MY COUNTRY TIS OF THEE - CALLING, CALLING...

     Sweet land of liberty...sweet land of liberty...sweet land of liberty.....
      What is happening to this country, the country to whom we sang in loyalty and joy, in appreciation of the fact that we lived here, under its flag and constitution? What has happened, to us, the citizens of this once upon a time country?
     We have turned into a country where the divisions are almost at Civil War point and degree. People are separating themselves according to how they think. Friends have become non friends and family members have become stilted and awkward as they try to avoid politics.
     Thomas Friedman quoted the words of Dov Seidman, an author and adviser to companies on building ethical cultures within their companies. He said that we are experiencing an attack, a vicious and dangerous attack on our very foundations - truth and trust. We would depend upon legitimate authority and agreement to disagree in a civil manner. It would always be "we the people" but that WE has disappeared, fading fast. And why?
     Because we share little of what used to be. There are no legitimate leaders, no commonality for us to base our unity upon.Fake news is spread in a viral manner, pushing to deepen splits and anger rises. And as for authority, well, it has disappeared in any positive manner. Those with legitimate authority such as Trump have no moral authority and hence there is no trust, no faith in them.
     Moral leaders "...trust people with the truth....They're animated by values - especially humility- and principles of probity so they do the right things, even when they are difficult or unpopular. And they enlist people in noble purposes...."
     This, my friends, leaves Trump out in the cold and us too. And it does not look as if it will be getting better as far as Trump is concerned, so what to do? Well, we can look for leaders amongst ourselves, those who fit the definition of one with moral authority. France seems to have done it, Russians are protesting their own leader and who knows, maybe there is one amongst us to inspire us, to help us reach that country of old to whom we sing. And in the meanwhile.....
    What we have now is what I call the kingdom and budget of death. We will balance all on the backs of those who need help and insure the increased wealth of that 1%. Leakage about the Republican health bill tells us that Medicaid funds will be drastically cut, medical care and coverage for those who need chemo and insulin - no coverage there at all, pre existing conditions - good luck finding insurance at an affordable rate. So just die I guess and that would include me and many others I know. Addiction, particularly to opioids will have less money budgeted towards helping recovery so again, think how much money we will save via death!! And as for those pesky immigrants, no problem, no worry, we will just throw more money at arresting and deporting and blocking. Oh, what will happen to our armed forces which have so many immigrants and foreign born in their ranks? I dunno. Ask Trump! Even as he plans to send more boots on the ground to at least three countries. More of our people dying. And don't forget that this is all up to Mattis for Trump has ceded authority on this to him and General McMasters. Screw the civilian control over the military. What the hell, just another tenet of our country down the tubes. And as for the rights and safety of workers - what rights?
     Yesterday Trump added some 'lovely' new statements. First of all he ran back to Iowa to get his ration of applause. What, is it that it is mostly hate filled people who live there in Iowa? Does he need their guaranteed applause as he spews more garbage, saying that immigrants cannot get welfare for five years - already on the books by the way, with exceptions so we do not have people keeling over, dead from starvation in our country - not even Iowa!
     He adds to these just so wonderful statements with one that says that in his economic appointee positions he just does "not want a poor person". Oh, G-d forbid an honest yet poor person - and define poor here, please - gets into position. Ever so much better to have a rich and unethical person, correct?! And of course, lest we forget the wall, Trump is now pulling for a solar wall - so it will cost Mexico less money, he says, even as Mexico once again reminds him that they are not paying for his monstrosity.
     This is shaping up to be another Watergate as far as disasters and lying and criminal offenses - remember how many were taken off to jail on that one - but, remember it took five years and I do not think we have five years to wait for Trump to realize he needs to resign or face impeachment and then possible criminal charges or espionage or whatever lovely thing he has done to us. Five more years with this guy is a disaster. Total and complete so we need to make 2018 an election to neutralize him and show people that loyalty to country and not Party or Leader is the American way to go.
     My country tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Liberty and truth, honor and morality, legitimacy of law and soul, a country of WE the People. How much, how far we have fallen. How much work we have left to do. Trump said yesterday that "those coming in to our country must embrace our values". Pray G-d they do or already have them - our values and not his nor those of his unethical administration and backers.