We did it! We left Tyranny as a choice.

Let’s see how badly it blows up in our faces.

Is Fascism an acceptable choice in America? I believe that depends on if we accept it or not.

We accepted it.

“Facepalm” by Fettlaus is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0 Copy

So what now?

Well, we wasted the Mueller Report, and the crimes it contains.

Attempting to impeach on a report that came out in 2019 will come across hollow, and will bring up the obvious question of “Why didn’t the Democrats do anything with this at the time?”

The actual impeachment was narrow, not covering most of what he has done wrong.

The GOP blocked discovery, which is critical for the House of Representatives to be a check on the power of the presidency, and there were no repercussions.

Lamar Alexander made it clear that impeachment is just a question of power for them. It is not about the rule of law, but on the number of votes in the senate.

This was accepted as well.

Presumably the Democrats agree with the GOP take on power, even if they disagree on how the power is used.

Lamar Alexander is wrong, by the way. George Washington at least warned against political parties for this very reason in his farewell address to the nation.

I have already intimated to you the danger of parties in the State, with particular reference to the founding of them on geographical discriminations. Let me now take a more comprehensive view, and warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party generally.

This spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from our nature, having its root in the strongest passions of the human mind. It exists under different shapes in all governments, more or less stifled, controlled, or repressed; but, in those of the popular form, it is seen in its greatest rankness, and is truly their worst enemy.

The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries which result gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of public liberty.

— George Washington

So what’s our path forward?

I believe it’s in accepting the truth.

We are an authoritarian regime run by and for the rich. There is no limit to what a President can do with power. If Donald Trump’s treason is not grounds for removal and immediate prosecution, then nothing is.

Changing this doesn’t require electing one of two sets of parties who can thrive in a system this corrupt, but in changing our personal choices.

We need to change who benefits from our words, labor and money by putting each other above personal preferences.

It’s time for a return to local community, because our institutions are going to tear each other a part. Our “economy” must crash in order for the people to survive.

“Some things are in our control and others not.

Things in our control are opinion, pursuit, desire, aversion, and, in a word, whatever are our own actions.

Things not in our control are body, property, reputation, command, and, in one word, whatever are not our actions.

The things in our control are by nature free, unrestrained, unhindered; but those not in our control are weak, slavish, restrained, belonging to others.

Remember, then, that if you suppose that things which are slavish by nature are also free, and that what belongs to others is your own, then you will be hindered. You will lament, you will be disturbed, and you will find fault both with gods and men.

But if you suppose that only to be your own which is your own, and what belongs to others such as it really is, then no one will ever compel you or restrain you. Further, you will find fault with no one or accuse no one. You will do nothing against your will. No one will hurt you, you will have no enemies, and you not be harmed.”

― Epictetus, Enchiridion

Our choices are within our control.

Clearly our government is not.