Remember the lesson of the cooked frog, of how it would stay in the water until killed if the water was heated up slowly enough? If unwanted change comes slowly, we are less likely to notice and react. If it comes more quickly, we might do something about it. And revolt.
It’s hard for many of us to comprehend the political situation in the U.S. How can Trump have so many loyal supporters when he’s obviously so terrible in so many ways? It’s a challenge for us to see the bigger picture because the focus is always on Trump. That’s what he wants and what the News gives us. But Trump is a symptom, not the cause. Few are looking beyond the obvious.
What we are seeing is a revolt in the largest sense. The institutions of democracy have failed, and people are turning toward someone who is obviously in revolt himself. Things have deteriorated just too quickly and drastically for many people to be content with just swimming around. They’re jumping out of the water in anger and frustration.
Think about it. I was able to work my way through university with no outside help and no student loans. There were no such things back then. No need. Tuition in most schools were next to nothing. For me, parking and tuition was $60.00 per term. When I had scarlet fever, our doctor came and saw me at home. My parents remembered when there were people living in tents, but way back in the depression. Certainly, there were ‘the wealthy’, but they paid taxes. Roads and schools were well funded. The future was bright. Nobody was starving. Soup kitchens were a memory. People were hopeful, and with good reason. It was assumed, even with the racism and sexism of the time, we were all in this together. That was what democracy was all about. The system was never perfect, and politicians often had to be ‘tuned up’, but it worked. We had confidence in democracy.
Not so much, today. Every year, people have less confidence in governments of all levels.
There’s no need to go into the many problems of today, many of which were simply not on the radar in my childhood. My point is, there is an increasing number of people that feel, with good reason, that they have been betrayed. Democracy itself has been co-opted by the wealthy to such an extent that many of the working class have no reason to have confidence in the system that gives ever increasing advantage to those who are rich enough to self-incorporate? Where is there any debate over real change in our tax laws? Why should secretaries support the common good more than their CEOs? Why not vote for Trump or someone of his ilk? What do they have to lose?
Unless drastic actions are taken, this is just the beginning of something very ugly. Fundamental changes to taxation and empowerment must be implemented. There is no reason education and health can’t be free. We simply must treat and care for each other more and better than we do our pets. Our wealth must be shared more equitably. More of us must feel like we are truly in a ‘common good’ if we are to hold together.
Revolution is part of the Yankee tradition. Not so much here in Canada. But we usually follow. So far, the revolt has been kept within the political system. If we don’t realize that this is only the tip of the iceberg, we’ll soon run our whole political and cultural ship into it.
Times are a-changin’. The frogs are becoming aware.
Anthony. Feeling the heat with others and beginning to understand the source.
