Know Where You Stand

Check out this great article, the best summary and explanation I've seen of how our country got to this deplorable place, where we are today, with the inauguration of a man who is unworthy in every way to hold the office of president.

The author goes all the way back to the Republicans' so-called Southern strategy, which spoke to the racism of white folks and was a response to the social unrest of the 1960's, which was itself a cry for justice for all people of the U.S. and defined the core values of the Democratic Party.

And then he gets to the present day, the situation we're in because those same Republicans who have supported racism and elitism and wealthy people for-almost-ever, have broken all the rules of a civil government in order to elect a lying, misogynistic, clown.

And this section, showing exactly where we stand now that this creature is in office:

Transition to the Presidency

• On December 29, 2016, US intelligence reports that Russian security services, directed by Putin, had stolen emails and other information on the computers of the Democratic National Committee, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Clinton's campaign staff and equivalent Republican organizations . . . but sent only the Democratic information to WikiLeaks in order to support Donald Trump. Top Russian officials celebrate Trump's win. A related report from the Director of National Intelligence (start on p. 7 for the jaw-dropping summary) states that "Russian intelligence obtained and maintained access to elements of multiple US state or local electoral boards," and that Putin - emboldened by his success in getting his chosen candidate elected - intends to continue interfering with American elections.
   
• On the day that Obama imposes new sanctions on Russia for invading the US election, Trump's incoming National Security Advisor, Michael Flynn, has five phone calls with the Russian ambassador. Trump quickly takes action to gut US intelligence gathering capacities (many aimed at Russia). He wants to break up the European Union, a strong US ally and powerful economic and political force against Russia, and he considers NATO to be "obsolete."
   
• After promising to "drain the swamp," Trump's cabinet picks are mostly billionaires or millionaires, with strong ties to Wall Street, who try to bypass standard conflict-of-interest reviews. Republican Representatives quickly strip ethics oversight from Congress but relent after public outcry. In business with many oligarchs and foreign governments, with conflicts of interest that threaten national security, Trump won't release his financial records and - as the top ethics lawyer for the Bush administration put it - won't choose between being a landlord or the President.
   
• Having received 46.1% of the vote, Trump's approval ratings drop during the transition to 40%, contrasted to Bush's 61% and Obama's 83% when they entered office. 

So, yeah, I'm marching. And calling my senators and representatives. And more. And will keep doing it. Now is not the time to stop paying attention. Sure, I didn't watch any of the inauguration stuff today, and won't. But I'm paying attention. And I hope all of you are, too.

(Thanks to Neva for sending me this link!)