Hope And Change, or The Lack Thereof
In 2008 I was twenty years old, working as a union laborer out of the Labor Local my great grandpa helped found, and as idealistic as I have ever been in my life. Imagine my excitement when I got to cast my vote for Barack Obama, who campaigned on Change and Hope, and be an active participant in the rejection of the brand of conservatism George W. Bush had subjected the country to the previous eight years. I didn’t think I would ever be able to hold another politician in as much contempt or unreserved hatred as I did W. I wrote bad poetry for my creative writing class about how much I hated the man and the forever wars he had started in Iraq and Afghanistan. I still hate him, and hold him in contempt. I firmly believe if war criminals like W. are spared any real consequences for their actions then they should at least be pelted with rotting produce or a pie in the face anytime they appear in public. That seems a small price to pay for not being held liable for the needless deaths of millions of Iraqis and thousands of Americans.
Since that time my idealism has been whittled down to a splinter sized fragment and replaced with what some may call cynicism, but what I consider to be lived experience. The Hope and Change we were promised met resistance, not only from the GOP who vowed to obstruct and do whatever they needed to do to ensure Obama would be a single term president, but by members of the very party whose presidential candidate had made those two idealistic words the cornerstone of the campaign. Joe Lieberman, a Democrat and Al Gore’s running mate in 2000, killed the public option, paving the way for the mess that Obamacare would eventually become. Monolithic corporations who crashed the economy were given bailouts, and what did that bailout money go toward? Keeping these “too big to fail” companies from going under? Partially, but the people at the top of these companies who brought the economy to its knees were also given sizable bonuses. You wrecked the economy and destroyed thousands of lives with your reckless business practices? Sounds stressful, here’s a small fortune to add to your larger one, you’ve earned it! Now, I’ve never been a member of the C-suite, and God willing I never will be, but typically if a company has a “bad year”— and, I could be wrong, but I believe crashing the economy might qualify under the definition of “bad year” — things like bonuses aren’t doled out. Not that I’ve regularly been on the receiving end of many bonuses. During the years I worked at Apple retail I did receive a small bonus in 2010 following the very lucrative(for Apple) and stressful(for the workers) launch of the iPhone 4. A cool $100, or $60 after Uncle Sam wet his beak. The execs received bonuses in the millions. Thanks for sharing the wealth, guys! I could really feel it trickling, and I mean trickling down.
The Last Nine Years
In 2015, Donald Trump announced his candidacy, and we all had a good laugh. He too promised Change, a promise to “Make America Great Again”, and in a shock to everyone, including Trump himself, he won. Dems, as they are wont to do, would shift the blame not on the party’s own incompetence and poorly ran Clinton campaign, but those pesky progressives who supported Bernie Sanders. Somehow they had found a way to nominate a person even less appealing than Donald Trump.
In 2020, after Bernie Sanders won the first three primaries, the establishment Dems panicked and urged every other candidate to drop out and endorse Biden. Democracy itself was on the line, and we couldn’t have a failed presidential candidate leading the ticket come November. No, we needed a thrice failed candidate to ensure victory. It was the only way to save the Republic. One election, dozens of tossed out lawsuits, one press conference in front of Four Seasons Landscaping, and one attempted coup later, Joe Biden was sworn into office. Peace, justice, and the American way was preserved, and what a relief that was. Please donate so we can continue preserving democracy.
Joe Biden, even during his campaign, floated the idea of being a one-term president, which made sense, given his advanced age, and the fact that if he were to serve two full terms that would make him 86 years old at the end of a second term, and 82 when he was sworn in. Can you imagine someone assuming the office of the President at 82? I can’t imagine most 82 year olds driving me to the grocery store, let alone in charge of the nuclear codes. But also, if you question Biden’s age, mental state, due to his age and what we can all see and hear, you’re a terrorist who wants Trump to be King. I’m sorry, I don’t make the rules, that’s just the way it is.
The first presidential debate was held on June 27, and it was an abject disaster for Biden. His performance was so shocking, the press, who loves covering Trump as much as they claim to hate what a threat he is, largely ignored 45’s own unhinged performance. Thankfully, the President’s family intervened and told Joe they think he should stay in the race. Following the debate, polling showed upwards of 70% voters, not Democratic voters, just voters, believed Biden should not be running for president. Polls are wrong all the time though, as long as this one has a +/- of around 50 points I’m sure it won’t have any meaningful impact on the outcome of the election.
Today, the SCOTUS handed down a ruling that essentially makes the President a monarch, able to order the assassination or incarceration of his political opponents— this was an argument made by Trump’s own lawyers— or whoever, and so long as it’s an “official act” they’re all good. What determines the difference between an official and an unofficial act? Well, don’t worry, the courts are more than happy to make that determination for you.
So, What Now?
Why, give the Democrats money of course? That’s the only way to fix this. That seems to be their solution to most problems, just give us money, or blame progressives who aren’t in charge of the party. It’s a neat trick. Running on nothing but “We aren’t Donald Trump,” has been an effective strategy for a while, but I’m not sure how much longer that will be the case.
What happens when you’ve been given the reigns of power and many things still feel the way they did when the last guy was in charge?
What happens when many of these Democrats in Congress seem far more interested in growing their stock portfolio, and less so in working for the people who voted them into office? Stock portfolio’s that always seem to beat out the market, even in down quarters. Amassing personal fortunes, and collecting a sizable salary that is funded by taxpayers. Could they be using insider knowledge to enrich themselves while the rest of the country is paying more for everything? Could they really be so crass to openly line their own pockets while picking those of their constituents? It’s tough to say for certain, but yes.
So here we are again, a wannabe strongman with fascistic tendencies is on the precipice of reassuming the office of the Presidency, and this time it’s personal. His goons have prepared a comprehensive plan of action titled Project 2025, so they can hit the ground running and make as much of the government beholden to the whims of the person in the Oval Office as possible. Thousands of roles within the government which as of right now are not picked by the President, and do not turn over with each new administration, are set to be reclassified in a way to let Trump(or whoever the next GOP president is), simply install sycophants who won’t challenge any of the insane shit Trump will attempt should he assume office once again. And today’s ruling by the SCOTUS is just another cherry on top of this shit sundae.
To be clear, I don’t want Donald Trump to become president, and I believe most American’s don’t want that either. However, telling voters “Trust me, bro,” to downplay or downright dismissing very valid concerns about Joe Biden’s fitness to serve, helps no one. On the surface the parties could not be more different, but when you pull back the curtain, and see two groups elected leaders using their power for self-gain can you blame people for being less than enthusiastic about the choices they are being given?
None of this needed to happen. We’ve been brought here by two parties: one that is unafraid and unabashed to bend, break, or change the rules to suit them, and another who would rather wring their hands, raise an eyebrow in alarm, and pretend to care than do something that might help their voters. Anything other than possibly displeasing their biggest donors or, God forbid, cause their stock portfolios to take a bump.
It’s all very funny, in a cosmic sort of way.