Unless you live in the White House, you are probably aware that we are in the middle of the worst public health crisis in the last century, made worse everyday by the inept, crass leadership of the Orange One. Understandably, the Covid pandemic dominates the news – the numbers, the stories, the impact. Added to the news-weight of Covid is a classically narcissistic President with an overwhelming need for constant attention and press coverage. The result is very little press attention or public interest in some incredibly important developments and on-going issues that impact this country and the world. Let’s have a look at some topics that we used to think were important.

Climate Change – The US has continued to ignore the abyss that is climate change. Worse than that, our leadership has ridiculed any attempts at interventions and adaptations designed to lessen the environmental debacle that is no longer heading our way, but has already arrived. The richest country in the world has abdicated any leadership position in addressing a rapidly warming and changing earth. The current fools in charge of this country have actually accelerated our descent into a hell of rising seas, prolonged droughts, fires, mudslides, major hurricanes – do I need to go on?

Income Disparity – I can think of nothing more threatening to the future of a democratic republic than a great and ever-widening difference in the wealth controlled by the rich compared to the rest of the populace. Even if you eliminate the poorest Americans from the calculations, the wealth differences are stark. The top 5% richest families in the US had 114 times the wealth as the 4th quintile of families ($2.3 million vs. $20,300). From the great recession of 2007, only the rich have seen their incomes and wealth increase, 13% for the top 20% wealthiest households. Meanwhile, the 2nd lowest quintile’s wealth experienced a 39% loss, from $32,100 in 20017 to $19,500 in 2016. It becomes almost laughable when you move up into the super wealthy. The top 1% of the wealthiest families hold about 40% of this country’s wealth with the bottom 90% holding only 23%. This started with Reagan, accelerated under Bush II, and was greatly enhanced but the latest Republican trillion dollar tax cut for the wealthy. Simply, under these conditions, the center of a democracy will not hold.

Race Relations – The United States elected an overtly racist president. Of course, over a period of 4 years with that type of person in the White House, people of color will feel further disenfranchised and alienated. Obviously, much of what is now in focus involves more than who is resident of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue: policing, ingrained biases, ignorance, opportunity, education, and hatred are all in play. Nevertheless, we have an overtly racist president. That’s a fact. Hell, at least Wilson and Nixon tried to hide their racism.

Judicial Fairness – This fundamental right is under assault. The judiciary is rapidly becoming a bastion for a conservative view of society. More because of a soul-less Senate Majority leader than a moronic president, this country’s judiciary no longer represents what approximately 70% of the voting populace views as fair and just. This is not just a problem with the Supreme Court but throughout our Federal court system. Most people support a woman’s control over her body – Roe v. Wade will be overturned or gutted. Most Americans want the health protections offered under Obamacare – the Act will be declared unconstitutional by January, with nothing in its place and in the middle of a pandemic that has killed more than 250,000 citizens. Most people realize the benefits of government regulations and laws protecting their food, drugs, worker safety, and environment – this will be a massacre.

Those are just 4 issues off the top of my head that are pretty much being ignored right now as the bloviated, orange clown takes all of the air out of the room. They worsen, though, they worsen. Day by day. Inexorably. Particularly, when we don’t pay attention.

I haven’t been writing for a while. Honestly, he just wears me out. I am going to start to write again though, on the pandemic of course, but also other issues. I just can’t promise that all my essays will be as uplifting as this one, though. I’m just a Polyanna of good news.

Stay safe, please. Stay outside. Keep away. Wear a mask.