Slogging Through the Trump Era

"The United Corporations of America exploit ignorant citizens, largely those who are economically disadvantaged because of those same pro-corporate policies, with propaganda that would shock even George Orwell."

Regular readers of Billsweek have commented that postings have been few and far between. I apologize for neglecting this space, allowing mindless drivel to wash up in its wake on Facebook and in other media.

I like to inject a little humor into these posts, or at least something to think about. But it's been hard to work up the gumption to do that. It's been a depressing year.

The beginning, and it's only the beginning, of the Trump era has left many of us worn out. There are so many things wrong with the country that it's hard to know what to focus on. Every day brings another low point - often lower than the one from the day before. It seems the Republican strategy is to bombard us with outrageousness to the extent that while we're still reeling from yesterday's disaster, they throw another one at us today. We are kept running from protest to protest so we'll be too busy to take in the bigger picture of what they are really doing, which is dismantling the institutions of our democracy that protect civil rights, provide a safety net for the poor, and care for the sick. All the while, they cede more and more power to big business, benefiting only the extremely wealthy and weakening the middle class.

The United Corporations of America exploit ignorant citizens, largely those who are economically disadvantaged because of those same pro-corporate policies, with propaganda (via Fox News and other right wing media) that would shock even George Orwell. The media that our president calls fake news is not the fake news that endangers us, but his favorite program, Fox and Friends, the epitome of fake news. It's enough to make your head spin.

I think what would shock Orwell the most is that the citizenry swallows their propaganda hook, line, and sinker not at the point of a gun, but willingly and freely, drunk on credit fueled consumerism and vapid social media and, yes, fake news.

It's depressing.

Personally, I've had a tough year medically as well, and if politics weren't enough, my energy has been drained by health insurance paperwork, navigating doctors' office bureaucracies, and visits to Rose Medical Center - not to mention the medical conditions themselves.

In short: a bout with pneumonia early in the year uncovered an arterial blockage which led to a stent in my right main artery and a permanent diagnosis of heart disease. Several weeks of cardio-therapy ended just in time for a skin cancer scare which resulted in 2 separate surgeries. The cancer was not the life-threatening terminal kind, but was uncomfortable and inconvenient all the same. These were in addition to my other, pre-existing chronic illnesses which only complicated things with potential drug interactions and a spiderweb of communications between doctors, if I could manage to get them to communicate. All of this was expensive too, and I have health insurance.

Luckily, I have a good job and money in the bank. I have a loving husband and a warm home. I get to travel and have experiences that many others can't. I have the opportunity to serve my community through my church and in other ways.

The challenge is to keep the depressing stuff in perspective and to use the good stuff to slog forward so the bad stuff doesn't stop me. Because if I stop, "they" win. And we can't have that.

Corporations are Not People

The U.S. Supreme Court has overturned a century of precedent and ruled that corporations have the same free speech rights as human beings. The primary effect of this revolutionary decision is to allow businesses to support any candidate or political cause without limitation.

The supremes have basically granted personhood to big companies, unleashing them to, for all practical purposes, control the nation.

What's it called when business runs the country: corpocracy?

In any case, prepare for big changes. Little guys running for office won't stand a chance. Only those at the beck and call of big business will serve in legislatures across the country. That $10 you donated to Obama? It won’t make much difference next time. The president will be too busy courting Wall Street to ask for your puny contribution. In fact, what you think about anything matters much less now than ever before.

Don't think local politics won't be affected. When the neighborhood association resists the building of a new McDonalds with a drive through, increasing trash, traffic, and danger to playing children, who do you think will best be funded in the next city council election? The candidate who, in exchange for corporate money, favors the easing of zoning laws. It will take a lot of bake sales to compete with that.

Thanks to those five Republican appointed justices, politics might now go the way of sports.

Debates will be sponsored by, “Kraft Macaroni – it’s cheesier!” Campaign ads will be shamelessly paid for by, “Dupont - for without chemicals, life itself will be impossible.” Look for a Bank of America logo next to the presidential seal when the Commander in Chief addresses the nation. Watch for Nancy Pelosi to be wearing a Pepsi ball cap while doing press conferences on the capitol steps. Will Harry Reed have to do commercials portraying himself running from the senate to the White House with a bill in hand to be signed by the President – wearing Nike shoes?

Do you think John Hickenlooper, mayor of Denver now running for governor and one of the first successful microbrewers in the nation, will be able to tolerate having to be sponsored by Coors in the election?

Do you think I’m joking?

Corporations are not people. They have no moral compass, no shame, no soul. Their only reason for existence is to make a profit. If they can get away with their logo next to the presidential seal, why wouldn’t they? Our elected leaders, those charged with keeping our cities, states, and country working, are at the mercy of big money and there is nothing to stand in the way of the corpocracy taking over.