What Has Happened to My Country?

posted in: public affairs 18

Call me naïve, but I am stunned that a majority of voting Americans would willingly put a pathological serial liar, a bald-faced racist and misogynist, a convicted felon, a salad shooter of hatred and fear—and a violent insurrectionist—back into the White House. This man tried to overthrow the government, not four years ago! Words fail. But this much is clear: the next four years are going to be hard times for truth, for science, for women’s rights, for the climate, for compassion for our fellow humans. Spirits must be pretty low in the Ukraine right now; Vladimir Putin is surely celebrating; our international allies must be downing antacids at a feverish rate.

I can find nothing good to say about this, only that those who want a different vision of the world must become more vigilant than ever. I plan to have a strong drink or two tonight. Then start mentally regrouping tomorrow.

I always thought that The Twilight Zone was fiction. Now I’m not so sure. I think that might be where we’re living.

Follow Jeffrey A. Carver:
Latest posts from

18 Responses

  1. Theodore V Davis
    |

    Sounds like you just stumbled into some good story ideas for the last book of your Chaos series. In your “Reefs of Time” and “Crucible of Time,” the ruling circles messing with Bandicut and company seem to have come right out of this sort of thing. Have your drink, if you must, then dissect today’s news for your last Chaos book.

    • Jeffrey A. Carver
      |

      Right you are. In fact, I am doing that. A writer friend and I were just discussing how each one of us is currently writing a Trump-like character. In my case, I wasn’t thinking about it when I started. I just realized later what I was doing.

  2. Trent P
    |

    I feel the same. It’s beyond my comprehension.

  3. Frances Giuffre
    |

    You said it, Jeff. Selfish, misogynist people voted for this piece of crap because their gas prices are too high and they don’t want a woman as President. What a sad state our country is in.

    • Steve
      |

      So…Trump supporters are garbage huh? And misogynists TOO? What qualifications and accomplishments does Harris have to be President Of The Untied States OF America and Commander In Chief? Not one single vote in the Primary…previously soundly rejected as Presidential candidate.

      I think we should all try to be polite and civil with each other through this.

      • Jeffrey A. Carver
        |

        “I think we should all try to be polite and civil with each other through this.”

        Agreed.

        That said, it’s worth pointing out that Trump himself is certainly a misogynist. I happen to know that Fran (the commenter) is not someone generally given to running people down, so maybe we can forgive an explosion of frustration. I doubt she really meant that all T supporters are misogynists, but rather conflated them with their candidate.

        But yes, to your comment above.

  4. Steve
    |

    A couple questions for you:
    1) What has happened in the last four years that has made “your country” and the world better?
    2) What qualifications does Harris possess that makes her fit for President of The United States and Commander In Chief?

    • Jeffrey A. Carver
      |

      1. The economy has vastly improved. Yes, food prices are up, but gas prices are down. Unemployment is down. Inflation is down. We have had a government that respects people rather than demeans them. Remarkable aid following hurricanes and other disasters. Environmental protections restored, and efforts toward lessening global warming finally becoming serious. Ukraine has held off Russia far longer than anyone imagined possible, partly with our aid. Respect for the U.S. restored among international allies, to whom Trump was a loose cannon and unreliable friend. Is the world still a mess? Obviously. There’s no magic wand for that.
      2. She’s honest, decent, and she respects other people. Those attributes alone put her head and shoulders above DT. She also has considerable foreign affairs experience. That’s enough for me, when you consider the alternative. Edit: Oh, also she has never, to my knowledge, tried to overthrow the government with a violent insurrection.
      3. You really want to quibble with my calling the U.S. “my country”? If you’re a U.S. citizen, then it’s “your country,” also. You know:
      “This land is your land
      This land is my land
      From California
      To the New York islands…”

      • Steve
        |

        Thank you Mr. Carver for your reply. It’s amazing…that I disagree with almost everything you say. Both mildly amusing and odd, eh?
        1) The economy improved? From COVID? And what policies did the administration act on to make it so? And do keep in mind, the economy (and job) numbers always get “adjusted” later, for some reason. Inflation is down? Again…from where? record highs? The current President respects people and doesn’t demean them? Like when he said “If you have a problem voting for me then you ain’t black”? And calling half of America “trash”? Insulting and demeaning. Environmental protections restored? Yes…chokingly so for many American citizens! Efforts to combat global warming? How? By government dictatorship for e-vehicles? That are HARDLY carbon-emission free…not to mention the infrastructure strains and battery pollution. Biden is funding BOTH sides of the Russia Ukraine War…Ukraine weapons and opening Putin’s oil pipeline (funding his war). Biden has TWO devastating wars on his watch and China readying themselves, which Biden has completely ignored. Not to mention N. Korea firing unprecedented missiles. The global stage is a complete mess under Biden’s care. If by “loose canon and unreliable friend” you mean making nations pay their fair share in the U.N? Okay.
        2) Harris is “honest and decent”? She didn’t answer ANY tough questions leading up to the votes, how can you tell? And it’s a COMPLETE lie Trump created the “insurrection”…which was HARDLY what an insurrection really is. Trump said “peaceably and patriotically make your voices heard”. Pelosi admitted in her daughters film it was her job to secure the building.
        3) Yes…this is indeed OUR country…and both you and me will benefit by Trump’s success. We should unite in this regard. I am sure you had little concern for “the other side” when Biden was elected.

        Thank you very much for your time. Let’s pray and/or hope…for the best.

