MAD

     Mad. The entire world seems to have reverted to the movie world of the Mad, Mad World and any and all progress has been set aside. But that movie was funny, amusing and entertaining even as it pointed out fallacies of the world.
     Today, however, our mad world is not funny nor entertaining unless one has a 'mad' mind. We have become so desperate, so straining in our desire and need for sanity that we jump on anyone who seems to represent that need. Hence all the dictators now returning to the world stage, those who promised reform, who promise change, but who seem to make those changes only in areas which would limit their power. So one country trashes all their judges and another attacks the media and journalists and another viciously attacks migrants and yet another makes threats or even takes physical  actions against its presumed opponents. Women are crushed to the limit with any and all modern ideas being subsumed in the madness of a changing world, one changing for the worse. What is even more frightening is the fact that we accept excuses from murderous leaders in mufti who present themselves as reformers but who turn out to be murderers, vicious fakes.
     Most frightening of all? The fact that almost every one of these actions of a mad world can be applied to the country which is supposed to represent sanity and hope. This country had a heavy burden, to be an example and even a savior to the world, but bore that burden proudly and mostly well,  though not perfectly, or at least it did until now.
     We here in the USA have a supposed leader who is so wrapped up in himself and his own needs that he treads over the rights and interests of others. His business needs, his physical needs, the needs of his tormented mind and soul - all these needs come before those of anyone else. Judges and the judiciary - just co-opt them. Women - just disregard them until and unless one has a sexual urge or need, no matter how perverted and then, why just grab the women without consent and then have your words quoted by another pervert as a legal excuse for his actions!
     Make friends with the strongmen of the world, strong in their cruelty, in their disregard of all that is right and proper. Twist the laws to ruin a country, to make it unsafe to live, to breathe, to drink the very water. Ignore science, unless it is pseudo science that can be used to support one's ignorant behavior.
    And as for the press - only a relentless adversarial relationship is possible. Brand them as the enemy of the people. Applaud the behavior of those who encourage physical attacks on them. Suborn lies and perjury by one's spokespeople to back up your attacks. Accuse the press of horrendous misdeeds against the people of the country while the truth is that the misdeeds belong to you.
    And overall, the best technique to use, the one which has proven successful with all dictatorial systems, is to tell the lie, the Big Lie and tell it often enough so that it becomes truth. Tell the lies so often that no one can distinguish the truth from the lies anymore. Vanquish the truth and all will belong to the victor.
     And the final results? Well, we here in America are awaiting the results as we reach a point that has not been there since the Civil War. Only now we are doing this, responding to memes of hate and prejudice, responding with mailed bombs, with viciousness, with the mouth of a man who cannot, for even 24 hours maintain a position of dignity and  unity. And top it all off with the statement that all these bombs are a conspiracy - of your opponents - to make you look bad! Truly, a bizarre world.
     And as for one's excess energy, vibrant hate that boils over, well, just head south to the border where the leader of a country built by immigrants is planning to use our army to shoot them down, to force them away, or to herd them into horrendous situations, separate families again, dehumanize them, turn our backs on the very thing which has always made us strong. No longer will we be the salad bowl or even the mixing dish. Melting pot? Ha! The goal now seems to be to wash out all the 'others' be they of any other color than white, any other religion other than Christian, women to stand at the end of the line and poor people - know your place!
     We have less than two weeks to try and balance this country again. Get out there and VOTE, VOTE for the proper people, the ones who have your concerns at heart, the ones who have a heart. As for me - I voted already and on Election Day I will be watching the polls, making sure that there is no chicanery where I am, that voters receive their proper rights and are allowed to vote without the attempts being made to restrict them.
     The choice is ours. The consequences are ours.