Just when you think that this year couldn't be any worse than last, yesterday's attempted coup happens in the Capital of the USA. Spurred on by an incompetent president, hordes of thugs broke into the Capitol building to try to disrupt the electoral process confirming the election of Biden/Harris.
A mostly white crowd bearing flags and banners in various forms proclaiming their support (& love?) for their dear revered leader, some wearing combat gear, obviously ready for battle, they stormed the building and interrupted the proceedings (which thankfully resumed later in the night). What struck me while watching live footage of the scene was the lack of control by law enforcement and the lack of presence of the National Guard, very unlike the scene last summer during the Black Lives Matter march when peaceful protestors were tear gassed and pepper sprayed. Talk about white privilege....
Will there be anyone held accountable for this especially the political leaders who have enabled idiot in the Oval Office, who have not called him out for his countless lies, nor corrected the fake news coming from his mouth and his Twitter feed? I am not optimistic having seen how much he has been able to get away with.
The past 4 years watching American politics unfold has left a bad taste in my mouth. I am disillusioned with America's political system. The American dream and the shining city on the hill is still an admirable one. But the experiment to achieve this dream and ideals that was first created by the founders has failed. It needs to be reworked and refined. The great divide between conservatives and liberals, the coastal cities and the middle of the country, the urban and the rural societies have grown. Fresh new ideas need to be hashed out to address these difference. Mistrust in the government and media and big corporations need to be addressed. Social media hasn't helped especially in the spread of conspiracy theories and misinformation. Journalism has lost its way.
I don't know how these issues will be resolved. It is a formidable undertaking. But first the country needs to heal, after the painful 4 years of upheaval, much of it caused by a useless divisive, incompetent president. I believe the President Biden and VP Harris will be able to start the healing process.
Counting down to Jan 20.....
