Change itself is normal. Life around us does not hold still; the seasons change, children grow up, people get sick, we change jobs, and so on. There is a certain degree of predictability, or (at least) advanced warnings to most significant changes, and we modify our expectations accordingly.
However, the changes we are seeing on our national political scene are not normal. Nothing has been ‘normal’ since we handed the presidency to an unqualified Reality TV buffoon. Ever in character, The D’s administration has gleefully eschewed any semblance of normal with an ongoing display of erratic, unpredictable and bizarre behavior. Bizarre is The D’s normal.
This is not a ‘politics as usual’ disagreement on policies. Trying to discern The D’s actual policies is like chasing a rainbow–his policy positions are mirages that shift and change shape along with the prevailing cable news winds–sometimes dissipating altogether. Where does the D stand on gun control? On DACA, on North Korea, on import tariff exemptions, on Jared’s security clearance? The answer depends on which talking head he watched most recently on Fox News.
The D’s primary (and possibly only) concern is his own fame. He demands constant attention and acts like a sulking child if/when the spotlight shifts off his orange noggin for a nano-second; and like a sulking child, will act out in outrageous ways to regain the spotlight. Unfortunately, for all of us, The D’s temper tantrums result in ill-considered tweets, executive orders, or other directives that create division, chaos and confusion; with the potential to ruin people’s lives and/or livelihoods.
By many accounts, the D doesn’t read and regularly disregards his advisors – often dismissing them as boring. He feels that his own intuition is greater than anyone else’s knowledge, and openly disdains those that actually do their homework. His staff have short shelf-lives, as they either quit in disgust, or cannot sustain a sufficient level of grovelling to maintain their position.
As Americans, we need to resist the trend towards ignorance, divisiveness and governing by intimidation and fear-mongering. We cannot and should not accept this as normal. I refuse to believe that The D represents who we are as a nation.
I am much heartened by the activism displayed by our young people in the wake of the Parkland High shooting; they have interjected a much-needed boost of youthful passion to the gun control debate, and have given us much reason for optimism and faith that reason may once again prevail.