When cruelty is valued more than the common good

[democrank]

Donald Trump throwing paper towel rolls at hurricane victims was a hideous display of his lack of empathy and decency. Perhaps his handlers told him if he played football, his team would most definitely be competing in the Super Bowl. Best throw ever. Most muscular arms. A toss with the most precision. Right on the mark. Beautiful pass, just beautiful. Disastrous situation, lives in peril, but not a hint of concern on Trump’s face. He would head home to top-notch shelter and have someone else press a button for room service.

What happens to a country when one of the two major political groups designs a deliberate shift away from the ideal of The Common Good to policies of increasing cruelty? Not just increasing cruelty, but cruelty as the basic principle. Razor wire. Forced pregnancies. Neck kneeling. Eliminating child labor laws. Reducing access to voting. Denying history. Policies without a shred of compassion.

For nearly eight decades I believed that our Constitution was like a cast iron pillar which supported our country. Rock solid. Immovable. Constant. Now many Republicans treat it with utter disregard. Same with our laws. Same with our traditions. Utter disregard. Win at all cost. Flat out lie on national television. Lie to voters. Lie to children. Lie to judges. Whatever it takes.

It’s like Republicans believe they are the entitled to the land, the money, the positions of authority. They alone, by way of their superior white heritage, have the right to lay claim to it all. When people of color, women, poor folks try to gain access to the group, stop them any way you can….even if it’s cruel. Yank children from their parents. Force a 10 year old to have her rapist’s baby. Throw a six year old back into the river. Get the ballot boxes out of black communities. Shame food stamp recipients.

We can march, protest, speak out, volunteer, vote….but we can’t grow accustomed to what has happened to our country. I’ve stopped laughing at Trump jokes. He’s not funny. He’s dead-serious dangerous, the most dangerous person to ever rise to power in this country. Imagine being in his Cult of Cruelty and wearing a MAGA hat with pride. You can’t get much lower.