My insane response to current politics
Staying on the Fence is not "Fake"
I just got finished watching a video on youtube where a black woman (I suppose she is a Trump fan) was attacking Kamala Harris for her flaky answers to various questions that she is asked. The woman called Harris "fake". I thought it was funny in a way because I can understand how Trump fans would see him as more "authentic" than Harris, but Harris is being more "political" based on the standards set for the definition of "political". The woman says that Harris is "fake" because she can not answer the question about the border problem. She dodges and dances around the question. This is exactly why I stay on the fence about this election. This is just like Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan - with Trump as Tonya and Nancy as Harris. Nancy is what the judges wanted: nice and sweet with the proper clothing. It didn't matter to the judges that Tonya could do a triple axel. She didn't dress or speak the way they wanted her to. Trump and Tonya were just being authentic. But that's not political. There is no rule in any Political Science book that says authenticity is a staple of politics.
Another question that the woman was upset about was: "Was it better for Americans while Trump was in office or while Biden was in office?" Kamala Harris did not answer the question. She danced around it again replying that she is a leader who likes to solve problems. It's obvious to the woman who was upset in the video and calling Harris fake for such replies that Harris can not provide answers to questions. I don't think that is fake. I think that is incompetent. Harris hasn't done her research or she would have been able to answer the question instead of doing her political mumbo jumbo dance.
So I'm going to answer the question for Harris. Because I know that I'm a real diamond, not a cubic zirconia. And I have done my research in regards to the timeline of the past eight years from 2017 when Trump/Pence took office to 2021 when Biden/Harris took office to now 2024 nearing election.
All I can say that is when I look at my life for the past eight years, it was neither better or worse during either Presidency because I do not feel that any problems were solved during either leadership. Let's look at the timeline.
2017. I was re-awarded Social Security Disability for mental illness. I can not hold a job because of my disfunctional behavior caused by Bipolar Disorder. That October, my husband went back to prison. What were Trump and Pence doing at that time? How should I know? Were they there when the Tampa and Clearwater Housing Authority rejected me and said housing is just like the lottery? Should I blame that on them?
2018. I got my first Felony for Aggravated Assault. It was a domestic violence situation. It was a stand your ground situation. It was a tragic situation of homeless people fighting for a roof over their heads. Is that when the looting and riots began? Or is that when the meth dealers and pain pill dispensaries started to get busted? Who's to blame for all that?
2019. I was free from jail and homeless. Lost everything. Left Florida. Stayed in Georgia, Virginia, and New Jersey. Learned that healthcare provided by Medicare changes from state to state. Was penalized for that several times. Who's to blame for that? Medicare? or United Healthcare? or Obamacare? Or Nobody because Nobody cares about the homeless?
2020: I was living in a small room in Keansburg, New Jersey. Corona Virus epidemic began. I was attacked twice by two different women. I was incarcerated twice for mental health issues. I became homeless again. I returned to Florida to be with my husband who had been released from prison. Who's to blame for any of that? Did Trump or Harris create Corona Virus? Did Trump or Harris force us to wear masks? Neither? Both?
2021: We all got stimulus checks. I got into a 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe. It was vandalized. Though I had payments and insurance to handle, I could not hold on to my telemarketing job due to various health issues. I could not afford to make those payments and fix the damages cause by vandalism or repairs needed for a used car not covered by warranty. I returned the vehicle. Who's fault was that? Trump? Harris? Both? Neither?
2022: My husband and I moved into a small apartment in a duplex. It was a dump that required about $900 per month to live in. But at least I wasn't homeless. I stayed home, tended the garden, cooked, shopped with my credit cards, learned about online business, and felt the pain of how my marriage was falling apart. How my husband and I had become so estranged to each other. How nothing he did was good enough for me and nothing I did was good enough for him. Was that to be blamed on Trump or Harris?
2023: My husband had given me a van for Christmas 2022. Since we weren't getting along, I used that van to go on three trips out of state. I went to Georgia, Alabama, the Carolinas, and Virginia. I had some very nice times. They were extremely expensive. I ran up my credit cards and could not pay them back. I looked for a job, couldn't find one anywhere. I looked for affordable housing, couldn't find that anywhere either. I was so exhausted I ended up back in the mental hospital, three times. Who's fault was that? My finances and health were depleted. Should I blame that on Biden? Or Harris? Or Trump?
