If only people learned from it.

Fascism leaves a stain on a nation's honor.  It's been over 70 years since WWII ended, and still the mere mention of Germany calls to mind an ugly era in their history.  Some may wonder how Germany could have elected a maniac like Hitler.  Well, their economy had been reduced to a shambles, and by hostile foreign powers.  The promise of a return to national greatness was a seductive appeal.

Contrast this with America today, where we've had over 7 years of growth since the Great Recession, and 73 consecutive months of job gains-- a record.  Yet Americans were still disgruntled, and responded to the Pied Piper call of a demagogue.  I wonder what kind of maniac we would accept if we'd had an economic collapse. I don't know, but I'd expect he'd come with the fervent approval of the usual gang of online psychotics.

I don't think economic frustration was the biggest factor here.  It's more about Identity Politics:  racial and religious.  Since the election there's been a sharp upswing in ugly racist/sexist/anti-Semitic incidents.  The campaign unleashed this, made it seem acceptable.  Before the election, I gave the American people more credit than this.  I thought we were largely over such bigotry.  Sure, there was chafing at Political Correctness, and PC sometimes went too far, but at its core it's mostly consideration for others, and that's something we should not abandon.  Now a lot of people think the restraints are off, and it's okay to let it out.  It's a heady experience.

I'm sad that I overestimated the level of decency in the American people.  Decency was on the ballot and it lost.  I don't know if we can step away from this.  (And a not-even half-hearted "Stop it" from the guy who unleashed it won't do the trick.  Especially when his first spate of appointments have a history of racial animosity.)  But I think I'll decline the Transcript Editor's kind offer to go to Cuba.  (Why not Denmark?)  I could have used the free medical care in a year in which I was diagnosed with cancer, but I think my efforts are needed here more than ever.  No matter how unpopular being a national scold makes me.

Sincerely,

Stephen Van Eck

Rushville, PA