We live in interesting times. Too many daily events, mostly tragic and nightmarish, tempt us to hunker down, cover our heads and go back to sleep, hoping that happier dreams will emerge. But like most dreams, reality intrudes. Time to wake up and fight back.
Demagogery is hardly new. In my near-80 years, I have learned to recognize its ugly head. The present baloney passing for debates, false accusations and alleged shakiness of our democratic system give the impression that we are poised to put the U.S.A. in the dust bin of history.
But hold on a bit. We’ve been around this bend before. Self-serving opportunists often come dressed up as “restorers of law and order”, “miracle workers” or “super patriots” ready to save the country.
Perhaps the Nazi Hermann Goering put it best at the Nuremberg trials when he suggested that in hard times it was easy for opportunists to find scapegoats and cast them as enemies. One of his alleged final utterances before taking poison to escape the hangman was, “It works the same in any country.” He was probably correct. Such an appeal to the mean spirits of the public often does foment the chaos required for opportunists to succeed.
So what’s the answer? Disgust and refusal to even vote is just what the haters want and need to push their own agenda. I felt the “Bern” and liked much of what Sanders offered, but now I’m with Hillary, the only rational choice.
Younger voters should follow Bernie’s advice and turn out to vote in massive numbers. After all, it is you millenials and younger folk who will inherit the system that we older folks have spawned.
You are the assurance that our democracy will continue as planned by the founding fathers.
Win Lavallee
South Hadley