Author: Lake Jackson Citizen

I volunteer as a photographer for our local community theater. I have opinions about politics and believe it should be every American's duty to become informed and participate in the discussion of issues. I began this blog to be able to stay in touch in ways I used to on Facebook. I deleted that account recently and hope to be able to share photographs and information relating to cultural and political events in our community. I am retired after a career in social work and post-secondary​ education.

Nine & One-Half

THE TWELVE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS DONALD TRUMP HAS TAUGHT ME (Thing No. 9):

He gave us a real time demonstration of the fragility of our political system.

Many Americans who were born here and came of age here view our democratic system as a sturdy, durable frame around the good life — where communication is open, we have freedom, and we have a voice in the choices made on behalf of our whole society. The Civil War seems like an odd and archaic thing of the past. Besides, the slavery issue has been settled, at least in the crudest sense of human chattel.

Other Americans who came here more recently as immigrants have witnessed the fragility of government. They have seen governments fall, often with terrible consequences for the people. That’s why they come here in tiny boats across across dangerous seas. They face starvation and dehydration to walk through deserts where they can fry in the daytime and freeze at night.

They do this because they have faith in America’s willingness to extend the same hand of welcome that has welcomed immigrants since the 17th Century. And they sense in America the kind of stability that will allow them to build a good life if they simply work hard, follow some basic rules, and pay a fair share of taxes.

Many who came by American citizenship the easy way, by being born here, take it for granted. Apathy is so much easier than activism. But now we have seen, on January 6, 2021, that there is a kernel of resistance to the values that have made us who we are. And when a politician comes along who is willing to incite those who do not share democratic values, American democracy becomes as fragile as the government in any other country.

January 6, 2021 was a frightening day for America. And there may be more to come if we are not vigilant and firm.

If you love it, take care of it. Be a part of it. Vote. Follow the rules. And learn how to lose. No citizen gets her/his way every time.

And we should be glad for that. It may be democracy’s wisest and best feature.

Ten & One-Half

THE TWELVE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS DONALD TRUMP HAS TAUGHT ME (Thing No. 10):

Civics education is important.

Of course, I knew this already. I have been interested in government and politics since I became aware in my childhood. The subject has interested me since I first heard President Truman’s voice coming out of our Philco console radio and my sister explained to me that he was the president, that he was in charge of the country, and that he told everybody what to do. Her childish understanding was insufficient for me and I have made a lifetime study of politics.

But not everyone has been paying attention. Some citizens never learned much about their government beyond a few patriotic platitudes. They have been too easily duped by pundits, preachers, and playboys into using their votes to gain admission to see lousy snake oil promotions.

One of the beauties of majority rule is that most people can’t be fooled. But now and then, the snake oil candidate slips through the screen and becomes a governor, a senator, or even a president. I recall that Minnesota elected a wrestler for governor. Texas once elected a hillbilly singer to the governor’s office.

Sometimes the promoters grow into the office and surprise us by delivering a creditable performance, at least managing to preserve our most hallowed institutions. For example, Ronald Reagan.

And sometimes we get snake oil. Just snake oil. And slime.

Eleven & One-Half

THE TWELVE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS DONALD TRUMP HAS TAUGHT ME (Thing No. 11):

Words matter.

Of course they do and everyone should know that. But sometimes people throw language around purposefully to inspire other people to do the things they themselves want to see happen but do not want to be held accountable for. When bad actions follow their language, they can claim they were joking or throwing out a little sarcasm.

What I have learned from Donald Trump is that I have to take his words at their face value. Although he may call it sarcasm, his message is probably coded and will be understood by those who follow him closely. “Big protest in DC on January 6th. Be there, will be wild!”

Sounds like a lot of fun, doesn’t it? But his followers knew what he meant.

Twelve & One-Half

THE TWELVE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS DONALD TRUMP HAS TAUGHT ME (Thing No. 12):

The dynamics of lying and public opinion.

There is a dynamic to the Big Lie that Donald Trump has used for years in his business and now uses in politics. It never bothers him to be caught in a lie. He doubles down, repeats it again and again, and turns the volume up.

It begins to sound normal to other people, at least it is no longer shocking. Then it begins to sound TRUE TO HIM. Now that he is telling the “truth”, he repeats it with more conviction and becomes more persuasive to those who have no firm roots in fact and reality, that is, the uneducated and uncritical.

Listen to his Sunday phone call to Georgia Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger. The more he repeats the lies, the more convinced he becomes that they are true. You can hear his conviction growing as the call drones on.

Trump’s genius is that he probably came up with this formulation independently without ever reading the literature analyzing the propaganda techniques of 20th Century authoritarianism. He never reads anything.

Fourteen & One-Half

There is an unbelievable scene outside the United States Capitol while the Congress meets inside to count the vote of the Electoral College. Our president rode by and stirred the crowd then retired to his safe space in White House. He had hoped to join them but, you know, bone spurs.