Unfit for Purpose
Twice this year alone, and (unfortunately) likely again in November of this year, the United States federal government will be on the verge of shutting down or otherwise defaulting on its obligations.
Recently, Representative Kevin McCarthy of the California 20th Congressional District was ousted as Speaker of the House in a coup by a small group of House Republicans led by Representative Matt Gaetz of the Florida 1st Congressional District.
Some House Democrats received calls from the former Speaker begging for help, saying that whoever came after him would be much worse and that the norms of the House must be respected.
True as that may be, House Democrats were smart to vote for his removal because McCarthy has continually proven himself weak, cowardly, and, most of all, untrustworthy. Any deal they struck with McCarthy to save his Speakership would be null and void because he would either backstab them or be cowed by the Freedom Caucus.
Consequences
As much schadenfreude as we are likely getting from seeing the Republicans rip themselves apart, the consequences are deadly serious.
In fact, considering the pressing issues America is facing both at home and abroad, there could not be a worse time for the Republicans’ childish antics.
What do you think Russia and China are going to sense when one of our major legislative bodies is in complete chaos? That one of our major political parties can’t even get the basics of governing right? Worse, what do our allies in Europe and Asia, facing major security challenges in the form of Russia and China, respectively, think when they see we are chronically on the edge of betraying them in order to settle political scores back home? What do major creditors do when they think the US federal government won’t pay its bills?
In fact, I would argue that Hamas was emboldened in part by the fact that part of our government is shut down and in chaos thanks solely to the Republicans. Countless Israelis are dead as a result of Republican dysfunction.
When a major political party or legislative body is as dysfunctional as today’s Republican Party, there are grave consequences. Sadly, I see a more dire Speaker in the wings and the Republicans getting much worse.
Frankly, it’s only a matter of time before the Republicans hop in bed with the Chinese Communist Party, Hamas or the Islamic Republic of Iran in the name of owning the libs. They already hopped in bed with Putin and the far right in Europe.
With Great Power
Comes with great responsibility.The United States of America has the largest and most dynamic economy in the world. After years of outsourcing, American manufacturing is roaring back to life with the best produced goods in the world. Despite the grave problems with the American health care system, our hospitals, drugs, and treatments are second to none. Remember that it was American scientists who came up with a vaccine for COVID-19 in record speed, and it was American logistics that allowed the vaccines to be distributed across the world. Most of all, I am convinced that America’s health care professionals are without parallel in skill and commitment.
American culture is the trendsetter for globalized culture. Despite its deplorable history, Hollywood still sets the standard for profit and quality in entertainment thanks not only to the actors and directors but also to the everyday writers and workers who make Hollywood magic work. American entertainment is still our most valued export.
American universities are unmatched in quality and productivity, both in terms of research and the expertise of their professors.
The United States leads the Free World, and President Biden is working wonders to rebuild what Trump seriously damaged. This coalition is doing much to counter totalitarianism and, despite the many and quite serious flaws, is a far better alternative than a world led by China and Russia. This post by Professor Bret Devereaux explains America’s leadership role better than I ever could.
Last but certainly not least, the United States Armed Forces are the most powerful in human history. Not because our technology is the best, although it is. Not because man for man and woman for woman, our enlisted and officers are the best trained and most talented in the world, though they are. Despite American firepower being unmatched, that is not what makes the American military so powerful.
No, it’s the unmatched logistical capabilities. No matter where in the world, our enemies and adversaries know what kind of punishment we can deliver from anywhere on the planet, and we can assure our personnel will have what they need no matter what the mission or where they are.
And yet over and over, the Republicans have demonstrated an inability to wield any of this power responsibly, or if they do, they use it for treacherous purposes. Americans as voters must be serious about the power our country has—the best technology, logistics, and personnel.
And yet it doesn’t mean a thing if you don’t know how to use it with skill and focus.
Conclusion
I thought the Democrats had a hard time with governing when they had a trifecta, what with the failure of the Build Back Better Bill and the infighting around the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill.How naive I was.
Even at their absolute lowest points during the worst infighting last session, Democrats never shut down the government and bills got paid on time.
In fact, what Democrats have gotten done when in office has been nothing short of miraculous.
Speaker Pelosi made what is one of the hardest jobs in politics look relatively easy: leading a legislative chamber with a slim majority and keeping your caucus cohesive through thick and thin.
I have plenty of disagreements with many of my fellow Democrats on how to tackle certain issues. Too many of them are too chummy with totalitarian regimes like the CCP, Islamic Republic, and even Russia. Many of my fellow rich White liberals are unprepared to do actual work to tackle long-standing problems, especially around housing. Too many of my fellow Democrats are dismissive about the effects of either crime or police misconduct. Populism is not seen as an existential threat by way too many of my fellow Democrats, along with a dismissal of the fundamentals of good governance, in addition to a disturbing habit of outsourcing much governing to nonprofits, especially on the West Coast.
But I will never defect to the Republicans because only Democrats are actually interested in governance. The Republican Party is a party that has no concept of how to treat any type of power with serious responsibility and is only interested in power for its own sake or to carry out deformed dreams of utopia, dreams that would be hell on earth for everyone else.
For those who do have a cohesive ideology beyond watching the world burn, they work on behalf of ideologies that have proven themselves only in depravity, death, and destruction. Except in flavor, they are no different than Hamas.
These recent and current fiascos are proof beyond the shadow of a doubt that the Republican Party cannot be trusted with any type of power, especially the awesome power of the United States of America.
Never forget that.