There is so much we take for granted, including the notion that a country as strong as this will endure and thrive no matter what. That the roots are planted too deep to kill the proverbial tree of Democracy (U.S. style) and our status as the world’s leader. The fact is, history teaches us longer lasting empires than our own have failed. NOTHING is guaranteed. It’s also a fact that not just England but other expected the newly Independent Unites States to fail and in short order. It almost did. The Articles of Confederation left us as a weak nation, more of a collection of states that didn’t concern themselves much with the country as a whole. The Federalists (NOT to be confused with the modern Federalist Society mind you!) pushed hard for and got a Constitutional Convention.
The debate in Philadelphia was intense, with those advocating for a strong central government and those wanting a federation of states more like the Articles of Confederation duking it out. “States Rights” vs. Central Government. The debates resulted in some compromises but punted on some issues and the debate continues to this day. The thing is, even though our new Constitution established a reasonably strong central government, a Republic and one base as John Adams put it “Of Laws, not men” it was no sure thing. Here’s a nice write-up from The Conversation on why Franklin, Washington, and even Lincoln were uncertain the ‘American Experiment’ would survive. In the first couple of decades the country still was unsure of its footing and it took the War of 1812, and again defeating the British for us to develop a strong national identity. We’ve certainly had our flaws from the very beginning as well as huge ups and downs. I for one, and I’ll bet you too would surely say we are in a DOWN cycle. Hell, since 2016 it feels like we’re a yo-yo.
Still, while some of our founders spoke of our new country in hopeful terms (see this letter from George Washington) using the expression Great Experiment most foreign countries used the term more often as an insult. Even within the U.S. some of those who made out well under both British rule and then the Articles of Confederation thought the whole “experiment” was doomed to failure. And we HAVE had times where our grand experiment in self-government has come close to failing. One can credibly argue we are at such a point again. I sure as hell think so.
So far, even in the darkest of times we’ve managed to work our way through. Knowing we’ve done it before is why we HAVE to keep faith we can do so yet again. However it wasn’t easy before and it won’t be any easier this time. I’m reminded of that scene near the end of the movie The American President when the fictional President played by Michael Douglas makes a surprise appearance in the WH press room and tees off on the WH Press Corps. Which as usual had been harping on all the wrong stuff. He says (Paraphrasing) America isn’t easy. America is advanced citizenship and you’ve got to want it bad because it’s going to put up a fight.
Well, the the gantlet has been thrown down and we are split pretty much down the middle. Trumpism (and worship) on one side and Democracy and freedom on the other. For the next two years the Trumpy side has a VERY slight advantage in their control of the government. It helps they are already at war with each other but rest assured there will be all too many times they set their own squabbling aside to stick it to the rest of us.
However the LAST thing we should do is just roll over for them. Or hide in the corner curled up in a ball and beg ‘please don’t hurt me – at least too much.’Â No, what they DON’T expect is for US to fight back. And fight back HARD. Punch THEM in the f**king nose any chance we get. Either by using the rules of how the two chambers of Congress work, or on social media (and while Trumpy is the thinnest skinned of all he’s far from the only one who get butt-hurt easily) to forcing our way onto news shows. And punching back on the hosts of those shows who try to “both sider’ things or skew them. Or just plain out get facts WRONG. Call them out and insult them for not being professional, especially in live interviews!
Blogs like this are important too. Make your voices HEARD. Offer your comments. Hell, if you think you can write your own pieces let us know. I’ll be happy to take a look and I know Ursula would too. For now however I’ve spent the evening thinking back to those who over two hundred years ago used the term ‘America, the Great (or grand) Experiment’ with derision. They are smiling in their graves these days. I for one want to open up their caskets and dump a load from Trump’s fake gold toilet on their smug faces! I want you to adopt the same attitude.
I will carve out as much time as I can in the next few days to honor the life of Jimmy Carter and so should you. However, as part of that resolve to make a big part of honoring him into a pledge to fight like hell. Get involved. Even the smallest bit helps. This Great/Grand Experiment of ours is WORTH SAVING.
****************************
And now, a special message from our fearless leader, who had made this blog possible:
Friends, I am forced to self-promote and ask you for money. We had a bad year compared with 2023 and the end of the year has been catastrophic. Traffic died on November 5. We are a small blog and completely self-supporting by ad revenue, donations, and subscriptions. If you can afford a monthly subscription that would help us out. If you can make a small donation, likewise. Our only goal is to stay in business and give you the best content we can generate. Thank you. Ursula
I want to write like this when I grow up. SERIOUSLY.
Being a trained Marine never fades completely does it? Since 99% avoided military service, their heads are movie reels. Even when Spielberg makes it seem realistic, the realities our troops faced in Europe and the Pacific are even beyond the cushy enlisted time I was in the Navy, and I did spend two months with a troop 24/7, and later served on a destroyer tender, crawling down a metal hole to the cell I slept in with several others. That being said…if people REALLY studied and thought about all those who sacrificed EVERYTHING, and death was probably wished for by some, this nazi would have been in jail years ago. I’m ashamed of my country…pure and simple, and I’m still working through how the hell could 78 million of us be either deluded, or indifferent. Sacrilege. No matter as far as I’m concerned. Like Jim Croce,(RIP), said in a song: they can change their minds but they can’t change me. I’ve been an educated rebel all my life from having to deal with my father, who was a Korean war vet, 17 years in the Air Force, so giving up isn’t in my DNA. Clearly not part of the marine training either. I remember Bill Walton being interviewed on 30/30 after enduring 30+ orthopedic surgeries on his feet, and a spinal surgery that had suicide cross his mind. The interviewer asked him: Bill when did you know it was over? Bill smiled his goofy smile and said: it’s not over. it’s never over. the fight continues. Booyah!