Back to the Future

Today was inauguration day for our country's highest office.  It was a day that provoked a lot of emotions for our citizens.  For those who supported President Trump, it was a day of rejoicing.  However for more than half of those who voted (popular vote) it was a day that filled many with a scary sense of uncertainty about our leadership.  While I do hope that President Trump turns outs to be good for the country, he certainly has not inspired my confidence up to this point.  However, just because I did not vote for him, I do agree with the notion that we all need to hope and pray that he succeeds.  I agree with the assessment that if he does well, we all do well. 

I did listen to his inaugural speech today and I have to say that is was for me a depressing listen.  He painted a picture of doom and did nothing to encourage all of us to come together.  I felt like it was just another campaign rally speech mean to appeal to his core supporters.  During the campaign and again today I have really tried to find positive things in his messages.  I simply cannot.  Try as I might, I do not feel confident about our country after listening to him.    

With that being said, what really stuck with me today was a quote from the Washington Post article from January 20, 2017 titled "In Deep Blue Wisconsin Village, 'You Could Feel it Coming'" by Jenna Johnson.  The article is about the community of Tempealeau, Wisconsin and how they flipped from voting Democrat to Republican.  The article quotes a local citizen who twice voted for Obama and then flipped to vote for Trump.  I feel like this quote captured the mood of many in our country and why they voted the way they did.  

The article quotes David Samb, a retired printing union worker as saying, "I'm just tired of where everything is going in the country.  It's like we're giving everything away, and we're not getting anywhere."  He further stated "I just kind of want to get the country back to the way it was." 

This last sentence was the telling line for me.  I have seen this same sentiment echoed in other stories and by friends.  I'm still trying to understand exactly what a person means by "back to the way it was".  Is this just a complaint about the loss of manufacturing jobs?  Is it a complaint regarding the increasing diversity in our population?  Is it a complaint about government overreach?  Is it a complaint about the conservative election rally cry against Obamacare?  Is it all of the above?

All I know is that we can't go back in time.  Globalization and automation are here to stay.  There aren't enough trade wars, taxes etc to change those forces.  Our population is going to continue to become more wonderfully diverse. Obamacare--well, your guess is as good as mine but it seems like we all like the idea of the government attempting to help solve the problems of crazy health care costs in the country without creating a national health care system.  

And while we complain about government overreach, I suspect that there will be plenty of outcry as the Trump administration attempts to make drastic budget cuts or regulatory changes.  I have already seen articles indicating that President Trump wants to drastically cut the budget and according to the article from The Hill (link below) that will include getting rid of things like the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities.  In addition, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting will be privatized.  Surely we don't want to go "back the way it was" and give up on these things.  Nor do I believe that we want to do away with EPA regulations to the detriment of our own health.   

http://thehill.com/policy/finance/314991-trump-team-prepares-dramatic-cuts  

My point here is that rather than lamenting about a by-gone era, we need to pick ourselves up and adapt.  Our President cannot wave a magic wand and make instant changes.  It's up to ALL of us to take on the tough work of improving our lives and communities. We don't have to go back in time to have a prosperous future.