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A few months before the last election, somebody responded to something I had written by asking me if I was a ‘Trump Hater’. I told him that was wrong on two levels; first, I don’t hate – it’s not in my constitution. At least as importantly though, is that there was nothing about The Donald that merited my defining myself in any way by my opinion of him. He was simply too insignificant to be part of my identity. I don’t identify as an Andrew Dice Clay hater just because I don’t like him and think he’s creepy. I just don’t seek him out.
I don’t read gossip magazines, and don’t view those mind-sucking fake-ass primetime game shows, so I only knew of The Donald from his serial marriages to, infidelities against, and divorces from attractive, but vacuous fashion models, and his repeated overreaching self-aggrandizing real-estate projects – many of which ended in bankruptcy for his investors.
Now this sad, strange man, with a lot of money, was choosing to run for President as a vanity exercise. It was no more significant than if Paris Hilton were running … it was just a joke.
As stunning as it is that—despite his lack of anything resembling the slightest qualifications, and his very public track record—enough voters favored him to let him move in to the White House, he has not advanced in my estimation, or that of other thinking people. His elevation is just another manifestation of the dysfunctionality of our nation’s system. I don’t blame him to taking a shot; he has an obvious narcissistic personality disorder, and couldn’t pass up the opportunity. Now in office, he has quickly become the infected, abscessed pimple on the ass of the American body politic, but it’s not his fault; he is just the surface symptom of the underlying infection. Unless that infection is remedied, the next abscess will be just as gross as this one.
The principle of free public education has been core to our nation’s identity for most of our existence, and is an embodiment of Jefferson’s foundational view that an educated citizenry is a vital requisite for our survival as a free people.
This principle has no more dedicated, hard-working, driven foe than Betsy DeVos. She never attended a public school, nor sent her children to any, and has absolutely no experience in the field education whatsoever, other than using her family’s tremendous wealth to advocate for redirecting vital public funds from free, accountable, public schools toward private, for-profit, often religious schools – not held to the same standards as public schools, and often not free.
Her nomination is consistent with other Trump nominations; most have a track record in direct opposition to the purpose of the agencies they have been chosen to lead. What makes the prospect of DeVos leading the Department of Education more pernicious is that, with education compromised, the rest of the agenda becomes much easier to promulgate.
Four months ago (it seems a lifetime), the conversation was whether the government would fully fund tuition-free four-year colleges, or if this would be limited to community colleges. Now, it will be an uphill battle to maintain the integrity of our free, public primary and secondary schools.
I encourage all who value public education to call or write your Senators and Congressional Representatives. Let them know what is at stake, and let them know that you will be watching their vote, and will remember when it is next time for them to stand for reelection.
Last night, as our little corner of the world began to get the dusting that ended up as a foot of snow, I watched our president’s farewell address.
As with just about every time he is in front of the camera, President Obama projected calm leadership. His words were intelligent, well thought-out, organized, consistent, and coherent; his manner was poised, his disposition kind and grateful. Though not contentious, he expressed ongoing dedication to the causes he has espoused as president, and has lived throughout his life.
To say he was presidential would be an understatement; he was much more than that. Many presidents embody some of the qualities President Obama has displayed in the last eight years; few, if any embody them all. And all of them will be missed.
