Are These the Changes You Wanted?

Many of us in this country have felt the need for some changes in our political environment for some time – less partisanship, more cooperation, Congress remembering that we elected them to work for the best for the people and the country, not their party. This need for change led to the last election – well, the need for change along with a little help from the Russians and Wikileaks – and now, after less than a month of this new regime (and I use that word purposefully), we are seeing changes. Therefore, my question – are these the changes you wanted?

From The Week magazine:
“On Wednesday, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee held hearings on legislation to “modernize” the Endangered Species Act, part of a push by Republicans to roll back environmental regulations and protections. The Republicans on the committee, led by Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), and three of the five witnesses at the hearing argued that the 1973 law to keep animal species from extinction impedes oil drilling, mining, and farming, and infringes on the rights of states and private landowners. The proposed legislation would make it harder to list animals on the endangered species list and limit legal action under the 1973 law, among other changes.”

What I hear is that oil drilling, mining, etc. are far more important than our environment. I do not like what I hear. Not a change I asked for.

Again from The Week, regarding Rex Tillerson’s first overseas trip:
“Tillerson refused to take questions after delivering his statement on Ukraine, and State Department aides asked the press to leave Tillerson’s meeting with Lavrov immediately following Lavrov’s introductory remarks. The New York Times reported the Russian news crew was “bewildered-looking,” and Lavrov was apparently overheard asking Tillerson, “Why did they shush them out?”

Transparency? Apparently on the same level as honesty and real facts, as opposed to alternative facts.

“House Republicans just introduced a bill that would terminate the Environmental Protection Agency by the end of next year, full stop.

H.R. 861, which was introduced on February 3 by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida) and cosponsored by Reps. Steven Palazzo (R-Mississippi), Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky), and Barry Loudermilk (R-Georgia) only contains one sentence: “The Environmental Protection Agency shall terminate on December 31, 2018.” The bill is currently awaiting action in the House Science, Space, and Technology committee.”

Of course. Our environment doesn’t need protecting. We’re doing just fine, right? Not a change I asked for.

And this, from the New Yorker:
“WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)—An exuberant Betsy DeVos said on Monday that Donald J. Trump’s forty-per-cent approval rating is a “clear indication” that more than half the country agrees with the job he is doing.

“I was so excited to see the President’s approval rating hit forty,” DeVos, the Secretary of Education, told reporters. “Just knowing that well more than half the country is with him gives us a great sense of confidence moving forward.”

You wanted this change, right? A Secretary of Education who thinks 40% is over one-half? Hmmm. Why am I not sharing her sense of confidence?

From the Huffington Post:
“Dairy farmers and fruit and vegetable growers, both of whom rely heavily on an immigrant workforce to harvest their goods, are expressing fears that Trump’s promise to up immigration enforcement and build a border wall with Mexico could eliminate much of its workforce.”

Thereby raising costs, of course. Are you, or your kids, willing to go out and work the fields this summer? Yeah. Me neither.

I could go on and on and on – I feel a bit like a ballistic missile about so many things right now. I could mention the purported cost of the wall. I could mention rumored cuts to Social Security and Medicare. I could mention cuts to many other departments that provide necessary aid to those who need it. I could mention 45’s obsession with having a “huge” majority in the election or many of his other insecure proclamations. I could mention a cabinet of billionaires with absolutely no experience in running a government. And no, a government is not like any other business, not even close. I could mention the apparent complete chaos in the government right now. I could mention Security Agencies that are afraid to share information with 45. I could mention people who are so concerned about our direction they risk their jobs and livelihood by leaking information in an attempt (ill-advised or not) to get us back on track. Before it’s too late. I could mention the fact that, during the campaign 45 loudly and frequently claimed Hillary as a Wall Street puppet – yet we have many Wall Street people in his close circle, and in the cabinet. Or at least nominated for the cabinet. I could mention an Attorney General who is well-known to be racist. I could mention extreme positions of 45’s advisors – again, people with no governmental experience.

Yes. Changes are needed. But I ask, are these the changes that are needed?