TODAY IS THE BEST DAY

 ... of your life. Remember the song? Remember the optimism behind that song? Remember the America that was a bespoken fit for that sentiment? Remember the 'can do' attitude seen from the cartoon characters of Bob the Builder who assured all that "We can do it. Yes, we can.", to the growth of cities, the development of the middle class and so many who found much to hope for in their lives, from the office workers to the guy punching in at a construction site. American optimism. Remember that? Miss that? I do. I certainly miss it in myself as well as in my country.

How do we return to better times, when we can cheerfully walk out that door every morning with that feeling, top of the world, nothing can stop me now attitude? Perhaps the better question is - can we return, is it even possible, or shall we once and for all, wave goodbye as it fades into the distance? Truthfully, I am conflicted, not truly sure of myself on either side of the issues. What I do know, though, to the very core of myself, is that the existence of these questions, the mere wondering about it, shakes the ground beneath our feet. 

How do we deal with the glaring and growing inequities of society. Where once that middle class provided a solid core of strength for American society, that core is now endangered. The children of this class cannot afford college. If you are a minority or poverty stricken or wealthy - then there is help, but for the middle class boy or girl it is a Hobbesian choice: either forgo the possibility and its provisions for a good future, or burden oneself with loans that preclude  much of and for the future.

What is this? Why is this? The answers are not cut and clear nor of equal weight. The blame can be so easily shared by so many, too many. Selfishness. Greed. The lust for power. The growing debasement of those who would serve this country and its people in honor and honesty. Hence, the result: a sour taste in the mouth, a growing tendency to look away, don't bother me attitude, and a growing very un-American bitterness within the souls of all of us.

What does one say to that? How do we justify its occurrence? How the hell did we get here? Is there a road back, or forward, can we see beyond the new Great Divide - the red and the blue? But then again, how do we do that when the red, the GOP, the drinkers of Trumpian juice, fail to 'protect and serve'? Worse, if not in active planning re the destruction of our country's soul, then they are equally as guilty explicitly, complicit,  implicit, as they shake and shiver in their shoes, afraid to face up to a deranged man who is the closest clone of Hitler that we have seen in America. Who refuses to go away. Far worse and more dangerous, the many who do not want him to go away. The opportunity to indulge in their hatred, to wallow in it, even as he is bad for their well being, well, guess this opportunity is too tempting to ignore.

Even those who purport to support the people, to care for them, well, see the crooked road they hoe and follow, all at the same time. Manchin is Senator from West Virginia, the home of  Appalachia, one of the most poverty stricken areas in this nation, seemingly forever, rivaling any Third World nation. No jobs. No food security. Education? Forget it. Hope, dismal at best. This man, this millionaire or more, wealth accrued on the backs of miners and agony of souls, sits on his yacht, talking down to kayak goers who plead for him to aid the passage of a bill desperately needed if this country is to get back on solid land, all the while emitting a message of 'screw you all' . He enjoys his role as the devil in the broth. He has wrapped himself in the cloak of a Democrat while within, his GOP traits have a party! Thus he endangers the chances of his presumed party to repair the broken infrastructure of this nation, to give it a much needed infusion of cash and hope. For shame!

Is there a way to return to sanity? Can we overcome the horror of a sitting President trying to overthrow the legitimate government of this nation? Can we repair all the harm done, the damage inflicted, the hopelessness and anime that stalk the land? Big problems to address; big minds needed to fix it. Where are those big minds? Who the hell knows. What I do know is they are obviously not within the Senate, the House or the GOP, or even within many of the Democratic party.

Today is the best day of my life? Your life? The nation's life? How do we mesh it all? How and when can we expect to be able to sing in full voice, in beautiful, soul building harmony? I dunno. I simply do not.