If Nothing Else (Say, Armed Insurrection), Buy Stamps

Until the psychopath in the White House has been removed, the chances of a recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic are slim. His vacillation between one set of false assertions and the next, his tendency toward chaotically churning lies, and his willingness to blatantly disregard everyone more competent than himself (i.e., every living human) all contribute to the likelihood of a dark future. Only if people with expertise in medicine and biology, healthcare policy, and economic policy are allowed to take control of the country’s response to the pandemic do we have a chance of recovery. Judging from his history of utter failure in every aspect of his presidency, he will not permit knowledgeable people to take charge. And his Republican enablers in Congress are just as much to blame as the man to whom they bow and scrape. Eventually, I think, the chief incompetent and his sniveling worshipers will be turned out by fed-up American voters, but that may be too late.

Democrats in Congress share the blame, as well. I would like to examine the voting records of every Representative and Senator, after first reading through the unnecessarily complex language of legislation (designed, in my opinion, to hide vast amounts of corrupt rewards for political favors). I suspect an overwhelming majority of members of Congress have engaged in deeply corrupt practices, even while promoting and supporting some legitimately beneficial legislation in the process.  But the argument that “I should not be punished for stealing your car because I used it once to take food to the needy” is not sufficient to avoid prosecution.

This morning, I feel very much the cynic. Not about all people, but about damn near all politicians. It is as if involvement in governance exposes participants to diseases that damage their moral core. They may enter the fray with good intent that, unfortunately, succumbs to enticements to the exercise of greed.  More often than not, though, I’m afraid people enter politics knowing full well it is a dirty, disgusting racket. The good politicians, the ones who truly want to serve the people and do good, have to fight tooth and nail to retain their dignity and decency in a cesspool of corruption; maintaining one’s honor while actually accomplishing positive actions for the people is an almost superhuman endeavor.

The pandemic and its ramifications have the potential of remaking our society into something of which we can be justly proud. I’d like to think that is exactly what will happen. But I’m afraid I’m not only a cynic this morning, I’m a pessimist, too. We have to keep trying, but I’m afraid the effort is akin to fighting to put out a thousand-acre ocean of burning gasoline with a wet napkin.

***

In spite of my very sour, somber mood this morning, I was moved by something I read on the NPR website. There’s a movement afoot to save the U.S. Postal Service by encouraging people to go online and buy stamps. The USPS is suffering enormous losses, thanks to mail volume drying up in the face of the coronavirus. The movement, encouraged through the hashtag #BUYSTAMPS, is attempting to save an institution we depend on for communication. Regardless of how much we have shifted to electronic communication, mail delivery remains absolutely vital. Our idiot-in-chief doesn’t give a damn, though. Yet another reason to support it with significant purchases. I plan to go to USPS.com today and buy some stamps.

About John Swinburn

"Love not what you are but what you may become."― Miguel de Cervantes
This entry was posted in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink.

I wish you would tell me what you think about this post...

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.