I’m an old guy. (I only mention it in case that’s not already obvious, what with my focus on honor and all.) So yeah, freakishly old.
Once I got past your childhood, and than young-adult-hood, I found myself looking for other grownups. Maybe it was for companionship, or just to commiserate. Modern culture seems to be aimed to other children, and I frequently feel like I’ve been left behind. And without clear examples, there isn’t much to emulate.
Which makes today’s political environment doubly disappointing. The Republicans, of course, still act like the world’s most insecure teen boys. Horribly and miserably unsure of their manhood, they pump their chests and posture as their substitute for clear thinking. National defense? Mine’s bigger than yours! Women’s rights? Not a chance. Watch them squirm and change the topic when you mention menstruation. Bring up anything about LGBTQ stuff. Talk about insecure. And the way they cling to their guns is obvious and creepy.
Then I get to watch the Democrats pretend to be Mom, all serious and factual. It almost works, but at each Republican taunt, instead of rolling their eyes and pushing back — this junk is so obvious! — Democrats quiver and shake, then discard whatever part of themselves they felt was exposed. The school bully calls them ‘liberal’ and they throw the word away like it was wrong! The bully says they’re ‘tax and spend’, and Democrats fall over each other to drop all their goals for the republic. It’s automatic. What are they for? Whatever that bully didn’t taunt them about.
Democrats aren’t as insecure as Republicans — I can’t see how anyone could be — but in the end, both parties act like colicky toddlers.
Bernie said it best: Democrats lost the Senate, the House, and the Presidency, most state legislatures, and how many state governors? Democrats shrug. They swore they’re the working class party, and Republicans have clearly demonstrated they’ll screw common people left and right. And despite that, most people still don’t even bother to even show up at elections. Democrats bitch about turnout, but even after losing every election on the horizon, they still don’t suggest any changes.
That’s losing so badly it’s not worth counting. And, somehow, it still isn’t enough to make the Democrats wake up.
This isn’t my party. My party has goals. This slate of milk toast mouth-breathers can’t clearly tell me what they’re for.
Republicans are telling me what things they’re for all the time. And even though I know they’re lying through their teeth, it still feels better than the Democrats. Make America Great Again! It’s a pernicious lie at every level, and it still works, because it’s the only message out there. What do Democrats have? (Besides, “We’re not Republicans!” I mean.) Zippo.
Neither of these clown shows are my party. Is there a party for grownups somewhere I missed?
