Finding It Harder to Recognize Your Country Lately?
If Republicans Have Their Way, It Will Get Much Worse, Very Quickly
If America seems less and less like the country you grew up in, or more to the point, less and less like a country you want to live in, it’s time to face the hard truth: It’s distinctly possible things will get worse, and soon.
When the GOP finally found a way to overthrow nearly 50 years of Roe v. Wade, some people said it was like the dog that caught the car, as if they didn’t know what to do next. Make no mistake, the GOP and their Christian Nationalist supporters know precisely what they intend to do.
The Alabama Supreme Court’s IVF, “life begins at conception” decision was a warning shot, and the Alabama GOP’s reaction was telling, desperate as they were to pass legislation to nullify the decision.**
Make no mistake, while it may not be top of their list, the “pro-life,” Christian Nationalist GOP is coming for IVF. But first, some of their higher priorities, in no particular order:
Attempting a nation-wide, federal abortion ban (most likely at 6 weeks). Never mind a ban like this is radically unpopular, Christian Nationalists know best. Republicans oppose Islamic Shariah law, but only in concept, not in principle. In reality they deeply and fully embrace the idea of legislating their Christian values as the law of the land, for all Americans.
The so-called “Party of Life” is no such thing, and they expose their hypocrisy at every opportunity. Watch what the pro-lifers do to illegal immigrants if Trump is re-elected. Believe him when he tells you, Trump will find a way to round up and ghettoize immigrants, no matter what the courts say.***
There are so many ways the GOP will continue to try to change the country from what we recognize, but sticking with the “pro-life” theme, these legislative priorities are coming:
Cutting benefits for all, whether food programs for children, health care, and even Social Security, and as always, in the name of tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy. All the while, denying support programs for Americans while they perform their pro-life charade.
Ostracizing LGBTQ Americans, and LGBTQ youth especially. As I mentioned, they never miss a chance at hypocrisy, so even as the GOP talks about “parental rights,” these rights don’t apply for the parents of an LGBTQ child.
De-humanizing their “enemies” overall. In disturbingly consistent and escalating language, Trump and his supporters degrade, devalue and de-humanize Americans they disapprove of. This is the scenario that could escalate most quickly out of control if Trump wins again.
Watch too for Trump’s language related to the January 6th criminals. He’ll pardon them all, and it could be the start of an unofficial militia. Trump and the GOP’s “brownshirts,” with their leader endlessly willing to encourage their worst instincts, and empowered to pardon them from the consequences at the same time.
These are difficult times we live in, with the very real possibility that we’ll look back on them fondly this time next year.
It’s a strange feeling to wish so strongly to be wrong.
- *And I don’t mean “worse before they get better,” either.
- **For now.
- ***And that’s if the Supreme Court even has the spine to tell him no, when any and all eventual appeals rise to them.
