I have no idea how long it will take for me to finish this post.  What I’ve come to realize over the past week or two is, no matter how the election of 2016 turns out, it is clear to me that America is on a downward spiral that could go from bad to worse on Tuesday, November 8th.  I’ve been watching American politics since the days Dwight Eisenhower and Adlai Stevenson were running against each other back in the 1950’s.  From that time until the day Ronald Reagan won the White House, the health of working class people (the middle class) was what was driving American politics.  Amazing things happened in America (and, still are) during those times, but the huge difference, to me, was the attitude of the general public regarding our middle class.  Essentially, in an attempt to explain my thought in a short phrase, our nation operated on a “bottom up” philosophy.

As a Christian, I’m always reminded of Jesus’ words “What you do for the least of these, you do for me” AND “What you do TO the least of these you do to me.”  He often reminds me of those words when I drive past a homeless veteran on the side of the road and I don’t give him/her anything.  He reminds me that if my neighbor is hungry and I have an abundance of food I should feed him/her.  And, I believe, back in the 50’s, 60’s, and early 70’s America’s government came much closer to being in line with those words of Jesus than we are today.  In fact, I believe that with the inauguration of Ronald Reagan (ironically, supported by the so-called “religious right”), America began to change from what I call a “we” society to a “me” society.

I still remember, in the 1960’s, as a young impressionable American, feeling the obligation to help in the FIGHT for Civil Rights and Voting Rights that so many in the African American community (and their supporters) sacrificed so much in order to achieve monumental legislative victories.  I’ve also been aware that, since the victories of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 there has been a concerted effort by many Americans to “turn back the clock.”  And, unfortunately, the events of the past 10 or so years, demonstrate they are succeeding – really, no matter who wins on November 8th.

The Supreme Court passed the so-called “Citizens United” decision (along with the “McCutcheon” decision) in the first decade of the 21st century that essentially wiped away all attempts at controlling the flood of money into the election process and we’re seeing the results of that in 2016.  Additionally, (and, almost unbelievably) the Court GUTTED the Voting Rights Act so that, as the 2016 election unfolds we’re seeing the effects of that decision as well while republicans all across America are scheming for ways to prevent minority populations from making it to the polls.  All of this, in itself, is a bit depressing for someone like me who grew up believing in, benefiting from, and supporting the tenets of the New Deal which was the “generator” of the great expansion of America’s middle class from the 30’s through the late 70’s,

In reality, since the day Franklin Roosevelt shared that the moneyed elite in America hated his policies (guts? :o) and went on to say, “I welcome their hate” there has been an undercurrent of right wing, racist, wealthy Americans fighting to reverse the gains middle class Americans made during the New Deal and the years that followed.  In fact, this group (which included, for example, the John Birch Society and a group referred to by Jeff Sharlett in a great book as the “Family”) has been working to undermine the basic philosophy today’s democratic party  rests on (or should I say, it should rest on) since FDR’s time.  Let me be clear, what we’re talking about here is a faction of Americans who believe in “white privilege” and, obviously, will do whatever it takes to preserve this “privilege” which they appear to view as a birth right.

I believe many of the people I’m talking about were “under the rocks” until Barack Obama was elected president.  While there were many like myself who were excited that an African American could win the presidency, this obviously sent this group I’m referring to “off the edge.”  Their initial response to Obama’s presidency was to claim their NUMBER ONE priority was that the president would FAIL.  It’s becoming apparent that President Obama is going to leave the office of the president as the most popular second term president in many years, so apparently their work to make sure he fails has been a FAILURE.  However, what they’ve achieved is creating unprecedented GRIDLOCK in Washington DC and, through the ability to spend unlimited amounts and a willingness to disregard FACTS, they’ve succeeded in deflecting the blame for the results of their “strategy.”

Americans are fed up with the gridlock and the division in Washington DC, but now that the democrats have gone one more over the edge for some of these people on the right – they’ve nominated a WOMAN to be president – we’re getting a close-up view of what America is really made of.  Out of their contempt for our first Black president and the unthinkable thought of a woman as “commander in chief” the republicans have come up with Donald Trump as a candidate for the office of president.  I really thought that after Sarah Palin they couldn’t out do themselves, but they’ve managed to do so.  And, the sad reality, 3 days prior to the election is that Trump conceivably could win the White House.  It makes me sick to my stomach to even write those words.  To me, this is an indictment on our system and a wake up call as to how many Americans are either “on board” with a man who is demonstrably a fascist, is clearly a racist and misogynist, and hasn’t given one piece of rhetoric, that I’ve heard, which would indicate even a rudimentary understanding of the workings of our government.  Just that thought brings me back to Reagan who started the attacks on government – our government that these right wing people have been working hard to undermine since – well, as I said above, since FDR led a middle class revolution in the 30’s and 40’s.  Republicans have bought into their own lies – and, many are voting for Trump (conceivably) knowing in their hearts how incredibly dangerous he will be should he make the White House.

If Clinton wins, and Congress remains in republican control, the obstruction and vitriol will continue – in fact, it will probably increase.  Republicans have already promised to BLOCK any and all appointments to the Supreme Court should Clinton win the White House.  And, that will simply be the tip of the “iceberg.”  They will continue to push America toward financial default and continue to manipulate our “liberal media” into making sure “we the people” don’t give “credit where credit is due.”  America’s cable “news” outlets have been falling all over themselves trying to be like “fox” and the end result is that we have a voting public that is as ill-informed as probably any in the world.  People want change – and mostly they agree on the change – like health care reform, stop the wars, affordable education, alternative energy (acknowledge the problem of Climate Change), raise the minimum wage, etc. etc. – they just don’t seem to understand that in EVERY instance, the “roadblock” to the “change we can believe in” is the republican party and the corporate interests who have bought them.  Americans are sick of the gridlock, they just don’t understand where it’s coming from.

I’m apprehensive about this election one way or the other.  If Trump (God help us) should manage to win, my biggest fears will have been realized.  I can’t imagine “we the people” would vote him into office – but, the reality is that over 40% of Americans are supporting him.  If Clinton wins, well, the obstruction will very possibly be put on steroids.  This group who believes their “white privilege” is a birthright, will not go away on their own.  Until the American people fully understand what is happening and they vote these people (like McConnell, Ryan, etc.  the republicans who were unable to repudiate Trump) OUT OF OFFICE, the obstruction and vitriol will continue.