With respect to the current political situation, I think it’s about time we all stopped licking our wounds, blaming others, and trying to turn back the clock.
Monday’s Gazette Opinion page irritated me — especially John Sheirer’s piece on Trump’s imagined concession speech. The guest column on Bernie for commerce secretary is more fantasy. It’s time to get real: stop venting and mocking and ranting. Do something useful.
I supported Bernie Sanders and then Hillary Clinton over Trump. Spinning wheels and daydreaming won’t change election results. Too much profit and too low a tax rate at the top is an evil unto itself. The rich can stay rich enough without robbing the poor and the middle classes of their dignity and letting corporations rule our lives. Focus there and on other societal evils.
Although some continue to behave as if it’s an argument worth having, of course black lives matter. Oppose racist behavior. Sure, work to make abortion rare, but don’t take away citizens’ rights to their own informed opinions and religious consciences. We have a right to feel safe in our homes and on our streets so we need to control gun ownership and availability.
We have a right to clean air and water and uncontaminated food and soil to grow it in. Insist on strengthening regulations on polluters, tax carbon emissions, promote — and use — alternative energy. Use less electricity — less of everything — and your life and planet will thrive.
Sanders and Clinton, the Democrats generally, and certainly many Republicans, too, recognize that the environment is the true bottom line. Money won’t do much good if our ocean rises, crops fail and fires rage. Failing to make strong efforts to lower greenhouse gas emissions, to limit fossil fuel extraction, to protect drinking water protection, to rebuild water and sewer infrastructure, to confront the anti-science rhetoric that keeps people in arrogant ignorance — those are the demons we need to exorcise.
Donald Trump may not meet all of our standards for careful thought and action, but he has been chosen to be our president under the law. It’s time to accept that he is going to be in charge and to expect that he will do some things well. Assume that some things will change for the better and some for the worse. Work hard for the changes you want most. March and protest if you must, but consider that it might be more valuable to focus on actions that will help achieve your desires.
Get over it. Roll up your sleeves and stop wringing your hands — as someone has pointed out, you can’t do both at the same time. Think. Do something constructive: join a movement to make your message clear. Give voice and, if you can, give volunteer or financial support to organizations that are working hard to protect the planet in big ways and small.
You are not alone in your frustration, but lashing out won’t help. Strategic action will.
Judith Eiseman, of Pelham, has been working on environmental political action and land conservation and protection locally and statewide for 35 years.