In 2013 Russia secretly declared cyberwar on America. In 2016 the Trump campaign gladly became its ally in what appears to be a joint attempt to destroy not only the international order, but also America's political systems and, with the attempted destruction of Obamacare and Medicaid, its social safety net.
The goal was apparently to create an America in which a powerful President and his wealthy friends could exploit the world's resources for their personal gain, free of most taxes and institutional controls. Russia-like, as it were.
They were joined by a political party out of actual power for so long it was willing to trade away America's social structure in a blind quest for lower taxes, a Supreme Court nominee and fewer regulations. In so doing, it threatened to destroy much of that which historically made America great.
There is no room for Christian beliefs of hope and charity in the Russian Trump version of America. There are only low or no taxes, ample guns, restrictions on personal freedom, and a disdain for natural resources, diversity, education and the arts. There is no room for independent truth or facts. They have given way to beliefs, opinion, fake news and alternative facts. “Ideology is more important than facts,” observed Ted Koppel about Fox News’ Sean Hannity. (Forward to 3:45.)
In truth, when truth existed, it was tax money and regulation that allowed America to be great and build its middle class to be the envy of the world. America was never meant to be the land of the billionaire; it was meant to be the land of the middle class, where people of no means could rise to become fully formed citizens to enjoy life and liberty and to pursue their own happiness.
There is no joy in the Russia Trump world. There is only a solitary quest for wealth. It's a bleak, polluted world. One in which established dynasties self-protect and self-perpetuate, keeping others out. And why not? Vladimir Putin may be the world’s richest man.
What is left of the systems of checks and balances appear to be the FBI and CIA. They are fighting back in a vain attempt to save the America of legend. But the machinery of government is already aligned against them, with Devin Nunes’ House Intelligence subcommittee apparently compromised and unable to impartially investigate the Trump administration.
The America of 2017 is a twisted, conflicted mess. It's led by a team in denial that has shown no ability to govern. It's chief ability is to say no, as in no Obamacare, no Meals on Wheels, no abortion, no Medicaid without work, no refugees, and on and on.
The concept of “yes” is gone. For in “yes” there is the potential to grow and prosper. Maybe it'll be back tomorrow or the day after. Until it's back the forces of “no” are running amok.
photo credit: Donald Trump official portrait via Wikimedia commons.
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