This is a Tough One to Write
What The National Election Says About Us
As a general guideline, I have always thought one should look at three primary things in choosing a president. One, character. Two, the ability to lead and get things done. Three, policies and positions.
In all candor, we generally have not had to worry too much about the first factor; even people we disagree with can be fudged to doing the best they can for the country, in their own way.
The second factor can be harder to judge with a new candidate, but there are usually at least pretty good clues upon which to base an assessment.
And so, it most often comes down to policies and political philosophy. One can lose an election to the opposite set of policies, but that is how democracy generally works. Parties lose, spend some time in the wilderness, and get back on top at some point.
But this time, it is fundamentally different. Trump is a man utterly without values or character. On the second factor, his previous administration was a cesspool of incompetence and corruption. This time around, we know exactly who he is and what will happen when he is in office. And yet, a majority of Americans who voted chose to elect him.
Some, of course, are blind kool-aid consumers who believe everything he says and nothing against him. But a lot more are not that deluded, and still, they chose to vote for him, including people who should expect to suffer as a result. Some did it out of some generalized sense of discontent, others because they thought Trump would be good for them in some direct way, to heck with everything else.
The statistic that left me completely puzzled was that apparently a large percentage of women voted to protect abortion access where that was on the ballot – and then they voted for Trump. Estimates are that 52% of white women voted for Trump – about the same percentage he got in 2016. I am lost for words to even think how that was possible.
The bottom line is that many more Americans than one would ever wish to imagine decided they really don’t think character is important – at all. They either don’t care or don’t even consider this an issue. Either way, it means we have a country that is far less than one would hope for a nation. People knew what they were doing. We are far less of a people than I ever thought was the case. It’s a heart breaker of a reality.
What Next, Nationally and Internationally
Pretty well nothing good going forward. Internationally, tyrants are encouraged. Ukraine, Taiwan, and Palestine will bear the brunt, early on. NATO will again be dangerously undercut. We are off to another round of trade wars and isolationism.
Domestically, if Trump is able to pass his tariffs, average Americans will find their expenses going up several thousand dollars a year. The quality of government and professionalism in the civil service will be bled out. Project 2025 becomes reality. Government will increasingly mix church and state in the worst way. Government will increasingly force its will onto others for medical, education, and other sectors. Criminals who assaulted our government will be pardoned, fostering more militia movements. A whopper of a recession is coming and the deficit, fed by Trump like no one else, will go through the stratosphere.
Eventually, this may all run its course, but for many of us, not in our lifetime. America has become an angrier, crass, divided nation and both its citizens and the world will pay a price.
I suspect that many of you have the same feeling as I do about all the instant commentary and Monday morning quarterbacking I see in the media. Too much of it is shallow and a bit self-serving for those who consider themselves analysts and commentators. I have chosen not read much of them – let’s take some time to reflect and sort this out.
Two exceptions, as usual, providing useful commentary are Heather Cox Richardson and Steven Beshloss. If you are inclined to do a bit of additional reading, I am glad to provide links, and to suggest you check in with them regularly:
About This Blog
I started this blog almost a decade ago with the goal of fostering dialogue and providing useful and hopefully well thought out analysis. Historically, we have talked a lot about subjects other than politics, but increasingly that has, of necessity, become the focus. Perhaps too many of us are talking these days. In any event, it seems difficult at this time to continue talking about such issues. America had a choice and made it. Further discussion in the form of a blog seems a bit superfluous just now.
So, at least for now, this is a wrap. I am shutting down the blog for the rest of this year and will relook options in January. For now, this seems to be the time to let it go, at least temporarily, perhaps definitively. I will send out something to subscribers if we restart or decide not to do so. At least for now I feel the need to do more thinking and less writing. I don’t understand my country, and that is not a good place to be.
Conclusions
Best wishes to all. I know a lot of us will do what we can going forward and as noted earlier, this too shall run its course. Just not soon enough. In the interim, a lot of damage will be done.
Bill Clontz
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Bill,
I understand, but definitely am sad. I always enjoy reading your blog and would share it with my sisters in Alaska and Washington. It is a good thing to take a break, watch the birds (or the bears, in your yard), and walk a dog. Perhaps you’ll feel like sharing your thoughts in the new year, and I will be glad to listen.
Dawn
Thank you, Dawn. I will miss the interactions we all have through this blog. I expect to come back but just thought that as a nation, we should all take a deep breath and reflect a bit, so too with the blog. Appreciate the kind words.
Dear Bill,
It’s been a hard week. We voted early and then the next day found out we both had Covid, for the very first time. My mother died with Covid in Dec 2020, and while we now have ways to treat, it still brings back flashbacks of that terrible time. And then, the reality set it that we will have to try to survive another 4 years of a want-to-be dictator. It is all too much……
So I understand your need to step back. I will miss your astute summations, but totally understand the need to disconnect for a while.
