ARE YOU PROUD?

Such was the question asked seeking an answer from Senator Grassley at an Iowa Town Hall meeting. Proud of whom? Trump and all that he has wrought or instigated or inflicted upon the American people, in particular those of Iowa, the very people who voted for him and put him into office. In actuality, they voted for him against their self-interest for they neither saw nor followed the thread, the eternal thread which leads to the truth of an action or desire. It so consistently is ignored and unfollowed by those affected, much to their detriment and surprise.     

The people of Iowa, the people of the Midwest, the Northwest, the Great American Food Bowl, the flyover states are now scratching their head in misery wondering what the hell happened. Where is that Golden State that he placed before them? That he posted would happen once he was in office, (placed there by the deluded). Generally, most of was to take place upon the first day. However, day one was not the way they thought it would be. 

It was the beginning of the end of democracy. It was the beginning of the end of a government concerned with its people, seeking out ways and methods by which to enrich their lives culturally, economically, professionally, and certainly that of their children. It was a government that had food programs, grants which allowed people to better themselves economically and certainly improve life for their families Yet, suddenly they were cut off as all grants were ceased. Food programs are attacked. Medicaid is attacked, Social Security is attacked and here we all are, wondering, and asking the representatives of our nation, at all levels - Are. You. Proud - of all that you have caused. How the man you so slavishly follow and obey as if a messenger from the heavens, even as is so clear that he is a messenger from the Devil himself has attacked our country? 

Are they proud, are we proud, of what we have enabled? Are we proud of losing our pride in ourselves and the strength of our nation and its ability to remain as it should be, as it was, as it is supposed to be for the future generations? What have we done and how far deep below the surface have we buried our pride as Americans, as a people who strive for the better, to be the best, to acknowledge errors and attempt to repair the damage, not always so successful, but there is always a tomorrow on which to do better, to improve, to double down. Not always the best, but certainly far better than we are today. Certainly, a nation of optimism, of appreciation and celebration of differences and the enrichment these differences provided for us and our kids, for the nation. 

We made a manifestly erroneous and harmful change in direction and all attempts to correct were useless, thrust aside, purposely sabotaged as the new administration of Trump deeply desired otherwise. Those who spoke for the nation and its benefit were ignored and demeaned. In addition, we invited into our homes those who spoke of and initiated nasty and destructive ways and manners and plans for the takedown of America. 

Those with no business in American government came in, empty of the true spirit of America, instead suffused through and through, imbued with the egotism of their leader, with his nastiness and ambition to shred this government and its Constitution, and induced a distorted phoenix to arise from its ashes, a harbinger of the authoritarian government to follow. The antitheses of the once proud nation "of the people, by the people, for the people". Personnel who have no business in our government, inexperienced, tore into the fabric of our nation, wreaked havoc upon its structure, its workforce, its purpose - to serve the people and maintain the structure of the nation's departments in good order. This inexperience was combined with strange and harmful views, such as RFK Junior and the outrageous plans and goals openly stated, to shred our government, to stomp on people and to force our nation against our will and wishes out of democracy and into authoritarian government. 

And we are well on the way. At present we are a nation whose structures and beneficial programs are meant to service the nation, to keep its people in good condition, working to keeping it safe and secure. Currently, with no end in sight, they are being challenged and dismantled. While not perfect the system was working, always on the road to improvement. To insure a better more hopeful life for all. A huge job that had to be tackled if we were to be true to our national ethos. To work for all, to extend rights and benefits to all, not based on gender or race or ethnicity or religion or political affiliations. Not to exclude a state from FEMA because it voted Democratic Party rather than GOP. That is simply criminal, inhumane, in my book and should be in yours as well. Political whims should have no part within this nation at all, yet it is ever so prevalent under Trump, a toxic way of life boding only an ominous future for America and Americans, and the world as well.    

Combatting hunger, keeping the nation safe, warm, secure. Providing health services, educational services, aid for the ill and handicapped, for elderly and retired, encompassing so many beneficial programs. Now all in eminent danger, peril afoot and nothing to stand in its way. The supposed GOP are useless and worse. Repression and suppression, censorship of literature, science, and speech, banning of news services if displeasing to Trump, and social safety net torn to pieces.  

In the name of combatting prejudice more is in engendered. Repression goes way too far, turning perhaps good meant to be to morph into evil with a powerful presence. Hate and violence have become a growth industry, much to the detriment of all. The nation now finds itself on a slippery slope now completely iced over, no potential for halting the slide, even as its speeding downfall accelerates exponentially with perdition and Trump and flyin monkeys salivating at the bottom.  

There is no medium way in this administration, no sanity, only greed and lust for power and wealth.     The slippery slope has turned toxic, with no control possible any longer. Unless. It must be stopped in its track and soon, for the viability of America to remain as she should be is quickly disappearing.   We can do this with no violence if we act quickly, employ all the legal weaponry we still can use. Soon. Much better than later, for later will be way too late. Already we have people suffering where there should not be any. Already we are not the America we were, as we were meant to continue to be. This is not America. Not the one in which I grew up. Not the one of the anthem and patriotic songs I knew. The one where differences were celebrated even as they enriched the nation's culture. Not the nation of laws and traditions. America.  Now we are despised by the world, our economy sinking, manipulated at the highest levels, with much more to follow. Unless we act.  

Yesterday, today and tomorrow.

What do we choose? Will we have a choice?

Yesterday, today and all the morrows.

Up for grabs. Who will grab on and not let go?

Yesterday, today and all the tomorrows to come.