Since 2016, we’ve entered the Era of incompetence, or if you like, the Counter-Enlightenment (or if you prefer the Un-enlightentment or the Anti-Enlightenment). Science, Factual Knowledge, Rationality have been replaced by “Saying makes it so” neo-Medieval Do It Yourself Reality culture. Scientific facts, reality, reason, things we had taken for granted have been blatantly and crudely attacked. Racist policy, which I ahd hoped would have no basis in law and been banished since the Jim Crow Laws have come back with repeals to voter rights acts, thinly veiled and overtly racist driven policies of the US Government and many local governments. Luckily their time is running out as many who have been lulled into a sleep of dispair are finally being awaken.
The Trump administratin ind their supporters are quickly becoming irrelevant. They want to destroy the environment, well the pandemic is reversing the tide on our consumptin whether we like it or not. But must stunningly, the rise of racist policies and actions are finally about to get their comeuppence.
The packed right wing executive and the packed right wing courts and the gerrymandered districts have given the Far/Alt Right unbridled power. But America is charting its own path without them. The government is disassociated from the people.
Trump has and continues to try to make this country an authoritarian autocracy but for the first time since his taking office I sense he is losing this battle, The dumbing down of the American people has been stunningly successful, until now.
The main difference now has been the drawing back of the curtains on the Trump Administration and revealing the blanket incompetence to deal with real issues that immediately effect us with incontrovertable evidence.
Trump’s destruction of the climate, of the ecology, and the theft of our economy and the demise of our international leadership have all been too abstract to fight the visceral racist objectives, divisive tactics of his Administration and his actual Fake-News Orwellian double-speak media apparatus.
However, now it is different. His incompetence is hitting America where it counts: in the wallet and in the gut.
From coronavirus we can see our family, friends, and neighbors die. Before, Trump could even divide families. But when my cousin dies, I don’t ask what party they supported, I fight for their lives. And I see a government too incompetent and self-absorbed to help me.
From abject Racist policies can see our fellow citizens murdered. The very public murder of George Floyd and the lackadaisical response of government on every level: city, state, federal, legislative, executive, and the Courts, etc. lead to a major protests which quickly disintegrated mostly due to rioting provocators on the right and rioting police.
Again, the Trump incompetence and opportunism that have plagued the response to the demonstrators has exacerbated the situation leading a whole nation, and many parts of the world to awaken from their 3-year slumber (some have been sleeping a lot longer than that) to finally take notice.
Now everyone can see the incompetence, meanness, and stupidity of those in the White House. Hopefully this Age of Incompetence is coming to its inglorious conclusion. But they will not go quietly but the drama has been set in motion. I cannot say let’s see what happens, now that we’re awake lets make it happen.
Keep protesting. And for those who hesitate because they fear the rioting police, I say jump in. Accept the minor risk but feel it as our People of Color face everyday soemthing magnitudes worse. So risk a lump to save a life: it’s a fair bargain. Get involved.
Already many good things are stirring to get involved with:
- protests on the streets
- efforts national and local to defund, scale back the police, and otherwise take away the types they had abused for fear too long
- Directly challenge racist words, actions and policies from friends, co-workers, family, services, etc.
- support candidates poised to unseat the Age of Incompetence leaders, judges and politicians.
The Era of Incompetence might just give way to a renewal of the Enlightenment, no better respresented than in the Finale of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony.
Get involved even if you do just one of these steps you can join our community. Get involved and we will feel Schiller’s Ode to Joy which ends Beethoven’s Ninth coming to reality:
O friends, no more these sounds!
Let us sing more cheerful songs,
more full of joy!
Joy, bright spark of divinity,
Daughter of Elysium,
Fire-inspired we tread
Thy sanctuary.
Thy magic power re-unites
All that custom has divided,
All men become brothers
Under the sway of thy gentle wings.
Whoever has created
An abiding friendship,
Or has won
A true and loving wife,
All who can call at least one soul theirs,
Join in our song of praise;
But any who cannot must creep tearfully
Away from our circle.
All creatures drink of joy
At nature’s breast.
Just and unjust
Alike taste of her gift;
She gave us kisses and the fruit of the vine,
A tried friend to the end.
Even the worm can feel contentment,
And the cherub stands before God!
Gladly, like the heavenly bodies
Which He set on their courses
Through the splendor of the firmament;
Thus, brothers, you should run your race,
As a hero going to conquest.
You millions, I embrace you.
This kiss is for all the world!
Brothers, above the starry canopy
There must dwell a loving Father.
Do you fall in worship, you millions?
World, do you know your creator?
Seek him in the heavens;
Above the stars must He dwell.