Screw the powerless and poor - they will still vote for us

The new reality of American life is that our population, as a whole, cannot comprehend any of the machinations of politics or even governmental policy unless people are directly affected. 

The Trump bill to funnel money to the already wealthy and make life just a little more difficult for the middle class and poor is a good example of this. The fact that the changes will make life a bit harder for many Trump voters apparently is not enough to change their basic opinions.

They hate trans people, or at least would rather not be reminded of them. They are OK with a certain number of hungry, uninsured children, or, again, would rather not be reminded of them. They are OK with peaceful residents of their towns to be arrested on the street by government storm troopers in masks and spirited away to, well, anywhere ICE wants to send them. 

They are hopelessly confused (tough to blame them here) about the effects that will ripple through the country when birthright citizenship becomes a state-by-state decision in 30 days. 

Donald Trump has perfume to sell us while he bullies and threatens any person or nation that defies his bizarre pronouncements. 

The Supreme Court has opted out of any attempts to provide balance in our "three equal branches" of government, allowing the executive branch nearly unlimited power.

Rational Americans are now left to see what very bad results come from the budget bill, should it ever pass, wondering if the appalling Republican Party will be soundly defeated in the midterms, which are forever away. 

Here's a guess: they won't. Americans are overwhelmed and uninformed and uneducated. 

I see that Republicans in a recent poll come in at 92 percent saying they are proud to be Americans and of America. Democrats and Independents are barely above 50 percent in the same survey. Among young people it's down to 44 percent saying they are proud of America.

I honestly could not say I am proud of the country right now, though I certainly wish I could vouch for our status and policies and general principles. 

The America is grew up with might have always had a bit of mythology about it, but we are not the same country. We are changed and I know change is inevitable. 

But this is what lots of people voted for. 

I predict Americans will throw the current bums out in 2026, but it won't be enough to right the ship, so to speak. 

Our best hope is to ride things out and see if we can piece things back together in 2029.