Why Progressives are concerned . . .

A friend sent me this video yesterday. Until I watched it, I'd never heard of musician Radney Foster. Neither a name or a message I will forget again.

Those of us living in Wisconsin have experienced six years of all three branches of government being in the hands of one political party, Republicans in this case. We have seen our proud history of progressivism shredded so fast that I think it has many of us particularly fearful of what the results of the national election might bring.

We know how quickly and completely the world as one knows it can shift. Our state government seems to now function only to restrict our rights, denigrate and defund our great University, and sell off our public lands for profit rather than preserve them for the next generation.

This video is chilling, but what we've seen in our state has made me realize how fragile democracy is — and why thinking about the future this way may not be as paranoid as I once would have thought. 

 

Comments

[Lisa at Greenbow]

.....Goosebumps.....

[Linda from Each Little World]

​Lisa — Even though he does not mention Trump by name, it's pretty clear who he means. I was not a big fan of George W. Bush but at least he understood the rule of law and the Constitution. Trump thinks he is above it all and appears to be surrounding himself with yes men. A scary and dangerous combination.

[Loree / danger garden]

My husband thinks I am overreacting. He isn't hearing the reports of increased hate crimes. The PBS Newshour is talking about Trump's cabinet choices as though they are rational choices made by a deep-thinking man. This video is chilling, as are your words "We know how quickly and completely the world as one knows it can shift."

[Linda from Each Little World]

Loree — I am trying to read real news from trustworthy sources (NYTimes, Wash Post etc) and not pay too much attention to other sources. Having spent my career in newsrooms I tend to have a high opinion of journalists and editors, certainly at that level. I am trying not to be paranoid but I do think Trump is dangerous because he really isn't interested in governing. He seems to be a "my way or the highway" kind of guy which is not the best attitude for his new job. I am not ready to liken our situation to Germany in the 1930s. But at the same time I think how the people in every book or film about the Holocaust thought everything would be OK, it was just a temporary blip etc. I don't want to accept Trump or his statements or his appointees as normal in any way. Not too much we can do at the moment other than pay attention, understand our rights as a citizen and be ready to protest as necessary.

[Barbara H.]

I keep reminding myself that he's a salesman. He'll say whatever he thinks his current audience wants to hear.

[Linda from Each Little World]

Barbara - You've captured the situation perfectly.

[Elizabeth]

It has been a breathtaking half dozen years here in WI. I am punch drunk from the unrelenting assault on everything I hold dear. I used to think (seriously) of moving to a place that is more consistent with my world view, but this shift appears to be global. Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. That said, I am in hunker-down mode and hiding in place for the moment.

[Linda from Each Little World]

Elizabeth — ​I know how you feel. I think many of us in Wisconsin are exhausted and ready to hunker down for a while.

[Peter/Outlaw]

At a loss for words. An important message.

[hb]

I read this a few days ago, and tried to answer, and couldn't. I'm still floundering in despair.