On Politicalprof’s Undespair ...

So as I watch the Trumpizoidal maniacs destroy America’s economy, its international leadership, its world-leading higher education system, its social safety net, its environment (and that of the world along with it), its fealty to the rule of law and at least the promise that it might one day live up to its ideals  (along with pretty much everything else I care about), I find myself surprisingly without despair. I mean, I am filled to the top with horror, with sadness, with the profound sense that none of this had to be … but not despair.

And I think I’ve figured out why.

See, I – and a lot of people like me – have spent the better part of two years explaining all the horrors to be unleashed on America and the world if this particular megalomaniacal, utterly incurious, loathsome, xenophobic, racist, sexist, bigoted, completely unsuited “businessman” con artist was elected President. We explored it with Republicans. We explored it with Democrats. We explored it with Bernie Bros. We explored it with the Steiners. We explored it in the dark, talking only to ourselves.

And pretty much no one cared. Or, put another way, lots and lots and lots of people came up with ways to rationalize their Trumplove, or Berniacness, or Steinism – most of which were premised along some version of the claims, “Well, Hillary sucks too,” because “she’s the same as Trump.”

Now, of course, pretty much everything we promised and predicted would happen is happening. Moreover, it takes a special kind of stupid to claim that all – or even most – of this would have happened had Hillary Clinton been elected. I am sure that many people reading this post would have found much objectionable had Hillary entered office in January 2017. But this? Really? 

Which, I think, is why I am not in despair. It is certainly true that for the next many years, quite possibly the rest of my life AND my children's’ lives, our world is unquestionably going to be much, much worse than it would have been without Trump’s victory. The lives of people who lack my privileges and resources are going to be even worse. This makes sad beyond words. But it does not make me despair.

Why? Because I am not sympathetic to many of Trumpism’s coming victims. (I am profoundly sympathetic to many others, as I hope is clear from the discussion above.) Why am I not sympathetic to many? Well, that’s pretty easy: they’re getting exactly what they voted for. Even now, with their houses collapsing around them (sometimes literally), they are beside themselves with joy at what Trump is doing … to them. Not for them. 

Going forward I pledge to do everything I can to help the under-privileged, real victims of the coming nightmare time. I pledge to use my skills and talents to make the world as safe and supportive for such people as I can. But to those who chose to murder the American experiment because they thought it was funny? Because they thought it was too hard to be the Americans they needed to be?

Let them eat the beans and potatoes that are all they are going to be able to afford. Perhaps – perhaps – when they reach rock bottom they will recognize that “Make America Great Again” had a second half to it: “For Those of Us Who Can Buy it.”

👏 👏 👏  Politicalprof

“Make America Great Again. For Those of Us Who Can Buy it.” #Oligarchs  #Corporatocracy

“Trumpizoidal maniacs” 🔥 #VoteThemOut #NoRepublicans #VoteBlue

A set of charts about Jared Kushner, who is in deep doo-doo.

Jared Kushner: Just The Facts by Scott Bateman

#ItsMuellerTime for Kushner and Family

“Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason.” - Mark Twain

Reporter David Cay Johnston on Trump’s planned tax overhaul. See the full story: Trump’s Proposed Tax Overhaul Would Give Billions to Trump & Cabinet While Sparking Global “Tax War” (via democracynow)

#GOPdonors #GOPcomplicit  #ResistTrump #NoTaxCutsForRich

NO Plutocracy