NEEDS  TO  BE  SAID

Over the past decade, the articles posted here have been purposed to encourage discussion and perhaps to stimulate folks to look deeper in to the social / political matters of our time. We urged readers  not to settle for any one  single source but opt to take some time to consider varying sources in order to compare points of view. Our site has, for the most part, steered away from attacking or promoting any particular individual, though there have been some exceptions, being germane to the subject. However, the time is different right now and it is time most assuredly, to address where we are politically and who was the primary leading force behind it all.

We don’t need to belabor the discussion of how one donald trump ( lower case intentional ) ascended to the White House. Through a whole series of conspiracies, international interference and influence, the engendering of a truly Jim Jones type cult following rooted in widespread fear, hate and ignorance,  all coupled with the down side factor of the mechanics of the Electoral College system, the prize was secured. We were then witness to the singularly most corrupt administration in our history. Continuing with the spewing of outright lies and conspiracy theories and engaging in seriously cruel and unethical, if not clearly illegal activities, there was no stopping the drive  for the “ deconstruction of the administrative state”. It was clear to intelligent and objective observers that it would be a dark period in the history of government and to understand it all, one was compelled to consult the DSM 5.

During this same period in time, we were witness to the sharp rise  of hate groups, white supremacy groups, pseudo militia groups and a large number of conspiracy devotees. Now, these groups have been around for along time but now, it seems, they have, based on the current political climate , found a path to the forefront of the political discussion.  It was, as often described, the perfect storm.  Over the four year term, based on several  growing forces, it became evident that the political climate was turning to the extreme far right and it would come to a head at the time of the 2020  general election.

For months during the campaign, the trump team pushed the idea that the only way he could lose the election would be if the election were rigged and the opposition fixed the vote.  The GOP indeed did lose the election – by nearly seven million of the popular votes and the Electoral College Vote of 306 to 232. And then it all exploded.

In the post election months, a carefully orchestrated plan was hatched to overthrow the election, have the now certified results thrown out and have the losing candidate installed back in the White House. On January 6th, it all came to a violent attack the likes of which we had not seen since the Civil War. However, this was not an isolated incident. Rather it was a culmination of a carefully orchestrated scheme to overthrow the election results. It was also, part and parcel if you will, of a growing and intensifying movement toward the far, dare one say extreme right with an ideological framework that was pushing us back to very dark times.

Witness now across the country what the trump era has wrought.  Hatred and bigotry have now found a place as being accepted behavior. Book banning is now normal practice in many states. Severely suppressing the right to vote, particularly in minority communities, is now multi state policy. Reproductive rights of women are being sacrificed on the altar of totally phony moral indignation.Talk of an impending civil war is increasing among far right  MAGA  devotees.The use of social media and questionable so called news outlets now have the license to promulgate scurrilous and defamatory lies with no repercussions. The enacting of insanely cruel measures at our Southern borders. The extreme right has free reign and the left does not seem to have an answer. If it does, we have not , to date, heard or seen it . We have often quoted the late scholar, Daniel Moynihan’s article titled  “ Defining Deviancy Down “ in which he discusses how deviant slowly becomes the norm. The evidence is clear that this is the point at which we find ourselves and, literally, the fate of the nation is at stake. As earlier, it was noted that we are at a critical crossroad and the choice to be made will be final in nature. Will the body politic choose a democracy,  even while needing regular refinement and improvement, or fascism where the few dictate the rules and no changes are permitted. 

Was Shakespeare right in his writings and does the line from the Tempest fit today ?  Is Hell  empty and are all the demons here ?