Are we really better?
Facebook and other social media brain-blockers continue to displace our newspapers. Television opinion-pushers continue to eliminate the need to consider all sides of vital national discussions. Our political leaders are demonized and vilified from left and right. This all leads this old Republican to doubt President Obama’s message that “we are better than this.” Are we?
Consider the sewage that flowed about Hillary Clinton—she was accused of everything from sexual deviation to child molestation to helping cover up a White House murder during Bill’s presidency. We loyal, patriotic Americans happily passed this filth along to our unknown friends and their unknown friends. We knew we were dealing in lies, but smelled the awful corruption and called it the sweet smell of success. Are we better than this?
Consider the unreasoned and pointless demonization of Nancy Pelosi— guilty only of doing everything she can to advance the policies of her party and her president, exactly as the Republican Congress is doing for President Trump, yet we nod in mock wisdom as candidates for state and local office are “tagged” for somehow supporting the wicked witch Pelosi. Are we better than this?
And yet … and yet … President Obama is still measured by all polls as the most popular and successful president in modern times. President Trump’s White House and personal staff (ex and existing) keep lining up to plead guilty or to be found guilty under the relentless pressure of Mr. Mueller’s investigation. Candidates for local, state, and national office, across the country, are more diversified in gender, race, and religion than ever before.
All we can do is to wait, watch, wonder, and think. Are we better than this? We may well be. Yes! We just might be, after all, a lot better than this. Meet you at the polls? CLIFF HARRISON Hot Springs Village