Election Day In America

As I have said a couple of times before, this is not a political blog. But then today came along.

I’ve spent a lot of time trying to figure out a positive message for this morning. It has been years of chaos for America and its allies, beginning with Trump on that infamous escalator ride down and down and down, into a political abyss of failing to keep promises, taking bribes, making friends with enemies, offering deadly medical advice during a pandemic, planning ways to take control of women’s health, promising revenge on his enemies. To mention just a few.

Then Joe Biden rose to the occasion and governed with a steady hand and years of experience, helping his country to recover from Covid, guiding the economy forward, passing infrastructure bills, extending the ACA, and trying to resolve the illegal immigrant situation. What more could one person do in just 4 years? But Joe did one more thing – he stepped away from his office because his country mattered more.

Trump and his MAGA followers were enraged. How dare sleepy Joe give his spot to a smart, tough, charismatic vie-president, a Woman for heavens sake? The Republican campaign did a swift turnaround. Fine-tuned attack ads. Made up racist slogans. Told even bigger lies. Hired Elon Musk. Survived 2 assassination attempts. Called Puerto Ricans “garbage.” Called Harris names I wouldn’t repeat.

And that brings us to today. People around the world are shaking in their shoes. Whether wearing Republican cowboy boots, Democratic dress shoes, flip flops, or even going barefoot, everyone is looking at the path forward with fear. Never before in modern US history has the fork in the road led to such extreme ends. On the right – years of economic, environmental, and social chaos. On the left – policies, plans and programs for the good of the people.

Even if Harris is elected, there will be chaos. Already seeds of doubt about the election process are being sown. Court appeals have been submitted. The violence of January 6th 2021 is being reinvented. It would take a new government months or even years to create order from all the turmoil.

What can I say on this dark morning? I found something in a column by a writer I follow regularly. She points to Abraham Lincoln, a relatively unknown US lawyer who rose to prominence in the 1850’s with his belief that all men (sorry, he wasn’t perfect) are created equal, including slaves. The rich southern aristocracy ( as powerful as an oligarchy) fought back. But in 1860, VOTERS put Lincoln in the White House.

Yes there was a civil war. And many lives were lost. But by 1863 Lincoln was able to deliver the Gettysburg Address, firmly rooting the United States in the Declaration Of Independence, and stating that the “government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish from this earth.”

Let’s hope he was right.

Sue