It is so ironic. The America we've always known was a great country. It wasn't always great. It certainly didn't become great overnight. No, it was a process. Our country struggled over the years with unjust wars, hatred and prejudice. Greatness grew from overcoming so many of these challenges. Good always seemed to triumph over evil, right over wrong. Maybe not at first, but eventually it did. No, we never achieved perfection. It was always a work in progress. Many great people stood on principle to defend our American values, defend what is right, and defend us from great peril. There has always been a majority of American's that have always prevailed in doing the right thing, at the right time. That is; up until now.
A look back at history will reveal that there have always been those among us that created division resulting from prejudice and fear. They didn't always set out to divide us, but until we overcame that prejudice and fear, we were divided. Fortunately, they never fully controlled our government. U.S. Senator Joe McCarthy was fearful of communism overtaking our country after WWII. It took a great American (Joseph Welch) standing up to him to make a difference. It then took many great American politicians to right the ship and send our country back on the right track. Populism too, isn't a new phenomenon in this country. It began here in 1892 with the People's Party. It reared its ugly head again in the 1930's after the Great Depression. Since then, there have been frequent hints of populism in our politics when there is the perception that we may be suffering as a result of an unfair outside influence. These are examples that were clearly rooted in fear and vigorously pursued with an over abundance of righteousness. However, populism has always proven to be potentially damaging to our democracy. Hence, our country has eventually always moved in the opposite direction.
So yes, we have struggled at times to overcome fear and anger to become a great country. We have always had great American heroes that have often rescued us from ourselves. It is unfortunate that we now find ourselves in a place we have never been in the past. We not only find ourselves with a leader that is full of prejudice and hatred, but also a majority in both the house and senate that will support him. The Republican Party has become the Populist Party of the twenty-first century. They have complete control of our government. They support the hatred, the prejudice and the privileged class in our country. They also support the attacks to discredit the one remaining force that we have in maintaining our democracy; the Free Press.
Our country was no longer great; soon after the man that claimed he would make our country great again, took office. It is so ironic. He never understood what made us great in the first place. As he and the Republican Party become more successful in destroying the credibility of our free press, we'll soon join other failed governments such as Russia. When fake news replaces all of the real truth across our country, you will have succeeded. As Trump gets his way, we'll have the authoritarian leader that you want. You'll have your way. However, be assured that he will gradually consolidate his power. Without democratic constraints that were built-in, he will be free to do so. You aren't worried, because he is your man. Thing is; many of you that voted for him will eventually begin to question your judgment as you learn that things are not going the way that you envisioned. You eventually realize that your leader has become interested in only fulfilling the promises that benefit him and not you. When the economy begins to deteriorate and you find yourself getting the short end of the stick, you begin to worry. The rallies that were once a fun-filled, cheerful spectacle no longer hold the allure they once did. Complaints and protests gradually become unlawful events that can land you in jail, or worse. And when a new leader eventually takes the place of Trump, you don't understand why you no longer have any say in who replaces him. What you and your party once saw as winning has now been replaced by a privileged few doing the winning. They are now making the decisions that they see as winning without regard for your interests. You have served your purpose. You have given away your freedom. Your government is now moving-on, without you. They hold the riches (and the power). You hold nothing.
This is how all the aggrieved working class Republicans will fare under the new system of government that was ushered-in by the undermining of democracy. If you doubt it, just study a little history. Adolph Hitler was an authoritarian populist leader. You should know how that ended. Oh wait, that is fake news, isn't it?