Congratulations, America—You have elected a president.
Why this one, though?
Was it because of gas prices or the cost of a loaf of bread? Was it really the economy? Was it because you actually believed that, under Trump, you had, as he claimed, “the greatest economy in the history of our country,” greater even than the post-Second World War boom? Just a smidgen of historical perspective puts the lie to that claim.
But, yes, inflation is real. Things do cost more, and maybe you did believe Trump’s claims about the greatest this and the greatest that. However, each president inherits the economy of his predecessor, and so the economy Trump likes to take credit for was actually Obama’s. The economy that Biden inherited was Trump’s mismanaged covid pandemic mess. Biden cleaned that up, but it’s been hard going. Now Trump can step in and claim credit as Biden’s policies and legislative wins—the Chips Act, the Infrastructure Bill—kick in.
But maybe it wasn’t the economy after all. Maybe it was immigration. You know, all those rapists and killers pouring in to take all the “black jobs” and rape your daughters and eat your pets, poisoning the blood of the American people. Did you really believe all that? Are you so afraid of someone who doesn’t quite look like you that you panic at the thought that they might dare to move into your community? The Christians among you would certainly not react that way, and the evidence is that many, many of you claim to be Christians, so immigration couldn’t really be the reason you voted as you did. You would welcome the stranger, as I think the Biblical wording goes.
Frankly, I can’t figure out why you elected this man again. You realize that, given his history as a convicted felon and well-documented liar, he couldn’t pass a background check for a security clearance in the rank-and-file military. He couldn’t even be hired to work at your child’s elementary school as a volunteer reading buddy. Never mind that he seems to love dictators and that he has no respect for time-tested security alliances or international agreements. Never mind that, once again, he’s going to have his increasingly unstable fingers on the nuclear button.
I confess to be mystified. Over eighty million of you rejected a person who has made public service her life’s work for a self-absorbed, mean-spirited, ignorant bully. Honorable people who worked shoulder-to-shoulder with him characterize him this way. What are we to think of your choice, America?
It is considered bad form to speak ill of the American people. We are expected to fold our hands piously and mouth our faith in the wisdom of our “hardworking, patriotic” fellow citizens, but I see no wisdom in this choice. We are not entering, as Trump would like us to believe, a “Golden Age.” He is rather more a Golden Calf too many of us worship. America, you have not grown up yet. You have elected a jerk with a loaded gun and, if he doesn’t get us all killed, maybe we will learn from our mistake.
For my part, though, I won’t bet on it. Mark me down as disgusted.
You've succinctly expressed the incomprehension so many of us feel at the fact that Trump has been reinstated with more of a coalition than before, as well as a greater ability to carry out his terrible plans. I think those who elected him have no real idea of the damage he will do to our country.
OMG Steve, thank you in buckets for saying what I'd like to express, if I could write.