FINAL SHUTDOWN
By Trevor K. McNeil
Promises, Promises
Always keep your promises. This is what we teach our children from when they are very young. One pitfall to this maxim most adults don’t take into account when socializing with the little ones is that kids for the most part have an extremely literal world view.
No Matter How Cock-eyed
Yes, it is generally good to try and keep the promises one makes, particularly if one wants to cultivate a reputation for honesty and trust worthiness. It is not, however, needed that one stick entirely to the literal content of a promise no matter how blinkered, mad or cock-eyed it might be; or what unforeseen havoc it might wreak. This is why there is so often a distinction made between a threat and a promise, though in some ways, a promise can be far more frightening.
Political Promises
A relaxed attitude towards political promises is something that politicians know instinctively. In fact it is as much a part of our system of government as gerrymandering or the Bill of Rights; something most politicians understand implicitly and are able to do as easily and unconsciously as they walk or breath. You will notice that I said “most.”
One of A Kind Is Not Always A Good Thing
There are many ways in which Donald John Trump is not like other politicians (or indeed other humans). Many of these have been commented on before and are obvious to those with the most cursory understanding of the American political system. It is not, for example, usual for a President to openly Tweet about government business, or use an unsecured cell phone, or invite Russian officials into the Oval Office. My head is still spinning.
Oh, Bill
Arrogant as they might have been, I am hard pressed to think of another president who claimed to have more knowledge “than anyone” on as many subjects as Trump brags about. Despite his rhetoric on the subject, there is no former president who can claim his level of incompetence and ignorance regarding the workings of our government. It is Trump’s immeasurable ineptitude that has led the nation into his third government closure in two years. Trust what I say, I have a degree in history.
Unimaginable
I am certain there has never been a sitting president, ever, not even Bill “Horn Dog” Clinton, who has ever publicly stated a sexual attraction towards his own child (“if Ivanka weren’t my daughter, I’d probably be dating her” his exact words). What bothers me more than the words, is the weird looks and strange touching ritual they often perform.
I Smell A Vendetta
Sorry, I needed a minute. Okay. There are other, less obvious ways in which Trump is a one of a kind original when it comes to enacting the office of Commander-in-Chief of the world’s most expensive military (China’s is bigger and Israel has slightly more nukes), one of which is his attitude towards campaign promises, apparently being under the impression that he is actually supposed to keep them.
Refresh My Memory
Let’s keep in mind that some of his promises during the last campaign included repealing ObamaCare (tried and failed), having Hillary Clinton “Locked Up” for using a private server for her computer. (Although his son and his apparently very beloved daughter were discovered using unsecured servers). His first order of business was to implement a ban on Muslims entering the country which the judiciary struck down as unconstitutional, and, most fantastical of all, a concrete wall running the entirety of our 2,000 mile border with Mexico; that he promised Mexico would pay for.
Chants Don’t Equate To Good Policy
It even became a rally chant. So it must be true right? This is to say nothing of his heartless bid to remove protections for dreamers and his inability to keep the government operating, a government closure ranking in the top five of the most embarrassing things a president can possibly do.
Head In the Clouds (Or Somewhere Else)
Despite, or possibly because of his humiliating failure to get close to keeping any of his other insane campaign promises – which make Jello Biafra’s platform while running for Mayor of San Francisco, including having city police officers wear clown suits while on duty, look conservative and considered by comparison.
Trio From Hell
As the failures mount Trump, Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter doubled-down on their last remaining possibility. The Border Wall. No one could have predicted how doggedly the trio would go after this insane goal and more is the pity because now people are actually being hurt, finally making good on the doomsday warnings anti-Trump “extremists” have been making since the summer of 2015 and again, to slightly more attentive ears after the first government closure.
Man the Catapults!
As a preview of what was to come Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), who’s acronym sounds like a hit and is actually the paramilitary wing of the Department of Homeland Security, and the U.S. Border Patrol were given a major boost in terms of support, the U.S. army. Armed and ready our guardians like a siege castle for the “invasion” of poverty stricken women and children from Central America.
Death Toll Rises
Government records indicate at least 22 immigrants have already died as a result of Trump’s human-shield style of border protection. Death is not enough to move some people on the conservative end of the aisle to take action against their Great Leader, those dead children being foreigners after all. Though not actually Mexicans, who Trump has branded and demonized as criminal drug lords and rapists. Apparently all brown, Spanish speaking people are the same to him and his base.
Who Knew
In case you were unaware, most drugs in Canada come from the United States. Using Trump’s twisted logic our friends to the North should be able to demand a wall across the entire 4,000 mile border, and we should pay for it. While you think about that, remember Trump has forced a government closure to thwart the rightful government process and to dramatize his demands. “Stubborn” just doesn’t quite cover it.
Suffer the Little Children
If the death of children from another country isn’t enough to give them a much needed kick in the rump, maybe the suffering an potential death of American children, white American children that is, will. In Trump’s pathological drive to save face and get his promised wall (which 62% of Americans oppose) Trump has led the U.S. government into its third government closure since he took office.
They’ll Make Adjustments
Yes, the current shutdown is only “partial” but has already lasted longer than previous full government closures and is having a horrific effect on the support workers in the affected departments. Cutting through the euphemistic bullshit, the “support workers” are people who do the actual work like drivers, janitors and executive assistants, usually on an hourly wage, who literally cannot afford not to be paid, no matter how much Trump might think they will “understand” and “make adjustments”.
Non-functioning Government
Work without pay is exactly what has happened and will continue to happen as long as the government closure goes on. It is not even as though these people can really get another job, because they are still technically being employed by our non-functioning government often on a full-time basis so they still have to show up to work without actually being paid for it and most do not have the time or opportunity to look for another, actually paying job. Manual labor without pay, or the ability to quit. That sounds familiar somehow.