        • Jeffrey A. Carver
          |

          Steve, I do not know how you can say this: “it’s a COMPLETE lie Trump created the “insurrection.” He absolutely created the insurrection–first, by lying loudly for two months about how the election was a steal, by refusing to engage in an orderly transfer of power, and finally by inciting a crowd to storm the Capitol to stop certification of the election. And then watching it on TV and not lifting a finger to stop it. He tried outright to overthrow the electoral process. Compare that to Harris’s reaction.

          “I am sure you had little concern for “the other side” when Biden was elected.”
          Why do you say that? Do you know what my concerns were? It’s false; I was/am very much concerned about the overall well-being of our nation and its people. Then, and now.

          Okay, I’m not going to turn this into a full-blown debate. I posted my reaction to the election, and you are all free to agree or disagree. I thank you for the politeness of your comments, but I’m calling the discussion. Pray for the best? On that we agree.

          • Steve
            |

            Hello Mr. Carver. I know you consider this subject “closed”. But I wanted to sincerely consider your reply, been a couple weeks now…and offer a short reply. What you saw on Jan 6 was most assuredly NOT an “insurrection”. No arms…no intent to overthrow the US government. One person killed on that day a Trump supporting female veteran. The media didn’t make HER a saint. Consider the lies told about Trump and in general: in 2016…Colluded with Russia (it was Hillary that did that with Steele dossier). Hunter’s laptop was Russian disinformation (It wasn’t, the 52 DoJ agents admitted they lied). In 2020 Trump colluded with Russia to effect the election (that was DoJ telling Facebook/Zuckerberg to censor information that would favor Biden…they admit it.) . “No recession” they said. “Afghanistan was a complete success” they said(It was a god awful MESS). Trump said “veterans were losers and suckers”. Straight up lie and i will save you the work to look it up:
            John Bolton, former National Security Advisor: “I didn’t hear either of those comments or anything even resembling them. I was there at the point in time that morning when it was decided that he would not go Aisne-Marne cemetery. He decided not to do it because of John Kelly’s recommendation. It was entirely a weather-related decision, and I thought the proper thing to do.”.
            The point being the leftist media in bed with Democrat politicians made up SO MANY LIES…a TRUE free thinking sincere person should use great caution…not just follow along with what corporate mainstream media says about their political opponent. (they should just be reporting news not swaying public opinion to THEIR side).

            Thank you for looking if you did. America will survive. OUR country will survive, The pendulum swings back and forth for the greater good.

  5. Huggybear11
    |

    Well, I’m not in either camp, just a citizen of the USA, veteran, retired, and Tired of all the “my side is great, yours sucks!” BS…what is done is done, move on.
    On that note, when will the final book for the CC series be available? Thanks!

    • Jeffrey A. Carver
      |

      Rest assured, I will let folks know about the final CC book as soon as there’s something to say. I’m working on it, but it’s coming very slowly. Thanks for your patience.

      • Huggybear11
        |

        Thank You! Keep up the good works!!!

  6. Edward Decker
    |

    Mr. Carver,
    It’s good to see you responding decently to readers with views different than yours, and that is commendable. Though I am somewhat to the right of your position, it is gratifying to read your mostly irenic reactions to them, and to some degree you would probably be a critic of some of my thinking on the subject.
    However I believe it should be said that our country is in desperate need of the sort of peaceful responses that for the most part you made here–if America needs anything, it needs dialog with those we disagree with. Even respect–if grudging–should be offered to others in a genuine desire to understand more than to oppose.

    We need dialog with those we disagree with. It’s actually possible to be friends with those of even radically different positions, despite the current desire on either side to forcefully shut down opposition to one’s favored views.

    I am praying for us all to be more like the founding fathers, who in their time (with accompanying flaws of that time\culture) had their own imperfect but mostly decent, upright views but who strongly differed from the views of their comrades.

    You and I are close to the same age, and I empathize with your physical ailments and am praying that your health concerns markedly improve.

  7. Addison Geek
    |

    As a registered Republican, I found the party’s choice of a candidate appalling. Having watched Jimmy Kimmel’s video, I found many of the gaffes, innuendoes, lies, and prevarications disturbing. I didn’t like him the first time, and I have not changed my opinion. It’s too bad Ms. Harris couldn’t distance herself from the current administration more, although I was willing to give her a chance. You have to wonder whether other world leaders will privately call him “President Chump”.

    • Steve
      |

      Oh Addison…you get your political news from…Jimmy Kimmel? With all due respect and civility….We really should not allow you to vote. Regarding Harris…if only she would ANSWER the freaking questions. America had enough of the “hate trump” solutions she gave.

  8. Jeffrey A. Carver
    |

    For some reason, the interface does not want to allow me a direct reply to Steve’s latest comment, so I’ll put it here, briefly. Steve, you are continuing to repeat the disinformation of the Trumpist following, and I am asking you politely to please stop. Jan. 6 was most assuredly an insurrection, with armed rioters who invaded the Capitol and attempted to overthrow a lawful election. A coup by any other name. A number of people died as a direct result, including officers who defended the building against the attack. Fomented by a president who refused to accept that he’d lost the election.

    Since this last election, Trump has announced a bevy of utterly unqualified people to serve in his Cabinet. We can hope for the best, but we need to prepare for the worst. This man is the biggest threat to the democracy since the Civil War.

    Okay, I’ve stated my opinion, which I believe is based on fact, not propaganda. If you want to dispute it, please do so elsewhere. This blog post is closed on the subject.

Comments are closed.