The New Year: A Time to Mourn and Tremble, Not Celebrate

by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)

Ending one year into the next promises likely worse times ahead than current dismal ones - the frigid weather in much of America a fitting accompaniment to reckless US policies at home and abroad.

Trump's inaugural address made lofty promises. In hindsight, his remarks offered more proof that all politicians lie. 

Believe none of them. Rare exceptions prove the rule. Nearly a year into his tenure, things are more dismal than when it began.

He pledged to serve all Americans. Saying he'd "fight for you with every breath in (his) body, and (he'd) never, ever let you down" was a bald-faced lie - what we should have expected straightaway post-inauguration, instead of futilely hoping for something better.

He claimed the "time for empty talk (was) over," promising to serve all Americans equitably. He exclusively serves its privileged few - the great GOP tax cut heist one of many examples of his deplorable first year in office.

He pledged under his administration, power would be transferred to "the people."

He meant Wall Street, war-profiteers, Big Oil, other corporate favorites, and super-rich Americans like himself - benefitting hugely at the expense of most others.

Candidate Trump criticized wasting trillions of dollars on endless wars. President Trump escalated ongoing ones, others in mind against new targeted nations.

He promised improved relations with Russia. They're worse than any time in decades. He's pathologically hostile to North Korea and Iran.

Will he wage war against them, perhaps with nuclear weapons? Will he risk conflict with Russia and China? Venezuela and other sovereign independent countries are on his target list.

Trump: "For too long, a small group in our nation's capital has reaped the rewards of government, while the people have borne the cost." 

"Washington flourished, but the people did not share in its wealth. Politicians prospered, but the jobs left and the factories closed." 

"The establishment protected itself, but not the citizens of our country. Their victories have not been your victories." 

"Their triumphs have not been your triumphs, and while they celebrated in our nation's capital, there was little to celebrate for struggling families all across our land." 

"That all changes, starting right here and right now, because this moment is your moment. It belongs to you. It belongs to everyone…all across America.

Remember this lofty inauguration day rhetoric? Things indeed changed. They got worse, not better, under the most recklessly dangerous, neocon infested, administration in US history. 

It escalated war on humanity, increased the transfer of wealth from ordinary people to corporate predators and its super-rich. 

He betrayed the base electing him to the nation's highest office.

Last January 20 was no time for celebration, the state of the nation now worse than when he entered office.

It's on a slippery slope toward greater imperial wars on humanity, possible nuclear war in against one or more countries, greater homeland poverty, unemployment and or/underemployment, greater offshoring of jobs, greater homelessness and hunger, greater human deprivation in the world's richest country.

"The forgotten men and women of our country" remain abused and exploited under his leadership.

Calling the oath of office he took "an oath of allegiance to all Americans" was willful deception by a leader never to be trusted.

He's a warrior president, not a peacemaker, supporting the scourge of terrorism he pledged to combat.

Instead of getting along with all nations, cooperating with them, he's at war in multiple theaters and adversarial toward all sovereign independent states.

Instead of governing responsibly, he's just another dirty politician, surrounding himself with neocons, billionaires like himself, Wall Street crooks, and other corporate predators - ordinary Americans shut out entirely.

He fosters imperial madness instead of ending it. With a clean slate entering office, he deserved a chance to govern responsibly.

He failed straightaway. He's no man of the people. On January 20, a new era in America began.

It's worse in virtually all respects from what preceded him - a rogue leader head of a rogue state against virtually everything just societies are supposed to be.

Be scared, very scared about what's likely coming.

VISIT MY NEW WEB SITE: stephenlendman.org (Home - Stephen Lendman). Contact at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

My newest book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html