The Real "American Carnage"
"Welcome to a new kind of tension. All across the alien nation, where everything isn't meant to be okay.." taken from the song "American Idiot" by Green Day
Since January 21, 2017, the very day after President Trump's inauguration, the landscape of American politics, and the face of our very culture, changed swiftly, as candidate Trump promised it would. Just the day before, in his inaugural address, to the nation, in which he declared, "On this day", there will be “a new decree to be heard in every city, in every foreign capital and in every hall of power.”
“From this day forward a new vision will govern our land,” he said. “From this day forward, it’s only going to be America first.”-President Donald J. Trump January 20, 2017
"For too long, a small group in our nation’s capital has reaped the rewards of government while the people have borne the cost", Trump claimed that the “establishment protected itself” at the expense of “struggling families across our land".
It appeared from that dreary day in Washington, D.C., that Trump was chastising the very establishment that he was just given the authority to govern. If anything, Trump was the voice of a very angry and alienated America. A country, who just had its presidential election interfered by a foreign government the Russians.
A country that was once lead by a very enigmatic, charming and intelligent man, Barack Obama. Yet, despite embracing Obama, as they did in 2008, the public became more skeptical of him in 2012.
Obama was indeed a bright, well-educated man, who appeared to have the good intentions of the country, in his heart. However, when it came to leadership, he was unable to assert himself, in pivotal moments. Sadly, Obama wallowed in passive, diplomatic efforts, which yielded little or no cooperation from the Senate or Congress. It seems the same to me now as it did then, the GOP did not respect Obama, plain and simple. Truth is, he is a good person, from a strong family, with a beautiful loving wife, and two wonderful children.
As for Trump, he is a billionaire playboy, TV star, who has openly referred to women as objects of affection and has made derogatory remarks, about their reproductive organs. He has openly made insulting comments about Mexicans and Muslims. He has made fun of high-profile veterans, from his own party (Senator John Mc Cain (R)-Arizona, for being captured and tortured while serving our country, on the field of battle.
He has been married and divorced twice. He is a father and grandfather, As for his real estate empire, his career is littered with shady deals, failures, and bankruptcies. His beloved son-in-law, Jared Kushner, is loathed in his home state of New Jersey and has a laundry list of bad financial dealings and business failures all his own. Jared's father has been convicted of fraud and has served time in jail. Just the kind of guy, we want to give security clearance to, so he can go into the foreign embassy, behind the back of the State Department, so he could get a loan from a Russian bank. A loan who would likely not have gotten from a bank in the U.S. By definition, this is an act of espionage.
I believe that history will remember Obama for his political ascent to the presidency, his attempts to make healthcare more affordable for the most vulnerable Americans, and his popularity everywhere but in his very own country. I also believe, that although President Obama was greatly admired by many Americans, a faction of America grew impatient with him, viewing him more as a diplomat than a strong leader. Many people began had difficulty understanding his actions and did not feel that he represented the interests of the working man, because of his diplomatic style and lack of authoritarian responses to critical crisis.
I also believe, that history will show that the key event, that created the radical faction of the Republican Party, known as the Tea Party, was a direct response, to Obama's unwillingness to punish Wall Street for nearly collapsing the world economy, and doing what he loved to do best, create rules and regulations. I believe that instead of summoning Wall Street bankers to the White House summit, to work together to solve the financial crisis, Obama should have asserted his authority as president and put Wall Street in its place. As a result, Wall Street now lives at 1800 Pennslyvania Avenue. Is it karma? Is it a cruel joke? Kind of. I'll explain.
Although, as a social worker and educator, I supported many of the things that Obama stood for. The truth is this: when it came time for Obama to stand for certain issues: gun regulation and corporate misconduct, he didn't assert the authority that he could have.
There are times it pays to have a backbone, and show your meddle. Looking back, there were many, but two stand out in my mind: The Wall Street bailout (2008) and the shooting incident at Sandy Hook Elementary School (2011).
