This is Gonna Be Fun

Late Tuesday night I received a text message from daughter number 4. She was confounded that Mary Burke had lost the election to Scott Walker. She simply could not understand how enlightened, fair-minded people could have voted for …. well, I won’t include the adjectives she used to describe Mr. Walker. There have been other times in the past when my children have been frustrated or frightened by things going on in the world and I have had to use my experience – read “old age” – to put things in perspective. After all, I have had the profound experience of living through Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan. I can assure all of you – this too shall pass. In the meantime, I want you to remember one important lesson from the past – it is just flat out easier to laugh at Republican politicians, especially the current crop. How can we help it? Have you ever listened to Glen Grothman? He is an elected representative of the people of Wisconsin who proposed banning public school teachers from mentioning homosexuality in sex ed classes because teachers had an “agenda” to turn kids gay? He’s ashamed of us. “What must God think of our country?”  How about Jody Hice from Georgia? Again, this guy was ACTUALLY elected to represent Americans! He believes that Muslims have no protection under the First Amendment and that gays can be cured. Oh, and this … women can enter politics “if the woman is within the authority of her husband.” (I am not making ANY of this up!)  Did you hear Scott Walker say – with a straight face I might add - that Mary Burke was a product of “special interests” and that HE was a strong supporter of affordable health care? Or that he supports public education? What a hoot! And how about Mitch “our #1 goal is to obstruct the Obama presidency” McConnell’s plea to “seek common ground”? Hysterical! You can be certain we will have two years of hilarity. Just keep your sense of humor.

It is also important that you remember the purpose of satire. Satire – according to the dictionary – is the use of irony, sarcasm, or caustic wit to denounce vice, folly, or stupidity. While it is often entertaining, satire also helps to reveal the truth and this is the part that requires your attention. It’s easy to laugh at those who tell blatant lies. When a politician talks about “legitimate rape” or -as in Colorado- when a state representative performs an exorcism of the President, we can dismiss him as a fool.  But things have changed today. The lies have become more illusive. Scott Walker will take billions from public schools, increase private school vouchers, and then look you right in the eye and say he supports our public schools. The Koch Brothers will fund multiple lobby groups to elect politicians who will dismantle environmental regulations and then claim they support a clean environment. So always remember WHY you are laughing. You are laughing because you believe that calling out ridiculous behavior will make things better. And you recognize that satire only works against those with power. When Jon Stewart makes fun of John Boehner it’s funny because Boehner is a millionaire politician. When Rush Limbaugh calls a college student giving testimony before Congress a “slut”, he is being cruel. Remember to keep seeking the truth.

So, as we move into these next two years, I’m certain that our new Republican majority will pull together to support the things average people want: more guns in each house, lower pay, longer hours, and the elimination of the “Cadillac” health plans those union thugs got. (Forgive me. I’m using satire. Although our own Glen Grothman did suggest that Wisconsin’s progressive labor law that requires workers to have one 24 hour period off in each week is “a little goofy”.) The truth is average people would like to have a living wage, good healthcare and safe working conditions. Republicans say we already have all this IF you are a good person and your work hard. Unless, of course, you are gay – then you will burn in hell for eternity. (Sorry. Satire again.) I’m also sure our Republican congress will move quickly to expand the amount of money individuals can secretly spend on elections. I for one was shocked that I was limited to only $123,200 for political contributions. Thank goodness the Supreme Court has cleared the way for average working Americans to truly engage in the American Democracy. (Okay. I give up. It is impossible to avoid sarcasm to expose stupidity.)

I know things are going to get truly funny, but I hope the joke isn’t on us. Fortunately, we can always count on Iowa. First, there was level headed Michelle Bachmann and now, Joni Ernst. When she’s not castrating pigs, she likes to show off her “beautiful little Smith & Wesson”. Thank goodness she understands that climate change is a hoax, that social security is way too effective and should be privatized, that abortion providers should be punished, and that hard working Americans should not have to put up with the “takers” who are lazy and irresponsible. And I haven’t even mentioned Louie Gohmert……. (To be continued…)