Ding-dong! The Wicked Witch is dead!
Well, not exactly a witch, per se, but you get the idea, dear reader. It was definitely an ogre, however, who has been eating our bones for the past four years.
We still have to put up with the ogre for another two months, and it is likely to use that time to work some mischief. For instance, because it has not yet conceded the election, it may have to be pried out of the White House by a team of U.S. marshals. Or, it may call upon its loyal followers, especially those which have formed militias to come to its rescue, resulting in a civil war in the streets of Washington, D.C.. Or, it may issue scores of pardons to individuals who ought not to be pardoned and thus make a mockery of American jurisprudence. Or, it may sign scores of executive orders concerning everything under the Sun and leave its successor to clean up its mess. Or, gasp!, it may abscond with the White House china and silverware and blame the theft on its former staff members.
One thing Donald J. Trump absolutely will do until the end of time, or the end of him, whichever comes first, is to tweet incessantly about how the election was stolen from him. There is one bright ray of sunshine in all of these shenanigans, however. At noon January 20, 2021, he no longer will be a sitting president and therefore subject to criminal proceedings. The State of New York would like to have a wee chat with him concerning his finances. And mayhap, his successor’s Department of Justice may come knocking at his door.
But enough of Trump. The rest of this essay will be in the form of an open letter to president-elect Joseph R. Biden. To wit:
The Chas would like to congratulate you, sir, on your stupendous win despite the barrage of lies and misinformation leveled at you by the Other Side (OS). Third time’s a charm, eh?
The triple threat which faces all of America (indeed all of Planet Earth), a pandemic, climate change, and a faltering economy, requires that you hit the ground running January 20, 2021. The first threat should be met by a team of health professionals who have been ignored because they refused to kiss the emperor’s backside. The second should be met by re-joining the Paris Climate Agreement. The third should be met by enacting the Heroes Act stimulus packages that the U.S. House of Representatives passed May 15 and revised October 1.
The next phase should be the repeal all of your predecessor’s executive orders that rolled back regulations dealing with the environment, workers’ rights and safety, banking, education, fossil fuels, and many more. Feel free to add a few new regulations which are necessary.
If it should happen that your political Party wins both undecided Georgia Senate seats January 5, 2021, thus giving you virtual control of the Congress, do not waste your time pleading with the Other Side to get on board with your legislative agenda. The OS had none of it when you were vice president to Barack Obama, and it will have none of it now, instead obstructing you every step of the way.
Be bold, and enact Medicare for All and the Green New Deal. Do not be afraid of being called a socialist. The charge is spurious, meant to scare you, and all Americans, into working against your, and their, best interests. Both of these measures will reduce costs in the long run and eliminate the many inequalities which beset our society. Obviously, these are long-term projects, but you, sir, can lay the foundation for a revitalized America and create for yourself a legacy for generations to come.
And you mustn’t forget your place upon the world stage, specifically in light of the broken bonds created by your predecessor. In addition to the Paris Climate Agreement, return to the Iran nuclear agreement, re-join the agencies of the United Nations so thoughtlessly discarded, and withdraw all American troops from every theater of war, to be replaced with diplomacy and mediation. Make nice to so-called “enemies” (e.g. Cuba) and be tough with so-called “friends” (e.g. Israel and Saudi Arabia).
The next four years may very well be a watershed in American history, Mr. Biden. With resolve and fortitude, you, and all Americans, can overcome the difficulties we now face and fulfill the promises upon which our Republic was founded. Ad futura!
Just a thought.