Feel The Sun Burn

With thanks to the word warriors at the Merriam -Webster dictionary, I now know that we have entered into the canicular time of the year, that hot period in our hemisphere between now and early September (aka: the dog days of summer). It is fitting, politics are also heating up. Though likely to feel like a slow boil up to November,  Iowans and other voters throughout these United States will have the opportunity to "feel the burn" of at least two or more years of conservative policies that are mostly hurting average Americans through higher prices on fuel and items that will now be tariffed by our trading partners (creating job uncertainty/instability, by the way), policies that allow air and water quality to be severely compromised, education to be extremely under-funded, and local property and sales taxes and other "fees" for services to escalate.

   These lazy days of summer are creating discomfort for many people who want a sense of real relief from their state capitals and the chambers of DC (that  they are being told that they are getting), but are seeing little evidence that it is actually occurring. People don't want to play moral "Monopoly" and side with dishonest wheeler-dealers who lull them into thinking they are having a spa retreat when all that is happening is the water on the stove is being turned up incrementally until they and things boil over.

   While many people also are concerned about the mistreatment of immigrants and their families, they also made to worry about "bad" people crossing our borders. They want blue and black lives to matter. They want safer communities and more consistent, common-sense gun laws while also maintaining their right to self-protection. It is likely that with the heat of the summer, tempers may flare and fires of disparagement will be fanned for the sake of driving a wedge between people who are far more alike than not on many issues.

   Even those who wish to restore an America that others fear may be in the rear-view mirror recognize that we can't be great if our allies are uncertain of our goals and question our resolve to live up to our own agreements. It has never worked for one nation to wield so much clout without resistance being fomented. America, as most have known us, has been great because we have used our diplomatic power to broker more democracy in many parts of the world. Clearly we are in uncharted waters with a President whose foreign policy is undefinable and is so self-congratulatory in the face of nebulous results.

   The summer reminds us that while the other seasons bring cool relief to us, only it can bring the degree of discomfort to our entire being and also solace to our tired bones. We may enjoy the warming trend for a period of time, but it can also wear us out and lead us to into doldrums that only the coming of autumn coolness can bring.

   During my self-imposed vacation from social media, I have discovered that losing the voice of the echo chamber has been healthy, like a brief intense breeze on a summer day. It is important to hear each other out. We have seen what a lack of civility and unforgiveness can do to people. We have seen the real enemy; we live with ourselves. May cooler heads prevail in the months ahead, even as we fight for the future of our country. For this democracy to work, we have to make it work every day, with each person to be one nation indivisible. As the bumper-sticker says "We are the change we've been waiting for."