2024: I sold my van for $2000. I bought another used car for the same amount. Then I went to find out why I haven't seen a real doctor in eight years while I've been to the mental hospital over nine times in the past eight years. What happened? Did all the real doctors die of Corona Virus or did they all become shrinks? Was my healthcare plan only for Trazedone and not for the pain in my knees or my back? Does anyone care about my ear infection? What about the recent news I got from the mammogram last week? Is it Trump or Harris that I should blame if I have breast cancer?
Look. Politics is a dirty game. I don't have to be "fake" about answering the question that Harris couldn't answer. Was America better under Trump or Harris? The answer is: For Who? For me? For you? For Trump? For Harris? Ask yourself.
About the Creator
Shanon Angermeyer Norman
Gold, Published Poet at allpoetry.com since 2010. USF Grad, Class 2001.
Currently focusing here in VIVA and Challenges having been ECLECTIC in various communities. Upcoming explorations: ART, BOOK CLUB, FILTHY, PHOTOGRAPHY, and HORROR.
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Comments (5)
Hi Shannon, First of all, I was captivated by your story. I think your voice is one that needs to be heard. It represents so many Americans who have been side-lined and marginalized, and ignored from apathy, indifference, and blame. The issues of homelessness and mental illness, saddled with drug addiction are so very complex that it takes even the best-hearted and strongest of mind to be able to face it, so we just turn our backs. Meanwhile, the hurting are in limbo within the pits of a hellish life. From reading your story, I see that you haven't tried to hide your issues and I commend you for that. Bipolar is a tough one. And treatment/follow-through is a MUST for management. Relationships can also be difficult to navigate with Bipolar. It sounds like your husband, although he has had his own struggles, has tried to look out for you in the best of his ability. Cody has some very valid points. Presidents have their roles, as do legislators, and the Supreme Court. But as we all know, with the above-mentioned issues, along with many others, the government sometimes isn't a) supposed to help b) won't help for varied reasons, / c) is the problem in the first place. I think it is a combination. Our country used to rely on churches and organizations to aide others...but so many church doors are closing because people aren't going to church any longer. There simply aren't any funds available. Currently there is some help with organizations like Salvation Army, etc. But they are overflowing. My aunt used to say, "When the going gets tough, the tough get going." It sounds harsh, but she lived through the Great Depression years. She worked hard and managed to survive somehow. Sometimes we all need a helping hand. And we need a plan. We need to honestly assess our current situation and see what has worked and what hasn't worked, decide what to do about it, and then do our best each day. There will be set backs and discouragement. I find that faith has pulled me out of my pits, then a strong mind for the feet I will need for my plan. My current situation is that I am on a fixed income...Medicare. No Medicaid...haven't needed that much healthcare, thankful to God. I go to the food bank to supplement my budget. That helps a little. (I used to volunteer at a food bank when I wasn't old) I have the good fortune to have inherited land and made sure my mortgage note was low enough that I could manage. I did not save enough to retire on comfortably, but I am content nonetheless. My husband was bipolar and his issues caused our separation. It would have been beneficial to both of us to combine our monthly social security, but he would go to the casinos. We were married for 20 years and because he was off his meds and unstable, he hit me for the first and last time. Now, I am better off single. I will not allow him to come back. My hope for you is that you can get help with bipolar and stay on your meds. Anyone can tell you are highly intelligent and articulate. I know you understand your responsibility for self-care. I hope that you are able to find a source of support/agency that helps you along with a plan to become stable. (No matter who the darned old president is.) It seems like the only place we can count on for help, is within ourselves is what I am trying to say. And the government should assume their reasonable responsibilities for our safety and security. (But they ain't our mamas and papas...America has to face up to that.) Prayers and a strong belief that you are going to get better, love. What the government CAN and SHOULD do is create jobs and affordable housing.
I think there is another interesting question within this - what power does the Presidency (regardless of who it is) have to actually impact the laws that impact our lives? Presidents don't have that power, the Senate, House, and all the way down to our Local Representatives have significantly more power in that respect than the President. Often, these representatives use the President (doesn't matter which side) as a scapegoat to deflect their responsibility. The People are so worried about who is president that they completely miss where the real blame should be placed. That last bit that you ask in this, "For Who?" is so potent here. Well written, Shanon.
Interesting.
Interesting 🤔 Thank you for sharing this.❤️
Thank you for sharing this... And shine on, you crazy cubic zirconia! 💎