Outside 100524

It’s another American election cycle unlike any before or hopefully any in the future. This cycle is long on sound and fury, short on truths with abundant hatred seasoned by fear. That’s only the domestic dynamics. Technology has facilitated international dynamics reminiscent of the “Cold War” when America and Russia played checkers in small national elections. There was no chess like strategy; it was who grabbed off the most checkers. American elections are now the target with not only Russia playing but also China, Israel, Islamic states as well radical NGOs with their own agendas.

An early victim of sound and fury politics is the establishment of 80 as the age of political incompetence. Following that logic, if 80 is the limit for one elected office then why not also the limit all over 80 government officials? Why not also senators, representatives, judges even business leaders? Extending the argument, age limits also limit views of history and national identity.

The over 80s set was born at the end of the depression as the progeny of America’s greatest generation. Socialized by that generation, their cultural values may seem out of step in the 21st century. They saw their fathers march off to war, while the KKK still marched across our land. Lynching was common, as was minority discrimination, organized and disorganized crime. Local governments were often corrupt and the 3d degree ruled police departments. When fathers returned they instilled a love of freedom and reform in their children. As the kids matured they fought a number of wars, foreign and domestic, to defend freedom. They saw the battles for civil rights. As the only great power left standing they understood the economic and power benefits of being American as well as its obligations.  America held a moral high ground.

For a century American politics had been shared between conservatives and liberals principles under the titles of Republican (GOP) and Democratic parties. Cooperation between the parties was often reluctantly given but national governance did work for the next fifty years before government broke down in the face of self-interest over national interest. The 20th century was the American Century of great power. Scholars have postulated that great power last about 100 years before being supplanted by other rising powers. The 21st century “Me” culture may validate the great power hypothesis as America surrendered its moral high ground in the 2016-election cycle. So far the 2024 election cycle does not bode well for America’s survival as a power player.

Before political correctness an early typing exercise included the phrase, “Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country.” The American two party system is broken, no longer do liberals and conservatives debate and compromise in the interest of the country. Party politics have been captured by “winner take all” extremism to the point that the conservatives (GOP) have lost their party to MAGA disinformation. Without a vision of a future MAGA is attempting to sell a mythical past of fear, discrimination and hatred as a desired policy. The old typing exercise must be rewritten as, “Now is the time for all responsible voters to save their country.”

Donald Trump is the biggest nut in the MAGA fruit cake but he has empowered and even more extreme “nuttier butter” of extremism that “the DON” is not smart enough to notice his ego being played by other interest. Every slice of the cake exposes extremism spinning off in every direction with the rule of law the first victim.  America does owe the Don for exposing just how corrupted our justice system has become.  He has built his empire on, “money talks,” with bribery, intimidation and legal obfuscatory delay.   He carried these tactics into the Whitehouse openly applying them in his two impeachments.

MAGA partygoers hear only the words of their self appointed ‘God’ generated by a vast propaganda machine of spin-doctors, mass marketers and fake pollsters.  The reality is not the braggart’s words but rather his open and proven tawdry record.  The Don is neither Republican, Christian, honorable or trustworthy.  If he accuses an opponent of nefarious deeds he is blowing smoke to cover his own crimes and he seizes all credit for others’ accomplishments.  If he can’t pass the buck, or grab the credit he orders his decibels to obstruct legislative solution.  His character is that of no ethics, integrity or loyalty which his many loyalist and lawyers have discovered to their sorrow.  He is a party of one and that one must profit.

His admitted heroes are mob bosses and dictators seeing himself on that level.   There is no pretense of becoming even a benevolent dictator it will be all for self, the ultimate ME cultural goal.  Government is for sale; he demanded a billion dollar “donation” from tech companies with a promise of favors in the future.  His made in USA spiel is lost in his money grab with out sourced Trump souvenirs.  His over stated fortune was gained by not paying his bills, taxes or through ten cent on the dollar bankruptcies leaving economic chaos in his wake.  When he “owns” the mint he will print a greater fortune for himself leaving the country bankrupt like some banana republics.

Stripping away the wordsmith’s cover the Don has openly admitted to getting away with numerous crimes.  By his own admission he is a draft dodging, rapist, tax cheat and traitor.  His longstanding links to The Russian mob have been documented and he may in fact be a Russian agent.  In secret meetings, with no American witnesses, did he sell secrets to the Russian dictator; did he also promise the Ukraine to Russia?

In his latest claim straight out of the NAZI play book he will require the military to swear a personal loyalty to him rather than the Constitution.  There are enough mid-level officers who’ll sell their souls to become generals.  It could happen.

Harris may not be the best choice to repair the damage MAGA has inflected upon the country but she won’t sell it out for personal profit. She will be faced with a daunting task of regaining the county’s moral leadership, repairing its fault lines, and ending patronage and partisanship.  The presidency is a position above party; the president governs for all people.

Utopian goals:
Amend Constitutional requiring elected officials be truthful to the electorate.  
End billion dollar election cycles to feed the hungry.
MAGA broke the country, GOP and Democrats will come together to rebuild.

As a well over 80 outsider, I’ve seen much and studied more so I can take whatever comfort there is in the knowledge that I won’t have to survive long in a MAGA Gulag.