Thoughts Inspired by Impeachment Hearings

Dec 11 2019

As I write this the Congressional hearings on impeachment are taking place.  I have removed my hearing aids but can still hear “it wasn’t me” in the background.  What I have learned from the hearings is this:  The Republican leadership is evil, selfish, despicable and many times vicious.

Being born a Democrat I always trusted people.  As a kid, in my neighborhood, we trusted each other.  We covered each other’s back.  There was nothing more fun than running together.  Occasionally we had a fight.  It was fair and we were equally sized.  We quit fighting (usually at the first sight of blood … mine) before somebody lost … so both won.  In the service we were brothers.  I remember my first precinct caucus … we were family.  Belonging to a union was a combination of fighting for our rights and covering each other’s back so nobody got screwed.  Republicans were similar and many became union members.  They didn’t complain about dues.

Since Trump things have changed.  Republicans today don’t focus on what they can do for themselves or each other.  They sound now like they used to falsely describe Democrats.  Their battle cry is “what can Trump do for me?”.  Well Trump can take away their voting rights.  Trump can take away their union rights.  Oh- he already did that.  Well, how about the success of the family farm?  Or giving the middle-class tax breaks?  Nothing there either.  He did say he was fixing healthcare.  He fixed us alright.

Many businesses support the Republican agenda.   Think of all the businesses that pay dues to the Chamber of Commerce.  As reported in the Minneapolis Labor Review, the business sponsored Chamber of Commerce gave Trump a list of ten policy changes that would take away the rights of workers.  Trump signed all 10 in less than 3 years.  Why the “Chamber” would want to hurt the employees of their contributing members I don’t know.  Selfish I guess.

Certain religions believe there is good in all people.  I don’t believe that anymore.  I believe there is evil in Republican Party leadership.  Why would anyone despise the homeless?  How can one feel good about that?  Very few Republicans are of color.  Their base despises people of color.  There is a group in my hometown that wants to ban CNN at the High School.  They say it is a radical left-wing news source.  The Republican Party doesn’t believe there is good in anyone.

Question:  Who is the Republican Party?  They are a small group of wealthy despicable men who have convinced a larger number of voters that they (the base voters) matter.  Truth is their followers really don’t matter to them.  They are dupes. 

Cure:  Progressives and others who care about our Country should reach out to the Republican followers and tell them that they really matter.  It will be a hard slog but we can do it.  Perhaps if they know someone cares about them and their families, they will see the light.

Bruce Yernberg, Red Wing

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