Is it perfectly clear that we live in another most dangerous moment in the country’s history? The most profound perils of our past were the bloody revolution against the Brits; being able to keep the country intact after the Civil War meat grinder was settled; helping defeat the fanatical fascist forces of World War Two; being a blink of an eye away from nuclear annihilation during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. Anything other than those four showdowns, all other frictions have amounted to brush fires.
Until the moment at hand. As we wind down 2024, each passing day is a slow-motion confrontation with very, very nefarious elements representing an intent to destroy lives, directly or indirectly. Right now, we are a month away from allowing a disgraceful, incompetent, divisive, destructive individual to “run” the country. For a second time!
This person is evidently above the law, having been convicted of 34 felonies and sexual assault, among other litigious, alleged transgressions. Some voted for this vile human being. They should not have had that opportunity, however.
How so?
In spite of his overt criminality — including an attempt to overthrow our government to stay in office in January of 2021 — the Justice Department and the courts failed to hold him to any account. How was he not behind bars years ago? And barred from ever being able to be a candidate again? Seriously? Why not?!
Millions of eligible voters did not bother to vote. The Guardian polled some of those no-shows. They stated they felt they were not represented by either major party choice. Many invoked the current administration’s aiding and abetting of a genocide taking place in the Middle East. But with no viable third party being allowed even a modicum of media coverage, it was a Hobson’s Choice, resulting in an incoming administration that represents a most clear and present danger to our already tattered and flawed democracy.
It wants to do away with public education; cut Medicare, Social Security and even veterans’ benefits. It wants to do away with the EPA, the NLRB, attack the LGBTQ community, immigrants, do away with reproductive health care and racial equity protections. It has no respect for a free press or freedom of speech. It wants to discard our system of three equal branches of government and make the executive all powerful. It’s called Project 2025.
It may as well be called Project 1984.
Our corrupt, incompetent, elitist two-party system brought this all about. It let a clear and present danger take control of our country and destroy lives in process. Why are we allowing this wrecking crew to move ahead? It is absurd.
Cannot we do better than this?
Joe Harrington is a resident of Oak Park.