Good People

Watched the documentary on Michelle Obama’s book tour of “Becoming.” Took the viewer back to better days when we had leaders we admired and listened to. Leaders who listened to us and worked to fulfill our hopes and dreams, not just for ourselves, but for our nation.

I remember speeches from both Obamas. Afterward I recall feeling good knowing that people of good heart were at the helm of our political world and government. Intelligent people who did not provide window dressing for problems, but actual solutions. 

Michelle Obama affirmed her faith in not just our country, but in the people. She was fond of saying she ‘believed the American people are fundamentally good.’

I echo that belief. I don’t always feel that way, but then I am on Facebook and exposed to a lot of negativity there. Negativity and nonsense political noise. Unsubstantiated claims, outright lies and all the rest.

But that’s not all. Skimming internet news feeds we learn:

-Postal service removing collection boxes at high rate

-Postal service high-speed sorting machines being removed from processing

-Postal service budgets cut to thwart capability of processing mail-in ballots in the November election

-Postmaster General is a large contributor to Trump campaign; owner of stocks in companies directly competing with the US Postal Service

-Morale at Postal Service at all time low; all signs of slowing down mail-in election ballot processing

These items pertain only to the Postal Service. There are other news items that demonstrate an intent to undercut commonsense operations of Executive Branch agencies. These would include the Education Department under Secretary DeVos slashing budgets for public education across the nation, funneling public dollars to private schools, and much more. Commerce Department has worked hard to block aid to small businesses, struggling state agencies designed to support small business success during the COVID emergency. Undercutting the Environmental Protection Agency in a time of global warming and increasing weather emergencies that point to rising sea levels along all coastal regions of the country.

These are just a few items to jog your memory. News feeds catalog a daily assault on government operations. These agencies are assigned tasks that serve the public interest. They are not ideological fiefdoms to make life better for a precious few. Rather, these agencies are there to do the hard work that states and private companies cannot do without national coordination, research and supportive funding. Undercutting their operations directly undercuts services to the American People. You and I.

We know we are good and trustworthy in the main. Why then are dark forces so energized to flip our world upside down? What is their motivation? Why do they believe in all of this?

I find solace in knowing the vast majority of people working in these agencies are like you and I – good people doing good, honest work. Not for their own benefit, but for our benefit as a society.

The November elections will set a better course. In the final analysis, good people vote and will make a difference. Good will chase out the bad. I believe this. It makes me feel better day after day. It is the hope that fuels better tomorrows.

May you feel hope today and tomorrow, too.

August 19, 2020