We should be joyously preparing for our nation’s 250th birthday, celebrating our bold vision of a democratic republic that has inspired other nations. We should remember the patriots who fought and bled for freedom from a tyrannical monarchy and religious persecution.
We should rejoice in the freedoms we have, to vote for our president and representatives, choose a God to worship (or not) and to have a role in civic life, and that the United States of America is known as a melting pot where all are welcome.
Personally, I would like to thank Donald J. Trump. Why? For challenging our Constitution like no other president has. Now it’s time for the inevitable hook to enter from backstage and pull him, gently but firmly, off stage and into the twilight and golf courses around the world. Preferably without a social network as punishment for the ills he has unleashed.
Because now is our time, the time for We, The People to fix our country. Are there things I’d like to change about our Constitution? Sure. I wish the deadline hadn’t passed for the Equal Rights Act because it may have saved half our population, women, from the predicament we’re in. But it’s time to enforce it. Donald Trump took a flamethrower to our Constitution, which was paid for in blood and guts of our forbears. Now it’s time to enforce it’s provisions on insurrection and emoluments, for a start.
SCOTUS is in a bad way, and they got themselves into this predicament. It’s time they stopped kowtowing to Republican donors and think tanks and remember we, the people. Some Americans think that only the voters have the right to take Trump off the national stage. The text of our Constitution says that insurrectionists cannot hold public office. Period. And yes, the voters did weigh in on Article XIV Section 3, in 1868. Just like age and national origin, insurrectionists are not allowed to hold the office of POTUS. Trump disqualified himself. He has to live with the consequences of his actions because our founders voted not to have a King anymore. It’s time for all y’all to show some guts, SCOTUS.
I believe that the Republican Party no longer exists, as its only purpose is to bow to the whims of a dictator-in-waiting who cares for no-one but himself. The people who vote for him will be slapped down so quickly and sent to vast camps for anyone King Donald feels the least bit slighted by. The camps aren’t for illegal aliens, as they’ll be deported post-haste. They’re for the rest of us who write things like this.
All of us have to remember that we’re American. Only the indigenous Americans came from here, all the rest of us are from other countries. Everyone. Am I, by my very existence, vermin, poisoning the blood of our nation? I think not. But I do happen to be white, and of Northern European ancestry so I look like I belong with the MAGA crowd. If I had to leave I believe my citizenship would be guaranteed in Canada, perhaps even in England, Ireland, Germany, Switzerland, maybe even France. But before I’m forced to leave the country of my birth, it’s up to me to join with you in righting some wrongs.
We need to get together and vote en masse. Republicans, Democrats and Independents who want to celebrate 250 years together as fellow Americans living in a democracy.
We need to assure the right for all to vote, end gerrymandering and dark money in politics. We need to get SCOTUS to grow a pair (sorry, folks) and stop kowtowing to Republican donors and if they want to take the Constitution originally and textually, actually read the insurrection clause before they try to weasel their way out of making a tough decision. They’re the Supreme Court, for heaven’s sake, they’re appointed for life to make these kinds of decisions. If they can’t do it, we’re not just going to roll over on this one, as we’re not for Dobbs. Leave presidential ballots to the states until we can fix the Supreme Court (increase the number, institute term limits and have an enforceable Code of Ethics).
The best thing I’ve heard today is that the brave Capitol Police officer who led rioters up the stairs away from our elected Senators and Representatives, Harry Dunn, is running for Congress in Maryland’s 3rd District. If elected, it’d be tough for the Jan 6 deniers to continue to say that it was just a regular tourist day at the Capitol.
We need to elect serious people, not those who will bend over backwards to do anything Donald Trump dreams up at three a.m., people who will deal with serious problems that affect all Americans. We don’t need non-representatives who only care about fundraising for whatever they do with the money (botox, anyone?) and scoring points on social media or “owning the libs.”
If we elect people who will actually represent we, the people, we’ll fix voting. When voting is fixed we can deal with responsible gun ownership, womens’ reproductive care and rights, and retaining separation of church and state. Staving off the thought of real life in a post-democratic country should be a priority for all. Living in a white supremacist country cloaked in a fake theocracy is not my idea of fun, especially as I’ll have to write to you on prison walls if I’m allowed a pencil at all.
Happy New Year! Let’s take our country back. It’s the least we can do to honor our founders who created separation of powers for a reason. One person, one vote. Meaningful freedom (not “freedom for me, not for thee”).The rule of law. Let’s fix things so we can go back to arguing policies and who’s got the best chili recipe. Or ragu, for our Italian-Americans. Latkes, BBQ, pho, deep dish or thin crust….
It’s our Constitution. It’s our flag. If we believe, together we can do anything. Let’s not forget convenient leash-free areas for responsible dog owners in every town! Dee
p.s. How did that last sentence find its way in there? OK, we can work on that later. First things first.
Cooking with Dee 