In 2008, the world financial market was on the brink of collapse. The culprits were real estate brokers and the big banks, on Wall Street and throughout the U.S., who handed out billions in loans and sold sub-prime mortgage securities, to unwitting investors and unqualified consumers. Instead of imposing regulation and safeguarding the interest of the American economy, through his executive power, as president, Obama chose diplomacy. He summoned all of the major players of big Wall Street banks to the White House. And, in a surprise move to everyone, he asked them to come up with a solution, moving forward.
Then, Obama and Congress enacted the Emergency Economic Stability Act, in which we, the American taxpayers bailed out Wall Street. Obama again chose diplomacy in order to deal with reckless and selfish behavior, when quite frankly, for $700 billion dollars, there should have been. It wasn't just about the money, It was also sending the wrong message about behavior. Although I understand his rationale and his willingness to practice restraint, in times of high conflict, these acts were so heinous and costly, it was critical that he teach these crooks a lesson. That lesson never came. These same people whom Obama had helped, turned against him and are now a part of Trump's cabinet.
Because there was no real consequence, for greedy, reckless behavior, it not only continued but emboldened Wall Street to continue backroom deals that ultimately failed. Take a look at Trump's business portfolio. It is littered with failed and shady real estate deals. Why do you think that he hedges to release his taxes? Could it be that we could see him for who he is, a shrewd, heartless capitalist who sought profit, by any means necessary?
Then, there was Obama's assault on Trump, at the 2015 White House Correspondence dinner, that triggered a set of events, that inspired, an otherwise, shady businessman, to simply point out the flaws of Obama and the Democrats, and rally alienated groups of people to unite, under the guise that Trump was the answer to their problems.
Trump called Washington, D.C. corrupt. He vowed to "drain the swamp" of corruption. Yet, all he has done during his campaign and presidency is bring corruption with him.Trump said that "The system is broken!", during his campaign. He also had the arrogance to exhort, "Only I, alone can fix it!"
I don't believe that Obama and the Democrats never saw this coming (or at least, in the way that it did). Obama was too compassionate and understanding, to principled to anticipate, the power and allure of greed on Wall Street and the financial system in the United States. In many ways, it was a betrayal of him for his help It was a slap in the face for the government bailout.
As any stone cold killer will tell you, it was meant to be that way. People who are out to hurt you and ruin your life, don't do things in front of your face. Trump was one of those people that Obama helped out. Like, true thieves and cowards, they hide in the shadows and seize an opportunity to trample on you, in your weakest moments. Simply put, Trump is self-absorbed and obsessed with whatever anyone has to say about him, particularly when he or she disagrees with him. He impulsively verbally lashes out when people say things that disagree with his point of view. Not exactly, a mature response from a 71-year-old man, of his wealth and stature.
As we used to say in the 3rd grade, Tough toenails!" You want to be a change agent, you want to be the boss, well, you can't choose whom to govern, and you certainly can't say to your detractors, "You're fired!" No, Mr. President, Congress, and Senate leaders, it is us who will be saying it to you in 2018.
Like all sociopaths, many of the arrogant and privileged people, on Wall Street, like Donald Trump, simply saw Obama's kind gesture as a sign of weakness. At the same time, many of Obama's supporters began to feel alienated and uncared for, by the man that they put their political faith in.They saw their money going down the drain, without and consequence or real oversight. They were correct.
People began losing, abandoning and destroying their own homes, simply because they could no longer afford their mortgage. It took years for things to settle down.Obama's approval ratings began a steady descent. To make matters worse, Obama had few allies in either the House of Representatives or the Senate.
Then came a disaster of the worse kind, the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School, in Sandy Hook, Connecticut. It was Friday, December 14, 2011.
I remember it like it was yesterday. I was working in a pre-school at the time. It worried me. Two gunmen, armed with semi-automatic, military grade weapons, entered Sandy Hook Elementary School. These men slaughtered unsuspecting adults and small children. Images of grieving parents and the crime scene were all over the national news.People were angry. People were hurt. Obama was too.
