I remain committed to giving President-elect Trump a chance to lead. Amongst other news sources, Slate Magazine especially has talked about "not normalizing" a Trump administration. Many commentators and editorialists at Slate, the New York Times, the Atlantic have posited that Democrats should obstruct any and all of Trump's agenda. The idea being to give an inch on any policy is to give a mile on a wide-ranging conservative agenda. I have serious reservations about this approach and I hope the Democrats do not function as obstructionists to Trump. Echoing what has been said by Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and Charles Schumer, there's no giving in civil rights, voter rights and other core social issues. By all means, emphasize the twisted thought process of a racist alt-right social blitz. But if Trump wants to improve infrastructure via reasonable methods (and not by "corporate welfare"), I want the Democrats to work with him. If Trump is willing to remain in the Paris Accords, I want the Democrats to affirm his decision in this act. If the federal government is bogged down in procedures, the country suffers and the Democrats lose the culture war.
Many will argue that turnabout is fair play and that the Republicans obstructed the Obama Administration for eight years to the detriment of our country. No argument from me, I whole-heartedly agree, and I'm pissed off about that as well. But the bald, ugly reality of American politics is that the Democrats have a harder road than the Republicans because liberals have a harder road than conservatives. It's the basest form of humanity to abhor change, horde resources and marginalize others of all sorts. It's really, really easy to be racist and much harder to justify inclusiveness. Please, please don't misconstrue these statements as a blanket accusation of all conservatives or Republicans as selfish and racist, but more than a few are (as more than a few liberals or Democrats are selfish and racist). Liberal democracy is a departure from base human tribalism, thus the advocates of liberal democracy are held to a higher standard of justification for their worldview and politics. The proponents of liberal democracy must always demonstrate quality and value. The proponents of conservatism and isolationism can cultivate a declaration of principles if they choose, but can always get by with playing to people's fears. The Republicans can thrive in obstruction, the Democrats have to survive troubled waters and let the Republicans sink themselves.
Protestors at Trump Tower (subtly but importantly different from protestors at Standing Rock) do great work as long as they remain peaceful. But they are already being cast as tantrum throwers and anarchists. This is at best net neutral in restoring liberal democracy. Frustrating but true. Again as previously, liberals of all sub-sects are in my opinion most effective by acts rather than words -- truly helping immigrants (shout out to the safety pins on lapels), working directly with the impoverished, creating and maintaining green spaces and volunteering with youth and the elderly. They will know you by your acts and not your words.
But before I go, I really do feel my day-to-day life returning to a modicum of normalcy and that's a good thing. I have to function as a husband, father, son, parent and physician. Very difficult to be effective with the albatross of fear and dread around my neck. But lest I forget, I want to put down a few more lines.
Two million (2,000,000) votes is a mammoth margin that Hillary Clinton defeated President-elect Trump. Amongst all the "rigged" talk, that needs to be remembered every day over the next four years.
And finally, a Mike Huckabee quote caught my attention today. Regarding his weariness about the possible appointment of Mitt Romney as Secretary of State, Huckabee stated the following.
“It’s not about that I don’t care for Mitt personally, but I’m still very unhappy that Mitt did everything he could to derail Donald Trump. He didn’t just go after him from a standpoint of saying I disagree with his policy on immigration or I disagree with his policy on taxes. He attacked him on a personal level about his character, integrity, his honor.”
Um Mike, I'm willing to give the President-elect a chance because I don't have another choice. But Trump's character is piss poor -- he's a braggart and a self-promoter. His integrity went out the window with his locker room talk. And his honor is amongst thieves with Steve Bannon and Jeff Sessions.
Acts. Acts. Acts. Bonus effect of good deeds -- the work will make these four years go oh so much faster.
Many will argue that turnabout is fair play and that the Republicans obstructed the Obama Administration for eight years to the detriment of our country. No argument from me, I whole-heartedly agree, and I'm pissed off about that as well. But the bald, ugly reality of American politics is that the Democrats have a harder road than the Republicans because liberals have a harder road than conservatives. It's the basest form of humanity to abhor change, horde resources and marginalize others of all sorts. It's really, really easy to be racist and much harder to justify inclusiveness. Please, please don't misconstrue these statements as a blanket accusation of all conservatives or Republicans as selfish and racist, but more than a few are (as more than a few liberals or Democrats are selfish and racist). Liberal democracy is a departure from base human tribalism, thus the advocates of liberal democracy are held to a higher standard of justification for their worldview and politics. The proponents of liberal democracy must always demonstrate quality and value. The proponents of conservatism and isolationism can cultivate a declaration of principles if they choose, but can always get by with playing to people's fears. The Republicans can thrive in obstruction, the Democrats have to survive troubled waters and let the Republicans sink themselves.
Protestors at Trump Tower (subtly but importantly different from protestors at Standing Rock) do great work as long as they remain peaceful. But they are already being cast as tantrum throwers and anarchists. This is at best net neutral in restoring liberal democracy. Frustrating but true. Again as previously, liberals of all sub-sects are in my opinion most effective by acts rather than words -- truly helping immigrants (shout out to the safety pins on lapels), working directly with the impoverished, creating and maintaining green spaces and volunteering with youth and the elderly. They will know you by your acts and not your words.
But before I go, I really do feel my day-to-day life returning to a modicum of normalcy and that's a good thing. I have to function as a husband, father, son, parent and physician. Very difficult to be effective with the albatross of fear and dread around my neck. But lest I forget, I want to put down a few more lines.
Two million (2,000,000) votes is a mammoth margin that Hillary Clinton defeated President-elect Trump. Amongst all the "rigged" talk, that needs to be remembered every day over the next four years.
And finally, a Mike Huckabee quote caught my attention today. Regarding his weariness about the possible appointment of Mitt Romney as Secretary of State, Huckabee stated the following.
“It’s not about that I don’t care for Mitt personally, but I’m still very unhappy that Mitt did everything he could to derail Donald Trump. He didn’t just go after him from a standpoint of saying I disagree with his policy on immigration or I disagree with his policy on taxes. He attacked him on a personal level about his character, integrity, his honor.”
Um Mike, I'm willing to give the President-elect a chance because I don't have another choice. But Trump's character is piss poor -- he's a braggart and a self-promoter. His integrity went out the window with his locker room talk. And his honor is amongst thieves with Steve Bannon and Jeff Sessions.
Acts. Acts. Acts. Bonus effect of good deeds -- the work will make these four years go oh so much faster.