Saturday, October 22, 2016

Am I an Elite?


It could not be a more beautiful Autumn here. I am writing every day, benefiting from the ocean air and sunsets, and planning for a huge renovation of our kitchen and second floor. We will have to move out of our house for three months this winter and soley by luck, we've found an affordable two bedroom incredible place to stay, directly on the bay. I will watch the tides and the weather coming in and changing with the eagerness of a puppy.

I am also following the human and political drama of the American Presidential Election. I do not support the candidate who targets Muslims and Mexicans and speaks with uncensored vulgarity. Still, I try to dig into how he can possibly have the support of so many Americans. I know at least two dozen decent thoughtful people who agree with him and I find that boggling. 

The candidate likes to point fingers at the 'elite' who are rigging the election against him. "Washington insiders," "Not regular hard working Americans," "People who read the New York Times and watch CNN."

I don't live in Washington DC and I read and listen to all kinds of commentary and news, including the Times and CNN. Am I a regular hard working American? 

I think so. 

I'm a college graduate and I'm white and along with JB we have income and savings that got  us a second home for a time and allowed us to get our daughter through college. I don't worry about making rent and we find ways to travel as we wish. I'm older now so I work only part-time, on my own terms. I spent a recent five years in the middle of an impoverished community serving white, black, and Hispanic families. My Father was a mason who left school in sixth grade and my Mother was a seamstress who came to the USA speaking only French and dropped out of school even earlier. I grew up in a middle class industrial town in Massachusetts, my family owned the house my Father and uncle built themselves, I went to a state college, I started my own business, I'm quick to volunteer. 

And:

When Obama was elected to the Presidency, I accepted, with relief, that the melting pot of different nationalities and races and religions and sexual preferences won out: that the melting pot would finally take root. I knew there was an real and mostly white anger that the country had changed, that manufacturing and employer loyalty had fled, that people on entitlements seemed to have it easier. I knew that but I thought the majority of Americans had spoken democratically and decisively. 

I was so wrong. That anger simmered and Donald Trump has now given it a legitimacy that borders if not crosses race baiting and violence. It's US and THEM.

He blames the problems and the differences on the elites. 

Based on education and income, that must be me.

But that must be him too. And all of government. And all of our educational institutions. And all of Congress. And the Generals. It looks to me like it's everyone but the powerful mostly white males who like to rule with authority and are not interested in nuance or balance. And it's not the folks who feel like the wrong direction has ruined the country.

It's not the folks who have felt powerless, who long for job security and a time that won't be coming back again no matter who is President . This man says he will take the country back to the 1950's. Back to when jobs were permanent and unions had clout. Back to when black people were second class citizens in silence. Back to when the United States had no interest and no need to collaborate or cooperate with other countries. 

It is my hope that the damage already done settles down and enough people understand we have to heal. 

Am I an elite? I must be; I qualify. But I don't feel a whole lot different than most other people I meet and know. I'm likable and fair and it shows. 

My biggest fault is that no matter how hard I try I cannot understand how and why good people I know continue to support a man who is pretty much a pig.

love
kj


17 comments:

  1. A pig? Do you know that pigs are very intelligent animals? I would not compare Trump with a pig. The man is pure evil. With great disgust we see him act and say insane things on television and asking ourselves: are people in the USA completely mad to just consider him as president? It is scary, very scary to think that IF he will be president he can touch THE BUTTON. And with his 'temperament'........oh my god!
    Anyway: I realise that I am reading you about 8 years now, because I remember your joy when Mr. Obama was elected the first time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello dear wieneke, i agree. it is a crazy time in america. i am shocked by all of it.

      8 years. that sounds about right. one day i still hope we will share apple pie!

      love
      kj

      Delete
    2. My condoleances, Karen. What a disaster!

      Delete
  2. Trump doesn't want the presidency as much as to put his name on the White House (Trump House, Trump Manor) he will leave all governing decisions to Pence. THAT is where the walk back is, in Pence.

    As an older white male who broke his back to pay for educations for 3 kids, a house in the slums, and lost 35% of my pension and all of my earned medical benefits which now cost 1/3 of my pension--why the hell would I resent the unentitled, never worked, blew off their education, can't construct a simple sentence and resent not having a nice car, free house that government repairs and maintains but they own, free lunches for the kids in schools but still get food aid, and pay the same amount of taxes as Trump?

    Why wouldn't I resent as a class, being accused of being the root cause of every societal ill, from poverty to racism, to dead black men fighting police, police that now refuse to police the slums because they are being ambushed and murdered by living black men & others?

    OK it's all my fault--history doesn't bear any of it out but what the hell I had the privilege of a hard labor job I applied, tested for, and provided 10 years worth of background information for.

    I had enough guilt at 17 to enlist during a war that killed 58,000 but in the end ensured all of them who ran from the nation were given amnesty 20 years before those who were sprayed with chemicals by their own government were even acknowledged as being sick, and only now are combat veterans in their 70's being acknowledged for their standing guard over America while others spit at them and rioted in the streets.

    WHY in God's name would I be angry? Others of all kinds stand on my sore tired back and still say I am the devil. Fuck 'em.

    I will not vote for Trump because he and Pence would be bad for the nation in the way they would govern, I will not vote for a 3rd party candidate because that is Trump's only chance; siphoning off votes ala Bush in Florida.

    But on the other hand since you asked I will also not give blanket trust and compliance to Clinton until she earns it with proposed legislation or the congress unless it changes.

    Midwest liberalism is much much different than that brand anywhere East of us here. We are disaffected, we know it and we know who shit in our cereal and how.

    That's one thing we do not eat over here, shit.








    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mark, I thank you for writing this. It helps me so much to understand. We are in a fucking mess, worse than ever. And I'm sorry you got screwed

      Love
      kj

      Delete
  3. It's a scary world. I fear for our children and our children's children.

    I have no answers

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No answers but the questions at least challenge and highlight what and where is wrong. My rusty prayer machine is in fourth gear
      Love
      kj

      Delete
  4. I would comment on this but I made a commitment not to waste one more precious second of my life on Mr. Trump.

    I am, however, still thinking about a write-in vote. Do you have any plans for the next 4 years?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can't imagine the next four years, especially if trump becomes president. It should be incomprehensible and the fact that it isn't is scary and sad and humiliating. Still, I too believe human decency is alive and active
      Love
      kj

      Delete
  5. I do not like the man at all, he really upsets me. I don't like her either, - she "knows whats good for me better than I do". We are stuck. We got here because there is a lack of honest talk amongst politicians! They need to drop their handlers, drop the constant polling and speak honestly....but they won't. I'm one of those who is not voting "for" someone as much as voting "against". Yuck

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mim, I want to believe Clinton may be a good president. But all that baggage. And trump is morally horrible.
      Love
      kj

      Delete
  6. Hear, hear, KJ - so good to see you back in blogland. I am looking forward to the day I won't have to see that orange haired idiot every time I turn on the TV - goddess willing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Goddess willing for sure, Amanda !
      Love
      kj

      Delete
  7. I can't believe the world we have become.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Kj, good to see your writing...have missed you... Have a private question to ask you, and I can not find your email...please email me at ziggy101877101877@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. Kj, good to see your writing...have missed you... Have a private question to ask you, and I can not find your email...please email me at ziggy101877101877@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. I don't think it is possible for a truly decent and thoughtful person to agree with someone who is a hate-filled bully.

    ReplyDelete