The Massacre at Sandy Hook obviously shook Obama. He was compassionate and contrite in his response to this tragedy. Yet, in another attempt to address the issue, he passed the buck to Congress, to create a new law, restricting the sale and use of automatic weapons. So, in front of the mothers, fathers and family members of the poor innocent victims of this tragedy, those cold-hearted bastards, refused to pass a measure that could prevent further tragedies, like this from happening. (I will write about this in another article.).
Like Bill Clinton before him, In response to the shooting of Jim Brady, he simply could have issued an executive order limiting the sale and use of automatic weapons, just as Clinton did.But, he never did. Shooting continued in Orlando and in Boston. Yet, the White House remained silent. In fact, during the entire Sandy Hook incident, Obama never used the word "gun", for fear of political repercussions from the National Rifle Association, who in fact did respond. They went on the offensive and took over the public stage, by telling people, that it was the act of the perpetrators, not the guns that were responsible for what happened at Sandy Hook. This was a surreal act of defiance, by the same type of people that fit the profile of many in Trump['s support base: disillusioned, disenfranchised, and feeling a sense of urgency at the thought of the government, taking away their 2nd Amendment right. The reality was that no one wanted to take away guns. They simply needed to be regulated and likely banned for a period, for the common good of all.
Now, a few weeks back a mentally ill man from suburban St. Louis, shot a congressman, during the Annual Congressional softball game. A brutal and thoughtless act, by a mentally ill man, pushed to the brink for fears about his healthcare. A tragedy. You bet. Unacceptable, absolutely. Should this cause one to pause? You bet. But did Congress act? No. Not even for one of their own.
Nice fellas, that will have your back? No. Con artists that will sell out the poor, elderly and sick to make a quick buck. They are more likely to stab you in the back and then prevent you from getting help for your injuries because you will have no health insurance. And, of course, because they are Republicans who want you to stand up on your own two feet, fearful that poor people are leveraging the system too much, and draining our economy.
It's so much easier to blame the victim, than address the real problem. It actually takes work. They not only want to take your money, they want your life too. Yes, truth (real truth) is stranger than even the darkest fiction.
It's hard for me, to imagine being that selfish. However, these are what the people that are running things now are like: self-centered, arrogant and cold. Obama was too statesmanlike for that. He was warm, intellectual and approachable. Sadly, the GOP ran a political agenda, that was obstructionist and clearly opposed anything, that he said or wanted to do. Instead of seeing Obama's invitations as an opportunity to come together to solve a crisis or reconcile.
Wall Street clearly saw his gesture as a sign of weakness. Only a sociopath, would act in such a manner. Now, these amoral people are living in Oval Office, that Obama used to occupy. It is the power that these people wanted? the money, the adulation? In Trump's case, I believe all three. As for Congress, shame on you!
This is why I tell people all the time if you want to know what someone is really like, in the heart, watch what he or she says, and pay attention to what they do.Trump, Congress, stand up guys, right? The type of ethical people that we want representing all of us, right? I don't think so.With an approval rating around 30%, it sure doesn't look that way.
I've met made guys in the mafia, and officers in gangs, with better scruples than Trump and his Republican thugs. These guys want to rob hard working Americans of their healthcare, their money, and their dignity. Even the mafia would never be so cold as to take away money an health care from the sick, the elderly and children.
Trump's ascent into politics and ultimate rise to the office of the president, has been marred by scandal and questions regarding his judgment, integrity, and fundamental understanding of the American political system. In a presidential election, that was more about voting for or against a particular opponent, he won the electoral by winning the slimmest of margins, in key states like Michigan and Wisconsin.
And, yes there was hacking in the election. And, yes, it was targeted at Hillary Clinton (whom I did not support). And, yes there is now evidence in 11 states that were targeted by the Russian government, to disrupt the election, distract the public, with the clear victor being Donald Trump. Regardless of my political views on Hilary Clinton, I am an American first and foremost. An assault on our country and anyone in the political arena is an assault on all three hundred million of us.
