“Overture…cut the lights. This is it…we’ll hit the heights…Oh what heights we’ll hit…on with the show, this is it!”

All of you baby boomers who ever got up on a Saturday morning and watched Bugs Bunny remember this song if not those lyrics. It was the opening of the cartoon with the caption “Looney Tunes.”

That is about what we are living through now: a bunch of looney tunes running our federal government and screwing up badly!

Since that fateful Nov. 8th election, we have been on a ship with a course hell bent on destruction. Our leader, (I agree with Rep Lewis) though illegitimate, has us on a twisting winding unplanned course that doesn’t give us much security and hope, for the next few years. Our seemingly planned course has us ship wrecked on the reef that cuts to social programs, the sandbar of ill health, and the rocks of a wider economic inequality. The wealthy, it seems are destined to get more of the lions share, of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” while the vast majority get a greater chance of death with the possible cutting of health care and less and less freedom as evident by the number of prisoners in jail for non-violent drug crimes and the unforgivable violence our police have shown to blacks, Hispanics, and the working class. We now find ourselves pursuing money instead of happiness just to keep afloat financially.

There was a time when my Father, a tool and die maker, could support his family with his income, provide food-shelter-health care and even fishing trips to the New Jersey coast during the summer weekends, and an occasional vacation up or down the East Coast.

Today people making low 6 figures, find they have no savings at years end. Those making a minimum wage find themselves at the mercy of government handouts or church and/or community charities. This is not a very ego boasting way to live life.

Why are so many of us at this low place? Our government doesn’t work for the people. Instead it works for the moneyed interests; those that can give millions to campaigns, those that can afford lobbyists, those that can afford fancy high-priced legal representation, those that have the inside on Wall Street, the ones that control the banks and investment houses.

A man or woman supporting a household doesn’t need a Mercedes parked outside of a million dollar mansion. They simple want the dignity of knowing they can provide a service, something beneficial to their community, in exchange for a decent place to live, food for their families, and health care if needed. They are looking for pride self-respect, and self-sufficiency. They don’t want government handouts. (Yes, I know there are a few, but the vast huge majority will take ego and pride over a handout any day of the week.)

Instead, we have trained people to expect nothing from life. We have not educated them to know there is more than just minimum wage. We have taught them that their place is in the ghetto where they were born and the way out doesn’t exist.

But, we must hope that this is all about to change in a few short years. With the pendulum swinging so far to the right, it can’t swing any further before it must swing back. The time to reclaim our country and our government from the wealthy class that has taken over our democracy is coming. When it does come it will come with a BIG swing. Single payer health care for ALL. Social security will increase for the elderly because those making millions will begin to pay their fair share. Minimum wage will increase to a livable wage (right now they are calling for an increase from $7.25 to a minimum wage of $12/ hr. Is that really a wage that can support a couple let alone a family? I don’t think so. Not when a doctor’s visit costs $120 and a filling costs $350 and forget about a crown $1200. A lawyer makes $250 - $300 per hour, a mechanic working on your car is from $45 - $75 and up, and don’t even ask what our Congress pays itself and their bennies.) A livable wage is not a lot to ask.

The good ‘ol boys—you know them: the white pasty boys of the club like Trump, Pence Sessions, Bannon, McConnell, Hatch, and all the rest—will be on their way out or dying off. We must replace this old bunch of self-servicing asses with quality men and women from all walks of life not just lawyers, doctors, bankers, and big business millionaires and billionaires. Just look at the new cabinet. Does that look like a cross section of our country? Does it look like we will get equal representation for all economic levels in our country? Do you think they are there to represent you a working stiff barely scrapping by?

They are in office now but that won’t last long. This is their last hurrah. This is the last time they will rule and tilt everything their way. This is their last shot at fixing the economy just for them.

No this is their last shot and it is exactly what is going to wake up the American people and cause them to throw off their republican clothing and don a new garb, a new outlook, a new perspective of where we are as a nation and where we need to go. In my highest vision, that path to equality for all will be lead by a new, honest set of politicians whose interests are in line with the “majority” of Americans not just the wealthy few.

And who knows maybe the wealthy will wake up and realize that all people desire and deserve a decent fair equitable chance at “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” on an equal playing field and do their share to making that become reality.

Or not. In which case the poor will be poorer, the middle class will completely disappear, the rich will be richer and life will continue this downward spiral.

Oh no, I’m beginning to feel sick. Are you? If so take two aspirins and call me in the morning...or email!