Trump has us on dangerous precipice

Life in America did not used to be like this. People expressed strong political opinions but we expected an air of civility and stability among our nation's leaders.
Much as the Nixon administration unraveled, and maybe the president was talking to portraits at the White House, the legislative process rolled on with lots of important provisions. Many of those provisions would today be described as progressive and enlightened. Nixon gave us the EPA. He was far more interested in power than in ideology.
The present danger with Trump isn't that he's just focused on power, he appears to be manipulated by people and forces around him. The danger is that those forces don't have the best interests of the American people in mind. Creating the EPA had that purpose, even though you might feel skepticism as an anti-big government conservative.

Being president of the U.S. is the most distinguished honor imaginable. It should be assumed that the holder could put aside his personal business interests. That's even if your business interests are conventional and not shady-appearing.
Need I explain to you the shady nature of Trump's background? He overcame his background on the national stage with his sheer skill as an entertainer and celebrity. This was honed through the particular craftsmanship of that field. Remember, knaves, "reality shows" are quite divorced from sheer reality. They can be based on reality which is commendable. But the element of suspense you can sense in these shows is contrived. I sense that most of you are aware of that. "Call of the Wildman" has a featured performer who has the background in dealing with the wild creatures.
We increasingly seem to be dealing with a wild creature in the White House. We can easily feel that the nation is entering a danger area as the daily developments proceed. We occasionally reach what we swear is going to be a tipping point. But we tune in to the TV news the next day and find that all the fusses just continue.
Trump "files suit" against any enforcement action attempted vs. him, actions designed simply to get information because government is supposed to be an orderly and credible process. If I get a traffic ticket, I can't "file suit" to challenge it, not even to delay it. The big, wealthy movers and shakers can get batteries of high-priced attorneys to dodge and delay on many fronts.
Yes it seems dysfunctional, but historically we have found insulation in the fact we elect basically good people to high elected office. It should be assumed. The fact that this assumption is being pushed aside, is a matter that obviously concerns us now.
Again, there are times when I feel like a "Twilight Zone" character who is normal and rational in a town of deluded souls, manipulated by heaven knows what. George W. Bush was quite the adversary for progressive-minded people. Remember the Keith Olbermann show night after night? How distanced we are from those times. Quaint now to reflect. Bush was properly grounded to become president.
 
Trump sentiment in Morris
I know, Trump's wild-eyed supporters including many farmers across the U.S., would say they liked him because "he's not a politician." We are reaping what we sow now. That "we" includes prominent people of this Morris community. Do we really want such a "red state" badge in our community which is home to the enlightened University of Minnesota-Morris? In the past we would happily describe UMM as "progressive" when that term was more benign.
The wild-eyed Trump-ites seem to be increasingly flexing their muscles. One wonders if our U.S. House of Representatives is going to have the proper authority to be a check on the dangerous man in the White House. Our mayor of Morris has described himself in the state's prime media as a Trump voter. Please, tamp that down.
I was struck by another revelation lately. A man considered to be a prime business success and achiever in our community - compliments I would certainly not dispute - is under the Trump influence. I know this because I recently took some recreational walks north of Morris. It's nice they put some gravel on that road. My, this spring is wet. This is a lightly-traveled road going north toward Wintermute Lake. The road goes past the old Heartland Motors as one goes north. The building has an abandoned look. So does the old Sunwood Inn most of the time. Ditto with "Northern Impressions" and Shopko, the latter officially in a phase of going bust. Remember they don't accept checks now. All this stuff is on the northern edge of Morris.
So, does the City of Morris really think there will be new development on the new service road by Grandstay? If there is optimism about this, I'd appreciate someone communicating with me.
OK so if you go north of Morris on the lightly-traveled dirt road, you'll see something pretty interesting. I innocently took a walk out there and was not looking for anything provocative. In other words, I wasn't looking for trouble, so can I just take a nice peaceful walk without having the thing become political? Huh? I am going out of my way to get exercise because in the last couple years of my mom's life, I got almost none.
 
A not so subtle statement
I see a nice opulent residence going north. Congrats to the occupant on having the drive and enterprise to achieve such a comfortable life. There is a flagpole outside. An American flag is on top, wonderful. Below the flag is something not so wonderful. It's a flag with the name "Trump" on it. Underneath are some small words I cannot make out. Perhaps it's "make America great again," I don't know. Heavens, I don't want to be seen using binoculars out there.
So we have a mayor of the community declaring Trump support to the Star Tribune of the Twin Cities, and now I see a leading captain of industry flying a Trump flag. The name I see on the mailbox outside is "Neil Schmidgall."
The Trump supporters are incapable of being humbled. They can't recognize that the American people sent a message by electing Democrats to a majority in the House of Representatives. The rabid Trump people cannot understand why the public sometimes turns Democratic. Shall we assume the local Apostolics all vote straight Republican? Why is their position not defensible? We might argue that on pure principle, one-party rule is dangerous.
We in Minnesota elect a Democratic attorney general because the mass of common folks need protection from being ripped off by unscrupulous corporations, the likes of Wells Fargo. A Democrat will be vigilant with this while Republicans only shake their heads over excessive regulation. It's a mantra for them. In the real world, government has to ensure that the common citizens have some breathing room for living a comfortable life.
Many of us are not as sharp and savvy as the business leaders and innovators. But we don't want to be trampled on. Nor do we want our churches sucked into the vortex of Trump and Republican mania. We don't want anti-abortion to become like a litmus test, and by that I mean the legal banning of abortion and imprisonment of those taking part in it. We are on the threshold of having to deal with that as more and more of Trump's judge selections get confirmed.
As the "normal" resident of that Twilight Zone place, I'm concerned. Morris MN should not be known as a place full of red state yahoos. We ought not countenance kids being put in cages.
- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com