What Will Trump Have to Do to Be Impeached?
From Barry Wadsworth
I often wonder how people in the Trump Administration could not see that what they are doing is straight up fascism.
I don’t know if this has anything to do with it, but I was born in 1957, just 12 years after World War II ended. Growing up in the 60’s, I was aware of how bad that war was in a more direct way than Steven Miller (born in ’85), Tulsi Gabbard (born in ’81), Kristi Noem (born in ’71) and even Pam Bondi (born in ’65). I was also more directly aware of how our government could make a bad turn, entering into the Vietnam War, the protests it engendered, Kent State shootings, etc. At the very least, they lack the direct perspective of how bad things can get that people my age and older have.
Donald Trump was a draft dodger and well insulated from all of that. If anything, he has a deep admiration for strong men that thrive on adulation and coercion. He came to power as a source of entertainment under the ruse of being a shrewd, successful businessman. Art of the Deal and all of that. It was a con job from the beginning.
But, I’m at a lost to explain why we still have 38% in this country that support him and why the Republicans in Congress still are in lock-step with the Administration. How do they think all this is making America great? How is entering into a new age of imperialism good for the world? America First policies are so extremely short-sighted. We’ve ceded all moral ground to Russia and have largely become another thug state like them. And this, as an example for the rest of the world. How is this going to make things great? Great for who?
I grew up thinking things in the world would just continue to get better. Yes, I read the Alvin Toffler books back in the 70’s and 80’s and was aware that climate change could bring about mass migrations and potential dystopia. But, I really thought we would be able to organize internationally and overcome all such issues. I thought people would be more tolerant, more egalitarian, more kind, more intelligent.
As a meditator since the 70’s, I thought we would even be entering into an age of enlightenment! I guess that is what is most shocking to me–how apparently wrong I was. Was I far too optimistic and idealistic? I just wasn’t prepared for “the real world” of people like Steven Miller coming into power.
At almost 69 years old, I feel so bad for those younger than me that will live through what will almost certainly be some very dark times. Did they never have idealistic vision of how things could be? Or are they just too mesmerized by Tik-Tok to care?
How I long for the optimistic vision of the future I once had. Good people want to leave the world better than they found it. I feel my generation has failed and it is profoundly disappointing.
Still, I wonder. What will Trump have to do to convince Republicans in Congress that he needs to be impeached and constrain JD Vance? Surely, they will eventually see this must happen? Or am I still as naive as ever?
