We the People have voted, we have made our choices clear, and the path forward is constrained by all the built in checks and balances, and what appears to be a foot dragging fetish. The following is a piece from David Wayne Fitzsimmons, normally a political cartoonist published regularly in the Arizona Daily Star. It was forwarded to me from FB.
While this piece was published before Election Day a new administration will not be inaugurated for another two months so none of the concepts presented have been acted upon. However this exhortation offers food for thought, most especially the idea that democracy is not something that we have or can be given but is something that we do, with voting a small part of it. That said I cannot agree with all the language herein, in particular the parts implying American exceptionalism. Much damage has been done, both by a malignant demagogue and an apparently apathetic public. As well the wildfire virus is currently out of control. We have a long road ahead to regain our place as a partner among equals, much less to regain leadership. This essay asks some necessary though painful questions.
***************************************
“Will a virus kill our economy? Will our dollar lose its value? Will a civil war follow Tuesday? Will we tear each other apart? Or will we pull together, as we always have, to collectively rebuild our nation?
It is up to you, dear citizen.
I believe an American Renaissance is coming.
After the Black Death the survivors looked to the past for inspiration, beyond the recent Dark Ages, to classical Greece and Rome, which led to a flowering of enlightenment, the arts and sciences.
Out of the rubble an American Renaissance will emerge. And there will be a rubble of historic scale.
What is the future you want, citizen? A continuation of the Dark Ages or Renaissance?
A new President will have no choice but to call for the most radical sweeping legislation in the history of our Republic, a vast Marshall Plan for the rebuilding of our nation.
Are you in, dear citizen?
Will we cobble together a European-style blend of socialism and capitalism with healthcare a right, public service honorable, and sacrifice understood?
Will we reform our politics, creating a responsive accountable high tech transparent political system?
Will we have the will to strip money from our corrupt political system?
Your call, citizen.
Will we put country first and embrace the collective action our enormous challenges call for?
What say you, citizen?
Will we reward evidence-based policy makers and shun the donor-based policy makers that serve the narrow and forsake the Common Good?
Will rule by the obscenely rich end? Will you ask them to nourish the profoundly wounded Republic in which they flourished? Will Americans, in a protracted Depression, drive a tax collector’s spigot into the neck of every freeloading million, billion and zillionaire to lift up our nation, as all of us are asked to do?
Tell us what you think on Tuesday, citizen.
Will our nation put the vast jobless multitudes to work, leaning into restoring and building the next America, while an army of Americans will test and track this pandemic into containment?
It is up to you, dear exhausted citizen.
This can be the American Century, if you wish it so, citizen.
With innovation, science and tech know-how the United States of America will lead the way in combating climate change, bringing our people unparalleled prosperity.
Only if you wish it so.
Will we rebuild our nation’s bridges, roads, universities, and ports?
Will we upgrade public education and our entire digital infrastructure with the newest and best state of the art know-how that made us the envied and admired standard for the globe?
It is up to you, citizen.
From sea to rising sea we must combat climate change with the zeal and commitment of the America that liberated the world from Fascism in the second World War. We must build wind farms, solar farms, electric charging stationswith the patriotic zealwith which the Greatest Generation churned out the men, arms, bombers, and tanks that conquered an existential threat to our lives.
Our youth that vote on Tuesday will inherit this fight. They have no choice. They will be our next Greatest Generation.
Do you stand with them, citizen?
America surrendered to the threat of an invading virus because we chose to be led by a cabal of ignominious know-nothings who have poisoned truth with their malignant anti-science, anti-reason, and anti-education ethos.
Is that your America, citizen?
On Tuesday, it is up to you to deliver reactionary politics to history’s freezer.
Will America, reborn, seek truth, justice, and reconciliation?
Entirely up to you this Tuesday.
Will America, reborn, tear the cancer of racism from our hearts and finally embrace our diversity, and lift up our brothers and sisters?
Ball’s in your court.
Will America, reborn, fund public education at levels appropriate for a People willing to pay the price to make America a first rate world power, a light for the World? Will we reignite Liberty’s torch on election day? Will we choose the American Renaissance?
It is up to you, citizen.
