Women stripped of bodily autonomy. The Environmental Protection Agency handcuffed in fighting climate change. Public money allowed to fund religious schools. Gun rights expanded. These are recent decisions made by the United States Supreme Court.
Of the 9 justices that comprise the group, nearly half were appointed by presidents who lost the popular vote. One of the newer justices (Gorsuch) was nominated to fill a spot that would have been taken by Merrick Garland, had Mitch McConnell not purposely obstructed the process. Later, he hypocritically rushed another justice (Barret) through to confirmation in record time before Trump’s presidency ended.
Once revered as having transcended above partisanship, the Supreme Court is now a compromised, unfairly constituted board of national embarrassment.
Mass shootings continue as an inept Congress passes weak gun laws that are immediately overshadowed and weakened by the Supreme Court.
A large portion of the country believes things that are demonstrably false; the election was stolen, climate change is fake, vaccines are unsafe.
Race problems persist, and systemic issues remain entrenched.
Most voters don’t take the time to learn about the issues or the candidates- just pulling the team lever satisfies their civic duty.
I’m not usually one to focus on the negative, but we have big mess on our hands and many of us are either happy about it or don’t care.
Forgive me if I’m just not in a celebrating mood this year.
For more stories, and typically more positive outlook, visit my Five O’Clock Shadow blog.