A Virtual Church

Confidence in government

Today

The $1.8 billion slush fund requested by Donald Trump met with resistance from Democrats and some Republicans. It was ludicrous to begin with, especially with prices rising on American goods and gasoline. Wasn’t it enough for Donald to start a war with Iran? Does he have to occupy every second of airtime?

Now Ebola is on the rise. Though it began in Africa, cases have been diagnosed in America. Viruses are funny like that. They are not neat; they ignore arbitrary borders of countries. The viruses share their pain freely.

Don’t think America is prepared with a vaccine. We have Robert Kennedy heading Health and Human Services, a job for which he is ill-equipped. He is a vaccine denier. Dig out your N-95 masks and buckle up. This could be a rough ride.

Should we be concerned with an administration peppered with incompetent people whose greatest achievement is being fodder for late night comedians? Take Pete Hegseth, please. Colin Jost is a better Pete than Pete.

I do not like what Donald Trump is doing in destroying democracy without a care. He has said he doesn’t care about inflation. He doesn’t care that he destroyed the East Wing of the White House. He doesn’t care that his idea of a 250^thBirthday Celebration will be a wrestling match on the front lawn of the White House. How sorry can one person be?

Restoring confidence in our government is a monumental job. Trump has scratched the itch of grievance in America. He is the symptom of something awry among us.

People are angry, believing that they have not gotten their fair share. It’s true there is an imbalance of wealth in America. There is also a government under Trump that is decimating academic institutions, assaulting the press, and withdrawing funds that feed America’s neediest.

People will never get ahead if they are denied basics like education, healthcare and food assistance. To cap it off, many will be gerrymandered out of being able to vote for change.

Midterms are beginning. Democrats are winning primaries. The tide will turn. Perhaps we can elect serious people, adults who want to protect and defend our constitution.

Have you ever seen a rat on a running wheel going nowhere, just round and round? This is where we are. Enough people have ignored or accepted the status quo of the Trump mirage. When that mirage disappears, they are eating the sand.

Have we forgotten that we are a diverse people, a glorious representation of God’s creation? We are all about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. DEI, despite its negative rap, is a very good concept.

White male hegemony has never been what America was intended to be. Sorting out root causes for American anger is complicated. Men have always been resentful of smart assertive women rising in the workplace, yet women still earn about 20 percent less than men in most places of employment. The assumption that women have men to support them is absurd. Do we have confidence that playing field can be leveled? Confidence is lacking in many facets of life.

Our leaders in government, in the workplace, in schools must be trustworthy. Their motives must be pure and their hearts tuned to doing good.

Confidence is built on trust. This is not brain surgery. It is our responsibility to vote for good people - public servants who give of themselves to serve the common good.

We have work to do in this election year. It is imperative to restore confidence and work together to build a better world for all of us.

Lib Campbell is a retired Methodist pastor, retreat leader, columnist and host of the blogsite www.avirtualchurch.com. She can be contacted at libcam05@gmail.com 

 

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