A VIEW FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE ESCALATOR

Those who voted for Trump represent a large portion of the U.S. and have no more or no less a right to their opinions. Some would, and do, dismiss them all together, similar to how they treated Obama supporters. The easy math would make for a fairly good definition of an evenly divided country. At one end the differences are resolved, usually through compromise. At the other end, they are resolved with civil war. Right now we're probably closer to civil war than we are to compromise. But let me say that it is artificially that way.

By the time that Trump was to the bottom of the escalator on his way to announce his candidacy, the tangent was already starting to develop into what now is the sideshow of a cable TV presidency. Previous presidents have been somewhat tangential, perhaps it comes with the job, but never was it fully developed to the detriment of our country and/or the self-aggrandizement of a narcissistic  personality who lacks any ability to reflect on his beliefs, behaviors, and emotional immaturity. I admit that I wasn't too concerned with his running in the primary until he insulted John McCain and, Khizr and Ghazala Khan, the Gold Star family.

No draft dodger gets to insult a POW or a military family nor any honorably discharged veteran of war. All that came after that is plainly absurd. Most all of the Republicans, some independents and even a few democrats jumped on the bandwagon despite their prior criticism. I get wanting things to be done differently or just completed after many years of stalling and neglect. But it seemed as if the hatred of Obama, the mistrust of Hillary, and the foibles of the Electoral College placed the nations hope for change on someone who needed to become presidential instead of cartoonish.

The other factor was the single-issue support of fundamentalist Evangelicals and Catholics who eyed the prize of overturning Roe v. Wade. I admit that I didn't pay attention for part of my upbringing in fundamentalist churches but when I did, I think,  come to know the what and why of the approved beliefs and behaviors. So, imagine my surprise at the adamancy of the religious Trump supporters (most of who were in my family .....he said satirically) who either held their nose, overlooked, rationalized, made excuses, chose the lesser of two evils or experienced the ecstasy of submission to God's will as they voted for someone who was a doppelgänger of Elmer Gantry.   

I thought that surely the foolishness would stop some place along the way along the way. If only on the belief that America was something that worked well if lead by honorable representatives. I can see how having a majority of women in office might make decisions and agree on resolutions that are the most practical if not restorative. But Democratic women right now are setting themselves up for defeat with how many have already entered the primary. I would love to see an all women ticket that minimized the dirt and the spin of the press and the Republican opposition. Almost two years of electioneering is ridiculous. They could make an opening for a Democratic Elmer Gantry who preaches the promises of progressive politics, the "you get a car" approach to world that doesn't exist.  

There is a cowardliness on the part of many who were elected to serve and especially those in power in Washington who don't care how far a tangential president can further divide the nation. As long as cooperation and compromise are anathema, there won't be any movement on things like immigration, infrastructure, taxes, election reform, military spending or the national debt. Perhaps the two party system is passé and is incapable of dealing with modern times. But will redesign be the answer when people at anytime are willing for greed and addiction to power to swallow it up? 

BONUS MEME

WERE IT BE TRUE BUT NONETHELESS ....RATHER FUNNY IF NOT REALLY IRONICAL (RE-GRACE ADLER).