However one interprets these findings,those of us who live in the coastal states are obviously out of touch with the rest of the country. It is the "hinterlands" which have given the mandate for rule to the administration of an incorrigible fool, almost a madman, malicious,greedy and ignorant. It has led me to do quite a lot of soul-searching to try to understand why they've done this.
Having hitch-hiked around these "hinterlands" and often found myself dependent on the good will of the local population,I know that there are many very good and kind people in the mid-West and those regions of the United States customarily designated as the "Bible Belt". there. It is always hard to understand how ideology can triumph over common-sense, although few of us are free from that psychological handicap ourselves.
And the extent of the mandate is undeniable. Bush took back the White House with a lead of how many votes? 4million? 10 million ? The number of Republicans in the Senate has been increased by at least 2,and in the House by many more. Furthermore Bush's replacement for Rehnquist is bound to be a dunderhead who will make Clarence Thomas look like Solon. Like the Pope, he will be there for life.
It is just possible that what we are seeing is actually a symptom of the disease rather than the disease itself. What I mean by that is this: the reality is that the United States has become,indeed has been a Third World country for some time,perhaps several decades. The people's will has therefore expressed itself in lending its assent to Third World government.
After all, 90% of the planet is ruled by administrations as bad or worse than ours.Third World conditions give rise to Third World despotisms: theocratic absolutism, huge chasms between rich and poor, a marginalized middle class,few legal protections, hysterical fear-mongering and unchecked militarism, huge jail populations, police states.... We may not be altogether there yet, but the US has joined the club that includes nations such as China, Columbia, Iran, Saudi Arabia,Putin's Russia,Burma, Guatemala..... The popular vote has done no more than bear witness to a fait accompli.
It is impossible to not feel depressed at such moments and, as is customary with depression, one develops schemes that may appear far-fetched or fantastic,but may also have some merit. I've been toying with the idea of going back to France for the next four years and,(among other things), setting up a center or organization to assist American ex-patriates , draft-resisters, etc., who arrive in Europe. Judging from the Vietnamese war, one may expect a large influx of them.
Having lived in France from 1968 to 1972 as a war resister and exile I have certain qualifications for the job. I've been advised to consider Canada.Yes, but I want to go back to Europe anyway. Fulfilling a need to return to one of the principal environments for my career and personal development, I may also be able to do something positive for political responsibility. One has no reason to expect a huge exodus until after the draft is re-instated. Then of course, it's Aprés Moi le Déluge! "
People may wish to come in with me on this; it is better to have a nucleus of coworkers before beginning something than trying to pull them together afterwards.