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| January 6, 2021 - Is a sequel on the horizon? |
Sometimes, however, applying that principle can be the stupidest thing anyone can do. Causing a lot more harm than it does good. The idea following a principle regardless of the consequences lacks the most basic level of common sense. This is the case with the probability of former President Trump being indicted for a crime committed in his infamous payoff to a porn star in exchange for her silence. A crime worthy of an indictment.
However, as legitimate as this indictment might be, I believe that that the motivation behind it is entirely political – despite prostrations to the contrary by prosecutors. They will surely say they are simply applying the applicable law as matter of fairness and equality. And that they would be indicting anyone under similar circumstances.
Why is this political? The events that this indictment are based upon happened in 2016, just before Trump became President. That he will be indicted now 7 years later just as the campaign for his re-election has begun - is an obvious attempt to damage his candidacy. Which will surely instead have the opposite effect and energize his hard core supporters even more (if that’s even possible)!
No one thought to indict him in 2016 when this payoff was first revealed. Nor did anyone proceed with an indictment when his former ‘fixer’, Michael Cohen, testified in detail about that ‘hush money’ payment and all the circumstances surrounding it. Any kind of retort that it has taken this long to examine all of the elements of a case like this insults my intelligence!
The reason it’s stupid is because of the consequences that may develop. Consequences that the former president predictably will have precipitated by his response to his imminent indictment asking his suppoters to protest it.
Protests by his supporters in the past have not ended well. As was the case in January of 2021. A repeat of that event – or worse - is not all that unlikely. An indictment and Trump’s call for protests could easily trip that switch. The last thing this country needs right now is another insurrectionist protest.
When even a lofty ideal of treating all men equally even in cases like this has the real potential of causing chaos on the level of January 2021, overlooking it is, in my view, the right thing to do. Those who insist on following that lofty principle regardless of any consequences are foolish..
Apparently prosecutors will go ahead and argue that law enforcement will do a better job this time - and nip anything remotely close to that happening - in the bud. That is at best debatable. But even if true, why take the chance on doing something that could easily precipitate an event like that? People might still get hurt. Who in heavens name wants to see anything remotely close to that happening again?
To be clear, This is not about supporting the former President. Despite my support for many of his polices while in office, I would sooner vote for Attila the Hun. The events of January 2021 and Trump’s behavior and comments about it has cemented my opposition to another term in office. If by some chance he wins the Republican nomination (which I sincerely hope does not happen) I will vote for his opponent or a write-in candidate!.
If as I anticipate this indictment and the subsequent protests happen, it will simply add to my feeling that the world is falling apart.
There are currently violent protests taking place in France by people opposed to their government raising the retirement age (where government pensions similar to our Social Security kick in) from 62 to 64.
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| Judicial reform protests in Israel |
Then there are the massive continuing protests taking place in a polarized Israel where left leaning secular Jews who did not vote for the current government fear their country becoming a theocracy and thus losing their freedom; fear that certain minorities will lose their hard earned civil rights; and that extremist Religious Zionist fervor will embark on a settlement policy that will expel innocent Palestinians from their homes on the West Bank - thus earning the justifiable condemnation of all western democracies including the US. Those protesting now see judicial reform as the start of this process. Whether any of this will actually happen is an open question. But the fear that they will is very understandable.
The truth is that all of this strife can be avoided if cooler heads would prevail on all sides of these conflicts. Common sense should suggest that the polarized world in which we now live is toxic. And doesn't benefit anyone. And yet, the embrace of uncompromising idealism is fueling all of this and causing common sense to go ‘out the window’! Which is tearing the world apart.
Trump loyalists will not listen to reason. Trump is the living incarnation of their values. They love his unconventional and confrontational ‘stick it to the other side’ approach to governance. Compromise is a mortal sin in their eyes. Trump is their savior. The only man that is willing to do what they believe is necessary in furtherance of their ideals. And they are not a small number. Trump has millions of enthusiastic supporters that cheer him on and will do his bidding – totally ignoring his many faults as though they don’t matter. In some cases even seeing them as a plus!
On the other side is a left that sees its liberal values under assault by an increasing intolerant right wing motivated by extremist religious or extremist conservative ideals. All of which are incompatible with their version of liberty and justice. The see Trump as the incarnation of fascism rivaling that of Hitler or Stalin. Noting that his strongest supporters are white supremacists that seek the US to be a white Christian nation that will deny basic human rights to all non white and/or non Christians.
In Israel similar extremist sentiments between the right and the left are in play.
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| Pension protests in France |
Although the protests in France are not quite based on a conflict of ideals – nonetheless common sense is still lacking. That pensions paid in full at age 62 will bankrupt the fund designed to pay them is not a fiction. Besides, the longevity of life most French citizens now enjoy and the ability to work until age 64 is not that much of an ask - in order to save the system. But once you are promised it at that age you are not going to give it up without a fight, I suppose. Which makes the French government stupid for offering it at that age in the fist place. But still it would seem to be common sense that 62 is a bit young to get paid for doing nothing for the rest of your life. And thereby mitigate those protests. Instead, however, those protests seems to be getting increasingly violent.
In light of all this, I am pessimistic. With all of this intransigence over preconceived rights based on opposing ideals and self centeredness I have little hope that things will calm down. I see them only getting worse.