American Pie

 I spend far too much of my time scrolling through the comments of various political posts and some posts that you wouldn't think would be political have a lot of politics in the comments. I know I should be doing other things, and I do quite well not to chime in, but after a while, I just feel the need to express myself. 

That's why you're here, right? You wanna see what's got my panties in a twist this time, right?

Those comments help me find my opinion and fully form it into words. It shows me a glimpse of what others think of the same issue. Of late, it shows me a whole lotta stupid. While most times it leaves me feeling better about myself (since I'm not THAT stupid, or mean, or disrespectful, or misinformed), lately, it's left me feeling disheartened and disappointed. I have joked with my sister that we should look into moving to another country. We aren't that far from the Canadian border, or I've seen ads that Scotland is looking to take in some disgruntled Americans. Even a small island in the Mediterranean will give you a home as long as you live in it for ten years. Oh, and I think you need to have kids. 

Anyway, twenty years ago, the thought of moving out of the US was unthinkable. I mean, where else in the world could possibly be any better than here. Land of the Free. Home of the Brave. What was better than fireworks on the 4th of July and a charcoal grill cooking Glazier hot dogs? No other country could match our freedoms and our dreams. 

Times have changed; my Gen X friends. I'm not just blaming Trump, the whole system broke down and allowed it to happen. A perfect storm of technology, wealth, selfishness, and greed. I've heard plenty of theories to "how we got here". I'm not interested. I'm interested in where we are right now. I'm interested in why this system of government, that I have believed was the best in the world, is an embarrassment. How did our Constitution become just an old piece of paper?

The Constitution is the foundation of this nation. It is the rule book by which we all agree to play. THOSE ARE THE RULES. You can't just throw out an Executive Order that redacts some part of it. Birthright citizenship is in THE RULES. You can't just accept a huge gift from a foreign power. IT'S IN THE RULEBOOK. (I will note here that I can't say I'm surprised that Trump doesn't see the Constitution that way. I've heard the man cheats at golf, so rules don't apply to him in any situation, apparently.) What is astounding is that our representatives in Congress just let it play out. In kindergarten, children are taught the importance of THE RULES. Didn't our Representatives go to kindergarten? How do you let a President run roughshod all over your powers? You'll never get them back. Fight for your power. Your people are telling you to fight for your power!

Some people don't seem to think that Trump accepting a jet from a foreign country is a big deal. They think he's saving us money. They say it's no different than the Statue of Liberty or perhaps, the Resolute Desk. (I put in the desk part, I don't know if many MAGA even know what it is.) But it is different. See the Statue of Liberty didn't end up in someone's backyard and the Resolute Desk isn't in someone's library all locked up. These are gifts that were turned over to the Nation. I can go visit the Statue of Liberty and anyone can go visit it. The Resolute Desk goes with the White House and nobody but the Nation owns it. 

Trump can have his gold-plated jet with nine bathrooms when everybody in this Nation can have a ride in it for free.

I can shrug off most of Trump's stupid shit. His need to be in the spotlight. His ideas about taking over Canada and Greenland. His renaming the Gulf of Mexico. Even his salesman demeanor of shucking Tesla cars and crypto. But what I cannot, and WILL NOT, forget is that this man, this President released rioters convicted in a court of law with sufficient evidence for a Capitol riot on January 6th, 2021. These rioters defaced OUR nation and harmed our guard/police. AND TRUMP PARDONED THEM ALL. 

I suppose I could blame Congress for being so wishy washy. They are letting the President do whatever he wants. The Democrats need to do more but I understand that it's a numbers game. Congress only gets things done with the right number of votes. So, at the bottom of it all, it's the Republican Congressmen that are to blame right now. You can't tell me that ALL of those Republican representatives were voted into office by MAGA voters. You can't tell me that all those Republicans support the BS that this administration spews forth. More people in this country DISAPPROVE of Trump's policies than approve of them. THAT means that your constituents, Congressmen, want you to do your job and exercise the power of the Congress. THE CONGRESS is the most voice that the people have. YOU are the leaders that get the nitty gritty job of making the dreams of the American People come to fruition. The power of the people lies in the Congress.

The President is just some pretty boy (always a boy, is that how it works? That's a different rant.) that shakes hands with foreign nationals, gives patriotic speeches, and inspires the respect of the public. The President enforces the will of the people. The WILL of the PEOPLE comes through CONGRESS. The President is a humble servant of the people. 

We don't have Kings. We don't want Kings. We don't need Kings.

My ancestors didn't fight and die in the American Revolution for us to fall apart now. We are going on 250 years of American Independence. We best not be losing it now. 

It's bad enough this Nation may celebrate its 250th birthday under Trump's watch, I dread having to listen to his long speech on Independence Day 2026 when he recites the whole history of this country and doesn't get one damn thing correct. (Do you remember that July 4th in his first term? Ugh!) Or worse we have a military parade just like this one he's planning for his birthday. (Seriously? Is this a done deal?)

All this to say, that I have never considered living in any other country...until now.

America was never great for everybody, but America was willing to change. America was willing to be educated and enlightened. America was willing to extend its greatness into all its little lost cracks and patch up all its failings. America was willing to lead without asking for anything in return. America was willing to help when and where it was needed because America understood that if people thought well of us overseas, they would support us when we needed it. 

"Bye, bye, Miss American Pie. Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry. Them good ole boys are drinking whiskey and rye, singing "this'll be the day that I die"

This'll be the day that I die."

I have hope that this America has not died an untimely death. I will choose to believe that this America will rise. 

But it's hard.

-Wy