This is putting America first.
This is why the news focuses on this. This is an attack on our democracy, regardless of what side of the political fence you are on. It is as plain as the nose on your face, and if it is not dealt with, it will surely happen again. This is America coming first.
As I've said many times, this is all about behavior. Frankly, Trump is impulsive, disingenuous and downright indignant of people, that he feels do not agree with him.
Only twenty-five weeks into his presidency, America has not been first.
It has been Donald J. Trump, the seventy-year-old billionaire business, and real estate mogul, who has been grabbing headlines and tweeting away, on Twitter, whatever thought pops into his head at 3 AM, in the morning. Tweeting away at his resort, giving away his thoughts, and undoubtedly, national security intelligence, to our enemies. Inviting known foreign spies into the Oval Office, even after he was warned by his predecessor and every intelligence agency not to. He did it anyway. Why? Because he is the boss and this is all about him, right? Wrong!
It is no secret that this White House is being so closely scrutinized. It is not due to the media, as Breitbart and Fox News would have you believe. It is because we have a president, who has a disdain for the procedural rules of government. Furthermore, Trump does not fully understand the implications of his actions and does not listen to reason. Even in spite of the advice of seasoned politicians, many in his own party. It is clear that there are so many leaks in the Oval Office, it would take an army of plumbers to assess the damage.
This might have something to do with the way that Trump, the man chooses to carry himself.
As he has done, his entire privileged life, he ignores rules and has no consequence. It is obvious that he does not understand how government operates, within itself. His transition team resisted efforts to listen to important protocols, that have been in place and implemented by all political parties, to ensure a transfer of power. Still, five months into his presidency, many cabinet positions remain unfilled. In addition, many very qualified people have either resigned or turned down, key cabinet posts. The people who have filled vacancies, like General Flynn and Betsy DeVost, are either corrupt, dishonest or unqualified.
This is a very dangerous thing for all Americans, and for the fate of our republic. James Comey knew it. So did Barack Obama, who warned the CIA about Trump. Obama was right to say, "Trump is not fit to be president".
The news cycle about him is unprecedented. Things are changing all of the time, either because he tweets something that is not in the national interest, but simply expresses his feelings and viewpoints.He deliberately misleads the public, by playing cat and mouse, about sessions with James Comey being taped. He is then, arrogant and foolish enough to admit it, and say on camera, that he did so deliberately, in an attempt to influence Comey's testimony. What kind of leader misleads credible people, in a ruse? Is this a quality of a good leader?
What we all need to recognize across political lines, is the magnitude of the Russian investigation and Trump's behavior. True, I don't agree with Trump or the Republicans on many things. However, we are all Americans, and we need to stop rallying to the cry of Trump, as he identifies with the emotions of voters, but disregards the rules of law, that protects everyone, simply for his own self-aggrandizement or profit. Yes, even you, Trump supporters. You see folks, a terrorist doesn't ask questions. Our enemies will not spare you for your allegiance to him. Like it or not, we are all in this together, whether you live in Butte, Montana or New York City, whether you are Christain or Muslim, as the victims of tragedies in Orlando, Boston, New York, or Washington D.C. will tell you, tragedy was an equal opportunity force of destruction. To think otherwise is plain foolish.
Hate is not an American value. Divisiveness and conflict against your own people, will not unite us as a country. For the record, I understand your anger and frustration, as many people do. I feel it too.Cooler heads will prevail. Lashing out and blaming people does not solve things. Working together with others and opening yourself to new ideas, leads to innovation and prosperity. It also will help limit the effects of climate change, which is a very real event, and if you live on a coast, you either know what I mean and will find out, sooner than you think.
But, we are Americans, we are the country that other people come to found help and safety. We do not accuse the poorest and weakest among us, of conspiracies to defraud us. We do not label an entire race or religion as "bad". We value a government who comes together in the best interest of people, and works at existing problems and seeks to remedy them and not dismiss them as "alternative truth".
This is the real "American Carnage".