If I were to go back to the classroom (I’m now retired from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, Texas), I would not be able to use some of my old-timey terms, like “bamboozled” or “hoodwinked.” That’s what happened to us in the last presidential election!
But, it seems, many (a plurality, but not majority; he did not win a “mandate”) indeed, were fooled. Fooled? Yes. By Musk’s money, by Trump’s promises (“end Ukraine war, Day One;” “lower the price of eggs!”)We now have “egg on our face!”(Sorry, another folksy term).
If I were to deliver classroom lectures again for my Political Science students, I might start with clarification of “politics.” It’s a good term, coming from the Greek word, the “polis,” or the public forum. Then, I would try to UN-confuse my students about terms “public” and “private.” They too often believe those terms, these problems, are the same, No. Not so. Public (governmental budgets and personnel) are not the same as private ones.
What is public? What do we want, need? We need the necessary essentials: solid infrastructure, roads, sewage disposal; basic research, preventing illness; vigilance to keep aircraft from crashing! Moreover, public service, in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, just as it is in the nation, is coterminous with democracy or rule by the people.
But, today? Democracy is in peril. Good government is threatened. Common sense is ignored. Proof? The firing of capable civil servants; the closing off of public, educational and medical research. Many despair. Many react. Some people may say: no way out; “our goose is cooked” (Sorry, another old term from my rural past).
The situation seems surreal. Around, business as normal. But "normal" does not describe the inauguration-Trump without his hand on the Bible, Musk with his (some say) appearance of a "Nazi salute." The chaos since then. Why aren't more people concerned? An apt analogy may explain: a frog sits in warm water; the pot is boiling; he pays no attention; until it is too late! Jump out! Push back!
Others respond, with street protests, in McAllen and Brownsville, Texas. Some hope for more immediate, tangible action. Some even say “Yes, there is a way out. What about (patriotic) military intervention?” After all, Trump and company never were friends of Democracy, never admitted his defeat in 2020 or since. After all, he and they are really in the midst of a coup coup d'état, right now.
Then, friends retort: ”Oh yeah? We say that and, what? We get hit by Trump, backed by Musk’s millions, for sedition?” I must admit, I understand the panic of those concerned. I also understand the genuine fears—of Trump, of Musk, of other coddling Republicans, who know what the politicians they so admire are doing is illegal, not to mention, in violation of common sense, of common decency.
Time will tell. At least, we wait for (some) of the courts to “do the right thing,” before the year 2025 is through. And/or, many wait, hope, for a “wake-up” (when prices are even higher, when government is not protecting them from disease) by the year 2026. That is, if (?) Americans still enjoy Democracy. That is, if we will be still holding open, fair elections. Maybe I should end with another old-timer’s term: “Heaven Help Us!”
Editor’s Note: The above guest column was penned by writer Dr. Gary Joe Mounce, a professor emeritus (political science) at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. He can be reached by email via: gjmounce@gmail.com.
