The
extremes on the right and that which Orwell and other dystopian writers
feared are operational all over the world. Fascist-like extremists
from my point of view are the biggest threat to all of us. They are
brutal, inhumane, totalitarian in their hearts and unapologetically
violent in their actions. They are severely anti-Muslim and in the past
at least were virulently anti Semitic as well. If this were simply a
sub-group or an out-on-a- limb phenomena it would not worry me. But we
can see from so many states in our union so many extremist right wing
Republicans, a Party that has NO room for moderates, people of color and
certainly no room for those from the LGBT community. They are now in
control of two of the most powerful three divisions of US power. If
Republicans gain the presidency and both Houses everything and I do mean
every good social program that Obama, Lyndon Johnson and even FDR
passed that saved a nation and your life will be at risk. I am NOT waxing histrionic.
Across Europe right wing extremism is popular and has resurrected its ugly head. Just take a look at Mari Le Pen's right wing extremist party which has gained strength in France and this can be said surely most fearfully in Germany, in Belgium and even in the Scandinavian nations.
Am I delusional? Did not Barack Obama, a supposed liberal Democrat, usher in total control of Congress in 2008? What happened? 2010 was, indeed, our Waterloo. All the good feeling and hope melted like ice cream in the heat of the summer.
I am flummoxed, I am sickened by it all but MOSTLY I live in fear that all the good and hard-fought-for-rights for persons of color, women and the LGBT community will somehow be reversed. All it takes is time and not so much of it at that for a president to appoint local Republican federal judges, and worst of all Ginsberg's SCOTUS seat remains at risk for Republican control. Now, if a Republican takes the presidency and in 2016 we do not regain at least the Senate than it is possible to see another entrenched-for-decades Republican SCOTUS jurists eviscerating human rights across the board, keeping money unlimited in political campaigns, treating corporations as people and letting big banks off the legal hook for tax payer money they digested because the Congress, especially Republicans, are bought off. It could mean the disappearance of the middle class and the American Dream as we have always known it.
All of this is worrisome to me. I need to figure out how I want to approach this sickening impasse and whether or not I want to even keep writing opinion and working for candidates like an Elizabeth Warren whom we desperately need to stay in the Senate where she can do the most good in opposing obstructionist Republican politics. It is the conundrum of my life and the calling of our time to determine how much we can do together to ameliorate the injustice all around us?
Until I decide that for myself we -- ALL of us -- must keep working toward taking back the Senate and CERTAINLY keeping the presidency in 2016. I am rather tired of saying this as I said it so much about the 2014 midterms. It obviously did not work as too many of us stayed home and simply let Republicans railroad themselves with ease into power. I was vociferous about this because GET THIS: OUR LIVES ARE AT STAKE! I am not kidding when I say that and I am no less fervent about it than I was in 2014 except now I am actually more insistent because time waits for no man and time is running out.
You who will inherit the earth, the wind and all that is vital for life on this planet MUST step up to the plate and for God's sake GET OUR PEOPLE OF COLOR, HISPANICS AND WOMEN REGISTERED TO VOTE ALL OVER THE NATION. WHEN WE VOTE OUR NUMBERS WE WIN BUT IF WE STAY HOME WE LOSE AND ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TERRIBLE CONSEQUENCES FAILURE BRINGS! So I will say it again. Begin as early as you can because you can be sure Republicans are not waiting and they are organizing now. WE MUST GET OUT THE DEMOCRATIC VOTE. No, Democrats are not perfect but it is the only home we, the 98%, have at the moment. It is the calling of our time!
Across Europe right wing extremism is popular and has resurrected its ugly head. Just take a look at Mari Le Pen's right wing extremist party which has gained strength in France and this can be said surely most fearfully in Germany, in Belgium and even in the Scandinavian nations.
Am I delusional? Did not Barack Obama, a supposed liberal Democrat, usher in total control of Congress in 2008? What happened? 2010 was, indeed, our Waterloo. All the good feeling and hope melted like ice cream in the heat of the summer.
I am flummoxed, I am sickened by it all but MOSTLY I live in fear that all the good and hard-fought-for-rights for persons of color, women and the LGBT community will somehow be reversed. All it takes is time and not so much of it at that for a president to appoint local Republican federal judges, and worst of all Ginsberg's SCOTUS seat remains at risk for Republican control. Now, if a Republican takes the presidency and in 2016 we do not regain at least the Senate than it is possible to see another entrenched-for-decades Republican SCOTUS jurists eviscerating human rights across the board, keeping money unlimited in political campaigns, treating corporations as people and letting big banks off the legal hook for tax payer money they digested because the Congress, especially Republicans, are bought off. It could mean the disappearance of the middle class and the American Dream as we have always known it.
All of this is worrisome to me. I need to figure out how I want to approach this sickening impasse and whether or not I want to even keep writing opinion and working for candidates like an Elizabeth Warren whom we desperately need to stay in the Senate where she can do the most good in opposing obstructionist Republican politics. It is the conundrum of my life and the calling of our time to determine how much we can do together to ameliorate the injustice all around us?
Until I decide that for myself we -- ALL of us -- must keep working toward taking back the Senate and CERTAINLY keeping the presidency in 2016. I am rather tired of saying this as I said it so much about the 2014 midterms. It obviously did not work as too many of us stayed home and simply let Republicans railroad themselves with ease into power. I was vociferous about this because GET THIS: OUR LIVES ARE AT STAKE! I am not kidding when I say that and I am no less fervent about it than I was in 2014 except now I am actually more insistent because time waits for no man and time is running out.
You who will inherit the earth, the wind and all that is vital for life on this planet MUST step up to the plate and for God's sake GET OUR PEOPLE OF COLOR, HISPANICS AND WOMEN REGISTERED TO VOTE ALL OVER THE NATION. WHEN WE VOTE OUR NUMBERS WE WIN BUT IF WE STAY HOME WE LOSE AND ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TERRIBLE CONSEQUENCES FAILURE BRINGS! So I will say it again. Begin as early as you can because you can be sure Republicans are not waiting and they are organizing now. WE MUST GET OUT THE DEMOCRATIC VOTE. No, Democrats are not perfect but it is the only home we, the 98%, have at the moment. It is the calling of our time!
