Truth, Justice, and the American Way

It’s been a month.  The shock of the election has worn off.  The terrible reality is sinking in.

We have elected a man who does not know what he is doing.  He, in turn, has appointed ghastly advisors and cabinet members: unabashed racists, rabid war mongers, unqualified cronies.  In his arrogance, he has refused daily security briefings.  His conflicts of interest have already begun to undermine our national stability and his bull-in-a-China-shop efforts at foreign policy may well break the world.

His cries that the election was rigged – despite his selection –  has not stopped him from trying to prevent a recount in crucial states.  There is evidence that Russia did, in fact, intervene in the election process - as he requested.  He is petulant, whiny, and without grace.

Perhaps the most frightening prospect of his presidency is the fate of truth.  His surrogates have declared it irrelevant, and he certainly has ignored it, preferring an expeditious lie over facts at every turn.

Truth matters.  Truth does not have a liberal bias, as claimed by the righteous right.  It has no bias at all.  It is simply the truth. That the Constitution is the law of the land is the truth.  That it clearly states a separation of church and state is the truth.  That it explicitly provides for freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and freedom of the press is simply fact. That none of this matters to the incoming administration is also fact.

 

Why it matters not to those who voted for him is beyond comprehension.  Don’t talk to me about the economically disenchanted middle-class angry white voter.  I lost my job in the Bush Recession and never recovered. I lost my salary, my healthcare, my savings, and my retirement, but I did not lose my mind!  Vague promises that invite personal interpretation will never make America great.  A consistent policy, based on our laws and rooted in the truth, is what has made America great. 

If we can get rid of this mistake we can, indeed, be great again.