Politics -- A Big Downer

Dave stayed home sick from work yesterday -- he had a scratchy throat and felt exhausted. He didn't have a fever, though, and he plans to go in today. I bought some Covid tests just to make sure we're clear of that. So far I seem to be OK.

I don't know why I'm having so much trouble writing a blog post these days. Normally I just open up the computer and they flow, but for several days now it's felt like pulling teeth. I'm discouraged. I have mid-winter blues.

I'm trying not to be in too much of a funk about Donald Trump winning the Iowa caucuses. It's a tiny contest, a subset of a subset of American voters, and it was hardly a surprise. (Besides, historically, caucus winners often don't go on to become president.) Dave doesn't think Trump can prevail on the national stage, particularly if he's convicted in one of his many legal cases. I'm not so sure, but I'm also trying to be philosophical about it -- if this is who people want, for whatever reason, well, that's how Democracy works. At least this time there's no surprise. We all know who he is and what he's like as a leader. The voters, whatever I may think of their motives and choices, are going into this with their eyes open.

I think the more interesting question is why people might want someone like Trump. There's no question that many, many people are panicked about what they see as unchecked immigration at the southern border. (Even though it is controlled and there are deportations happening all the time.) It's the same issue that drove Brexit, more than any other. From what I can tell, Brexit hasn't done squat to help the UK control migration -- there are more small boats crossing the channel now than before -- and Trump won't be able to better control it in the USA, though there's no doubt he'll amp up the cruelty quotient.

There's also no question that some people want his blustering, assertive presence. I have no idea why Trump's personality would appeal to anyone -- if a more odious human being ever lived, I'm not sure who it is -- but some people think he projects strength. Many want unfettered access to guns -- any and every kind of gun, as many as possible. And overturning Roe v. Wade was a huge win for Trump among many Republicans.

I also think the Democrats are doing a terrible job at selling themselves. Why is so much of America buying the Republican narrative -- that Biden is too old (when he's only FOUR YEARS older than Trump), that he's demented, that the economy is a shambles, that cities are lawless, that Democrats are weaponizing justice and politically persecuting opponents? Why does this seem to be the perceived reality? Why isn't Biden visiting the border, talking about border security, visiting cities to talk about homelessness? Why is he taking the blame for the inaction of Congress? Why aren't we hearing him emphasizing the good? Where the heck is Kamala Harris?

So, anyway, all of that is rolling around in my mind. I'm nauseous just thinking about this election and it's still ten months away.

I don't think it will be doomsday if Trump wins. I think it will be four more years of awfulness, with him pardoning himself and maybe all the J6ers -- though I don't think he cares about them much -- and being a douchebag on the world stage and doing untold damage to all our global relationships. But I think Democracy will survive.

I did send in a form yesterday requesting an overseas ballot, so hopefully I've laid the groundwork for my own voting. This is the first time I've voted since switching my permanent residence from my stepmother's house to my brother's, so we'll see how that goes. I'm sure Florida under DeSantis will do everything possible to make voting harder.

Sigh. I will try to be more cheerful tomorrow, I promise.

(Photo: On my walk through South Kilburn this week.)