Is an ending in sight? — Has Donald Trump provided his followers — anyone, actually — with specific reasons why all Americans would benefit from his ascension back to the White House? This ridiculous con of the Big Lie, fueled by his other-worldly level of corrupt motivations, doesn’t seem to offer much in the way of…

A useful tool for the unscrupulous — Resentment at being “left behind/left out” has been a sustaining force for many conservatives. That’s not to say their concerns or grievances are meritless, or that the resulting anger and despair are wholly unjustified. …

Preserving democracy is not automatic — While it may have proven true, on occasion, that one must tear down before one can rebuild, American democracy cannot be shoehorned into that adage. Not if it’s to be preserved…. If you aren’t worried about the right-wing extremists subtly taking control of many critical components of democratic [small d]…

Too many aren’t paying enough attention to the GOP — What’s the point? Addressing the many lies and misinformation bombarding Trump supporters and die-hard right-wingers is a challenging, frustrating effort. It’s like playing tennis against multiple opponents at the same time. Continuing denial of the threats posed by climate change; relentless chatter about a stolen election; banning classroom discussions of…

Neglecting policy is not the ideal strategy — Waging this hyper-partisan war of ours may be entertaining for some, gratifying for others, and frightening for the rest. It’s all but impossible to imagine that our increasingly complex, interconnected 21st Century society is best served by perpetual conflict. …

Partisan hostilities suggest not — The right-wing message machine’s greatest strength may be its ability to keep supporters in a perpetual state of righteous indignation, while simultaneously terrified of a further erosion of the America they claim is theirs. Stirred up as millions of conservative Christian Americans are about one liberal excess or another, or…

Misusing their grievances is easy and dangerous — Resentment has been a sustaining force for many right-wing beliefs, fears, and grievances. It’s a convenient tool to abandon democratic principles and respect for America’s great traditions. Those attributes have long supported our nation’s claim as the greatest nation in history. The benefits enjoyed by others and the promises of…

The hijacking of legitimate voter grievances — If the starting point of any effort to convince others of one’s point of view or to obtain support for a course of action is a lie, everything that follows thereafter is at best a farce. …

Avoiding reality is not how to MAGA — Let’s concede this to the loyalists who remain too comfortable ignoring … well, everything about the kind of person Donald Trump is, and is not: You win! (At least as to what seems to be the most important objective: thoroughly pissing off those of us on the Left). Congratulations! Inane…