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What will happen on November 3rd

 I haven't written anything political for a very long time. As a matter of fact, I don't know if I have ever written anything--publicly--about American politics. My friends know I have a lot of opinions though.

Between COVID and this presidential election, I have felt myself spiraling down and down over the past few months. COVID is bad enough, hearing so much bad news constantly, wondering if we will ever get back to "normal" again. If I will be able to travel outside of this fairly small bubble I am in. I did manage to get to La Jolla California last weekend and will be blogging about that soon but, even there, masks everywhere. Restaurants severely limited, hotels socially distanced. I enjoyed myself but overlaying the three days was a tinge of sadness for a world that is, currently, so much changed for the worse.

And then we have the specter of Donald Trump possibly winning a further four years. I have followed the election cycle with an almost unhealthy ardor. Possibly because there is so much on the news, neck and neck with COVID. In fact, COVID IS integral to the election, Donald Trump's heinous denial of its effect on America, his insistence that the economy comes before anything else. His lies, his lies, his lies. Although I can't stand to actually listen to more than sound bytes, I have heard enough coming out of his mouth to know that another four years of his rule will completely destroy America. He's already done so much damage:

According to a report on bbc.com, How Trump Has Changed the World, he has alienated the rest of the "free" world, courted dictators, denied climate change, closed the border to legitimate refugees and made innocent children pay for their parents trying to cross illegally. It's true that the U.S. has almost never--except perhaps post World War 2--been able to enforce its immigration policies fairly but Trump has made the whole southern (for some reason there aren't hordes of Canadians trying to cross into the U.S.) border problem far worse than it has been under previous presidents. The current "send 'em back" policy--due to COVID--actually makes sense to me in terms of cutting down on the coyotes. But it doesn't come close to the sentiments expressed on the Statue of Liberty: "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore." Immigration is now for the wealthy, the Prince Harrys, and for those who can buy their way in. I am almost ashamed at how easy it was for me to be admitted 22 years ago; I know that I was profiled and I profited from it. I have profited every time I cross the border and they glance at me--an older, well spoken, well dressed white woman--and say "welcome back."

The BBC article says nothing about what he has done to the soul of this nation, this nation that once DID stand for the sentiments not only on the Statue of Liberty but enshrined in the Constitution. This nation that went to war to "liberate," that crafted a post-war plan for war-torn countries that was the epitome of mercy and decency. Now, and I have heard them say it and I know they have voted for him because of it, people say that he is good for the economy. They'll forgive him anything as long as they pay less taxes and see their IRAs thriving. He's "good for the economy" at the expense of a crushing debt that future generations are going to have to pay for. At the expense of people who can't afford next month's rent let alone putting money into IRAs. At the expense of lands that will be scarred, nature preserves that will be lost. The economy is not "good" when the super-rich pay almost no taxes, live in 12,000 square foot mansions but poor people are evicted from their homes and black parents have to give their children "the talk." Black mother and the talk. 

Trump inherited a lot of these problems but under his regime they have only got worse. He doesn't inspire anything but hatred and suspicion. And things WILL get far worse if he wins on November 3rd. The very idea that a man like that, a man that everyone admits lies and cares nothing for anyone but Donald Trump, MIGHT win is enough for me to be seriously considering another move out of the U.S. 

I will be watching and praying on November 3rd. God help us--all of us.

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