Quote from "Destiny of the Republic" by Candace Millard

"They must not be knocked down with bludgeons. They must have their throats cut with a feather." James G. Blaine, Senator from Maine, on dealing with the Stalwarts.

A Year Since Donald Trump Won the Election (Allegedly)

Well, the world is still here (for now). Though it does feel like watching a film where all the plot strands are inexorably linking into a collective noose for our species.

That Russia's authoritarian leadership worked to assist Trump (our would-be autocrat) to win the presidency is clear. Indictments of Trump campaign personnel have been unsealed (Manafort, Gates, Papadopoulos). The Republican Party appears compromised, by also aligning with the Russians and/or condoning their attacks on our election(s).

The GOP continues to allow our citizens to be slaughtered by deranged gunmen, chooses to abdicate action to address climate change, and wants to deliver a substantial tax cut for the wealthiest Americans by, in part, denying health care coverage for millions of less financially fortunate Americans.

Trump's sole motivations apparently are to be loved and to further enrich himself. While mulishly determined, he seems pathetically inept. Through his clumsy efforts to assert economic nationalism as a means to American greatness, the rest of the world (and particularly the Chinese) senses a vacuum in global leadership.

Much has been written about the precipitous decline in American Exceptionalism. One has to wonder if Trump is the catalyst or just an inevitable symptom. The latter seems more likely, and, therefore, more pernicious. Fortunately, Trump has also served as a catalyst to action.

Many citizens (myself included) are paying more attention, and an increasing number are taking steps to stand against Trumpism. The effort is focused on the ballot box, and Democrats recently were elected to the governorships of New Jersey and Virginia. Can we maintain our democracy? We shall see.