The Chaos President and the End of Everything We Know

At some point, we’re all going to arrive at the understanding that it’s on each one of us to survive whatever is coming. And we’re going to have to do whatever we can to help others. Because Donald Trump is never going to be the man some thought he was and others hoped he would become. He has zero empathy or even the ability to understand the seriousness of the pandemic. He never has.

States and first responders are begging for assistance from the federal government. Payroll is in question for some hospitals and the risk is now that they may close completely. Trump reportedly activated the Defense Production Act but won’t actually direct anyone to do anything. He’s waiting for the worst-case scenario to happen and doesn’t understand that we passed that moment three months ago. Or, he’s doing this out of spite.

Intel agencies were sounding the alarm back in January and likely before that. But Donald Trump refused to listen to anyone but his own feelings on the subject, his own denial preventing him from acting when we might have been able to flatten the effect of the pandemic. Instead, we’re in uncharted waters. And it’s almost becoming too much to think about let alone hear about the damage that’s happening.

Whatever the division caused and reinforced by Donald Trump’s endless lies, we need to reunite with friends, family, and neighbors now, because we may not have them in our lives for long. How many of us will die during the pandemic is unknown but estimates aren’t looking good, especially considering the inaction by others in our communities to either stay home or protect themselves and others when they go out. But when you have a president who lies and denies, these same people may be supporters who hang on his every word and don’t believe the danger that surrounds us.

My husband and I raise chickens and we sell our eggs to a friend who collects money from co-workers and then takes the eggs to work the following week to distribute. We do this every other Saturday during the egg-laying season and yesterday, as we waited for her husband to arrive to pick up the eggs (she currently has a cold), we watched as people walked about the grocery store parking lot, no masks or gloves on, as if nothing was amiss.

No one was wearing protection while driving and although the grocery store parking lot was fairly empty considering it was a Saturday morning, people were still going through a fast-food restaurant’s drive-through as we sat there waiting. Even our friend’s husband wasn’t wearing protection as my husband, bandanna in place over his nose and mouth and gloves on, quickly exchanged the eggs for payment, placing the money in a plastic bag and spritzing the empty carrier he exchanged with an alcohol solution before placing any of it in the trunk of the car.

We’ve been using an alcohol or bleach solution on our mailbox, mail, and any packages we receive and wear masks and gloves whenever we go up there. In fact, we’re not bringing anything into the house until it’s been sprayed and left outside for a while.

I realize that we’re in a new normal now, but since Donald Trump refuses to act to protect us, we have no time left to figure this out. I spoke to our oldest son yesterday and he told me that Governor Brown has asked everyone to stay home. The final plan hasn’t yet been completed however I do expect that it will be formalized over the coming days as more cases are reported and a stay-at-home order is likely in Oregon’s near future.

But here’s the thing. We can’t wait any longer for testing kits that aren’t coming. Hospital personnel are becoming creative and figuring out how to use a ventilator for more than one person and I saw one doctor who fashioned a CPAP-like tent out of other materials for breathing assistance. First responders and others are coming up with solutions that Donald Trump refuses to provide.

If Trump would only actually direct companies to begin making masks and ventilators, we might actually get somewhere, but instead, he tells governors and the country that the federal government isn’t a shipping clerk and they must get their supplies on their own. Then, if that’s not enough negligence, he outbids the states for contracts to make the very supplies he refuses to provide.

But when you have a sadist in office, there may be nothing else we can expect. Because it’s clear he and Republicans in Congress only care about bailing out corporations and industries and not the people. Like I said. We’re on our own and it will be up to all of us to sustain each other going forward.

I finally settled on a title for this post and at first blush, it may look like hyperbole. But an article from a guy who knows a thing or two is floating around the internet about what happens in a pandemic such as this, to the people, and to society at large. I can’t read it. My husband read the beginning of it and then set it down. Too much truth.

We’ve been lied to and the country is not on the same page about what is both here and what is coming. It’s time for the media to stop filming Donald Trump saying anything. Report on his lies, but do not release any more video of him. He’s disagreeing with the scientists and doing so on camera. Trump took out his anger toward Dr. Fauci on a reporter when the good doctor publically disagreed with him over untested treatments. He’s unhinged and it’s not going to get any better.

Had Republican Senators actually acted on behalf of the country, we might be in a very different place had Donald Trump been removed from office last December. Although Mike Pence has a poor track record on HIV, he might have been persuaded to act by the Intelligence agencies to protect the country, but we’ll never know that now.

So I end where I first began: At some point, we’re all going to arrive at the understanding that it’s on each one of us to survive whatever is coming. And we’re going to have to do whatever we can to help others. Because Donald Trump is never going to be the man some thought he was and others hoped he would become. The Chaos President has zero empathy or even the ability to understand the seriousness of the pandemic. He never has.

Blessed Be