“When the rain comes, it don’t fall on one man’s house.” Bob Marley
Follow me down memory lane to 1996 when the Democratic slogan was Bridge to the 21st Century. Al Gore followed with Prosperity and Progress in 2000. We, as a country, had money in the bank, our debt was paid down and scheduled to be paid in full in a few years, we had lived through a relatively peaceful eight years and were being diligent about our national security.
Gore was intently focused on future technology and education for the new Green Society of solar and wind technologies, phasing out planet-killing coal and oil. Yes, we were going to avert the climate crisis we are now experiencing, and keep building a society that would provide prosperity for all.
But here we are today, speeding down the Highway to Hell. A stolen election here, a stolen election there and pretty soon you have a fascist government run for the benefit of corporate owners and their cronies, demanding the rest of us grovel and fight for scraps dropped on the ground.
Trump’s Republicons are scrambling to steal everything they can of our collective wealth; meanwhile Chinese and Europeans are working together, building alliances for strengthening their countries’ economic futures. We are quickly becoming a third-rate country without world political power. Thank you, Trump/Republicons.
We passed World Resources Day on August 1, one day earlier than 2017. Collectively, we humans have consumed or wasted all this year’s resources in a mere seven months. Climate change fires are consuming much of the world, including the sub-Arctic! Tornado and hurricane seasons are at hand; last year’s violent storms were a preview of what is to come. Wars are raging, consuming even more resources to kill “others” to steal their resources. Refugees from catastrophes are rushing to relative safety into countries that don’t want them.
These real dangers/problems need to be addressed. We can’t necessarily solve these problems, but we can change course. We can choose a different path.
There’s no time to lose. Check your registration, register others; vote as though Earth depends on you.