I wish you a quiet and peaceful holiday season. I personally hope you can recoup and feel up to continuing your blog sometime in the near future. Somewhat selfishly, I suppose it makes me feel better to know there are still some men in this country with integrity and morality and are not afraid to speak about it.
I wish you all the best and really hope the blog continues……
Rebecca Hammond, MD
My goodness, you did take a double hit. Hope you both are feeling better. As bad as the coming period will be, I expect we will pull off some wins and eventually the country might right itself. I suspect a lot of people who voted for Trump are not going to like the consequences of what results. The midterms will tell us a lot. Hope to see you in the new year online again.
I’m very sorry to see you go, Bill, but I understand. This has been a devastating election, and I fear for our country and the world. Intelligent commentary is always welcome. I hope you come back.
Thanks very much. I do expect to come back but just felt we should all reflect a bit rather than reacting. There are some really good people out there; staying in touch does count.
Well, Bill, I certainly don’t blame you for being demoralized. I feel crushed too. And I am glad you are taking a rest. It’s well deserved.
However, please know I have been looking forward to your election response since election day. I believe it’s more important now than ever to speak up for democracy, social justice, and kindness. I agree with you that this result will likely encourage more hate, divisiveness, and toxic self-interest among us. Powerful media channels have carefully, consistently taught people to allow the negativity and vote this way anyhow.
That’s why it’s vital that we keep using our own voices. We need to stand up for democracy, fairness, and equality. We need to hone, strengthen, and support each other in speaking up.
It’s tempting to look down on Americans who voted for Trump. I think many voters have been led to believe what they don’t know can’t hurt them. And due to our respective echo chambers, there’s a lot we don’t know about each other. While Trump supporters likely don’t read your blog, we all probably have personal contact with one or more.
We need to make values know in words. We need to be vocal and stand up to misinformation. Let’s hold this administration accountable for the harmful results of tariffs and rampant bigotry. Let’s call them out. Yours is one of the clearest voices I know to help put real problems into words.
It’s clear now that facts don’t have as much impact on voters as the meaning the media makes of them. If we stay silent and allow others to control the meaning of the facts (e.g., the insurrection was a “love fest”) we only make matters worse.
Yours is one of the clearest voices I know to call out wrongheadedness and point to better ways to relieve suffering and progress as a nation. I do hope you continue.
Warmest wishes,
Joanne Masterson
Welcome words from the person who helped me start this blog in the first place. Thank you, Joanne. I suppose in some ways I am more mystified than demoralized, but either way life goes on and I for one am not inclined to roll over and surrender. I expect to be back, for whatever worth that may have, but do want to get beyond the knee jerk reactive mode to ponder how we go forward. Thanks for being with us throughout it all.
Bill, the title of your blog says it all. You have been the strong voice of reason in all your commentaries and a welcomed down to earth platform for rational consideration of the facts and experiences affecting our lives.
The decision to take a break from commentary until the dust settles (if it does in the next four years) is a good one, and one we all should consider. I look forward to your return when you feel the time is right. We will need our “Agent of Reason” to help guide us through the unscripted times ahead.
Jerry
Thanks very much, Jerry. I always welcome your thoughts and feedback.
Bill, thank you for your thoughts – and I agree with your thinking. I am a person who feels there are always a small percentage of people (1 to 3%) who have a position I do not understand and I accept that it is that way. However, we have enough people in our country to vote in a person as our president who simply should not be a person in charge of policy that will effect the lives of others. I am not aware of reality as well as I thought I was
Don’t know if we will ever understand this one, but try we will.
Bill,
I rarely comment on a blog post, but responding to your thoughts and message seem appropriate now. I, too am saddened by the results of this election and feel saddened and somehow threatened. Perhaps my views and ideas are more peripheral than I had imagined. I agree that it is too soon to respond and analyze what just happened and why. Take a pause. I appreciate your perspective and writing and look forward to the return of your blog, should you choose to do so.
Thanks very much. We all have a it to ponder, and without too much delay, deal with, don’t we?
Your last and hopefully not a final post have many words of wisdom. I can only hope you return but understand needing to take an extended break.
So many of my thoughts have already been articulated so well. I always look forward to reading your blog and I will miss getting your perspective. Fortunately, we are close enough physically (neighbors) i can just reach out and ask, “what do you think about “this or that”. A break may be called for, and i wish you a couple of months of rest. I, like many, hope we have your thoughts to ponder in the future.
Be well,
Alan Davis
Thanks, friend. We will figure this out at some point.
Oh my Bill. I understand taking a break and will miss your wonderful commentaries about life, the world and yes politics. I have learned so much reading your blog. I am truly dumbfounded and mystified at the election results. I am saddened each day with news of a new pick for his cabinet and government. People with no experience but just blind loyalty but each person seems to have their own particular brand of cruelty and this worries me. Guess he will now get the military parade he has always craved. Anyway thanks for everything.