By, By Miss American Pie, Give Me a Sigh As You Say Goodby, 31
Exploding Heads
Yeah, it’s probably time to take a short break from the unbearable madness of being that hovers over this warming, disturbed planet. Sure, we’re burning fewer witches at the stake these days, bear baiting doesn’t seem to be as popular as it once was and a slightly larger percentage of humans know that the earth revolves around the sun—and which is not held up by gigantic turtles, thank goodness.
But we’re still knee deep in general stupidity, magical thinking and tribal hysteria in 2022. And the United States is right in the middle of this mindlessness. I’m hoping the Ukrainians can stick it to Putin before the Republican cult in America likely takes control of Congress and the nation of Gilead gets underway.
Speaking of Gilead, if you get a chance to hear Leslie Rutledge, the Attorney General of Arkansas, utter words about the “sanctity” of life, you’re in for a treat. She’s the perfect stand in for Aunt Lydia the religious zealot and sadist from The Handmaid’s Tale. Praise be.
A good article in the NYT discusses the actual history of abortion in the U.S. Samuel Alito, the resident theocrat and Supreme Court Justice, has gotten the ball rolling. Of course the Supreme Court is very much a political institution.
The Supreme Court's Legitimacy
I know this is a surprise to some. Republican senator Susan Collins from Maine (supposedly moderate and sane), who feigns surprise with Alito’s opinion, is either a fool or just another run-of-the-mill political liar. Not much of a choice either way. See:
History of Abortion in America
Oh if George Carlin were only around to offer some perspective. But the next best thing is to watch what he once said about the American theocracy. See:
Climbing Off is Harder Than You Think
Culture wars always precede shooting wars. See:
How the Culture Wars Could End Democracy
The big problem: “On political matters, one can compromise, on matters of ultimate moral truth, one cannot.”
The Death of Roe is Going to Tear America Apart
Best to put a sign on the door, GONE FISHING … which I did a lot of with my father long ago in another time and place, but I don’t want to kill any animal for fun anymore. I want to help save them now if I can—save them from us mostly.
No, it’s not guaranteed that it’s all going to fall apart. But it certainly could. Here in America, at this very moment, compromise, thoughtful debate and a belief in verifiable facts seems increasingly unlikely, but not impossible.
I don’t think we remotely understand in the United States how bad it could get if we break apart. Maybe the U.S. Civil War gives us a hazy, abstract indication but I don’t believe most of us can grasp how terrible the consequences could end up.
No we’re not going to devolve into happy, healthy and prosperous city states led by benevolent libertarians with deep pockets. For the delusional on the Right there is not going to be some “white nationalist” Christian theocracy, a lobotomized Ozzie and Harriet land that looks like a movie set out of the 1950s or the 1850s for that matter.
Keep in mind that a genuine authoritarian movement (at best) or a real fascist movement (at worst) is actually trying to form and take shape in the United States. We’ve had attempts of one kind or another in our past but this current one is ideological, certainly well funded and determined to get rid of democratic government in this country, period. The mob is of course considered a useful prop for the time being.
So we better, individually and collectively decide, at least those of us that have no intention of living in some American dark age or making the best of it in a cave, how we’re going to stand up for what’s coming and push back. See you in two weeks, May 22, 2022 AD.