Power Corrupts - Taken to a Whole New Level

 I am not a person who craves power.  I don’t understand why people go out of their way to gain power. 

Having influence over others is different and I will do things to nudge people to do things I believe are important.  If they choose not to do it, I am willing to move on. 

This has all changed. 

I want power.  I want to force people to do things.  I have no compunction about it. 

The power of the government is formidable and too many people who wield it do not give a damn about anything but holding on to power. 

The focus is most often on Trump.  That makes sense as he is the front man for the current perversion of government.  He is devoid of empathy, sympathy, humanity, and the ability to feel happiness.  Have you seen him smile or laugh in a way that reminded you of a person who was enjoying something?  I’d think if I was getting all these people to follow me like a deity, I’d enjoy it.  Many of those television preacher guys stealing from the poor to give to themselves seem to be having a ball. 

It is the other people using Trump for their own enhancement that scare me more. 

Mitch McConnell was doing this well before Trump came down the escalator to start the racist crusade to unite one set of people against the rest of us.  McConnell uses his power to block things he doesn’t like. Things that would help a great many people in the country.  He does all this after receiving 56.2% of the votes from 46.2% of the registered voters in 26^th most populous state in the country.  That is not a mandate from “we the people” to be the arbiter of what laws will even be discussed on the floor of the Senate.  He does not bother to serve the 806,787 people (0.3% of the voting age population of the United States) he duped into thinking he cares about them, much less the remaining 99.7%.  I take that back.  He serves others – the people who help him keep the power.

The people who believe the current iteration of the Republican Party are doing good things for the country astound me. 

There is another version of individual I do not understand.  I see people who want to point out the deficiencies of all other folks in the political sphere.  I know full well that the choices other than the Republicans are not perfect.  They are not without sizable flaws.  They are not devoid of bad actions or impure motivations.  However, many of these people have the concept that government is for the good of others. 

Those who point out “he voted for x” which was not a good thing means that he is not worthy of respect even if he did many other things that had merit.  She “said this” which was unfeeling or ignorant, so she is not worthy of respect even though she said many empathetic and insightful things. 

Thoughtful people should be willing to see the whole person and applaud the things which are admirable and hold them responsible for the things which are dishonorable. 

I am struggling mightily right now.  Nothing matters. 

Rules? No. 

Laws?  No. 

Ethics?  No. 

Morals? No.

Honor? No.

Decorum?  No. 

Science?  No.

Facts? No.

Fairness? No.

Kindness?  No.

The Republican base is on board.  Nearly everybody currently in a place of power within the party embrace it.  The press allows it, not to mention the political miasma pumped out by Fox News.  Nobody holds them responsible for mistakes, egregious or simple.  Trump is incapable of remorse as he cannot imagine being wrong.  The party has taken hypocrisy from a frequent occurrence to a way of life. Cruelty is strength and compassion is weakness. 

Here is the weirdest part of my current state of mind.  I am painfully sad.  I see people being horrible to each other.  I see people with a desire to be ignorant and enormously confident in acting on that ignorance.  I see all that, but I have been overwhelmed with gratitude at the same time. 

I am well aware I am incredibly lucky.  I am white.  I am a man. I have a job.  I have health insurance.  I have a secure place to live.  I have enough money to do what I need, many of the things I want, and help a few others along the way.  My children are safe and healthy as well as caring and resourceful.  My grandchildren are nurtured and full of wonder as well as kind and curious.  My job allows me to work and still be safe at home.  My co-workers are willing to listen and help.  My life partner is a perfect fit for me.  We take care of each other and her love feeds my soul. 

We are all going to need to take care of each other.  Our government has lost the desire to help and has enabled a sizable number of citizens, who may have never felt the actual teachings of Christ were something they wanted to deal with, to be out and proud about their intolerance, ignorance, and hate stoked anger.  

This is exhausting...