I have good news and bad news.

Image by Susanne Stöckli from Pixabay

This photograph resembles an image I saw in a dream from my childhood. There were many low hills, tiny ones, bare of trees but covered in grass. There were no houses or roads, just miles of tiny low hills flowing into one another. I never found the place with the low hills but I see resemblances in many remote rural places.

I have re-read the last several posts made since December of last year. It seems to me that I’ve pointed out enough terrible decisions and policies imposed by the current American government, particularly the executive branch. Do I have to spell out yet more atrocities committed by the most corrupt, fascist government in American history?

Trump is now openly defying the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution (I’m referring to his new 747, a gift from Qatar) and daring anyone who complains to do something about it. He has lost an illegal, aggressive war against Iran– Heaven knows they deserved to have their ears pinned back, but his bombing didn’t accomplish much other than to provoke a global oil crisis and embolden the embattled Iranian government.

I begin to realize that all my complaining hasn’t led to any change; all the complaints of the 75 million people who voted for Kamala Harris have had no effect either against the 77 million who voted for Trump. Even though Trump voters haven’t exactly gotten what they were expecting.

They wanted a roaring economy with jobs and money for everyone– they got a sputtering economy and a loss of spending power after inflation. Plus higher gasoline prices due to a war that Trump claimed he wouldn’t start when he was campaigning. Prices have moderated over the last two weeks but are expected to remain somewhat elevated for a long time.

Plus nobody really realized what the new ICE immigration policies would actually do to real people. Not many of them are pleased with the performative cruelty of the new detention policies that have eliminated parole for immigrants already integrated into the community.

What with one thing and another, Trump’s approval rating in office is hovering below 40%. This suggests that at least the House of Representatives will be majority Democratic at its next sitting in January. With the majority, Democrats can initiate investigations and subpoena witnesses. Most people expect them to start impeachment proceedings– considering the number of potential counts, perhaps highly publicized hearings like those of the Watergate era may ensue.

That’s assuming there are no irregularities during the vote counting this November that prevent the expected blue wave. A lot of Democrats seem to be paranoid on the subject of Republicans trying to suppress voting and interfere with counting.

A few Republicans seem to be intent on restricting the voting franchise by forcing everyone to show proof of citizenship and photo ID– but the SAVE act that would do that isn’t going to make it through the Senate because of that pesky 60 vote requirement. It seems that powerful Republican senators do not want to be forced to vote for this bill, since they have refused to raise it by saying it won’t get 60 votes so is dead on arrival.

Nonetheless, Trump has recently said that he won’t sign any bills until the SAVE Act crosses his desk. Senate Republicans have made it clear that they will not blow up the 60 vote requirement to pass this bill, even though they could do so by a simple majority. Apparently they’re afraid of what the Democrats might do if/when they get the majority. So Trump has failed to get his SAVE Act, but he won’t admit it so he refuses to sign bills the Republicans are desperate for to improve their chances in November. He’s holding a temper tantrum until he gets his way.

Protesting or complaining hasn’t done any good. The only thing that will work is voting them out of office.

I feel as if I were holed up in a cave, watching as the world outside is destroyed utterly. But the low, green hills are still there in my dream, rising up from green fields.

Image by Susanne Stöckli from Pixabay