point, or have they turned into something else entirely? That’s a rhetorical but serious question.
Eventually this house of cards in Washington, D.C. is going to come tumbling down. The only question is what’s the tipping point and what does the ensuing implosion look like? That’s frightening to think about. I’m struggling mightily, as I have throughout this year, about where we’re heading. Among other things, I fear this administration leading us into a foreign policy misadventure with dire consequences. I’ve had to avoid the news on several days to avoid sinking into a depression. This is what I wrote in January. So much still holds true.
It’s very easy to feel gloomy right now, but here’s a bit of optimism. There’s an opportunity to start cleaning up the mess next November in Congress. The stench of rot emanating from the White House will take longer. It also may be shorter depending on the Robert Mueller investigation that has suddenly heated up. Eventually though, our rapacious president will be shown the door, and we’ll get much needed fresh air and a bright light shed on the full damage he’s done. Then, we’ll make the necessary repairs and leave him as an unfortunate footnote in our history.
“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”
The trash is piling up, but Garbage Day is coming.
