Most of you are too young to know ‘my America;’ the America I was so very proud of as a post-war nation unitied to move our country forward. I must first admit that our country and our government have no comparison to the one I grew up in during the 1950’s and 1960’s. By no means am I claiming that it was perfect; we had many problems; but we also had politicians who cared about those problems and the American people.
Our nation was a democracy, not a plutocracy. One-percent of our nation’s people control 99 percent of what our government does today.
In the 1960’s a corporation was considered successful if it made 30 percent profit each year. It’s CEO was well-paid at $830,000 per year. The salary of workers rose in relation to the profits of the company. Today the pay of a CEO for larger corporations is in the tens of millions when stock options, retirement funds, and “golden parachutes” are included. The average pay for workers in these corporations has diminished, and benefits are minimal; if any.
There were no lobbyists to represent the super-rich. Congress was not owned by big business. (I’m not making any of this up; it’s the truth). In 1965 members of the House and Senate received a pay raise; (they voted it in for themselves). They would now receive $30,000 per year. Most Americans thought they were paid too much. The NRA was a gun safety organization, not a gun lobby for manufacturers and sellers.
Today Congressmen’s base salary is $174,000 per year, not including healthcare and other benefits, or bonuses for leading committees, et-cetera. We know they are paid too much today; they do nothing thanks to Republican leadership or lack of.
I witnessed true leaders, including Dwight Eisenhower, JFK, Ronald Reagan’s first term, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and of course Barrack Obama. (These are just some of the reasons I cannot accept Trump as my president).
Our government attempted to make our country great by passing legislation such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Many racists simply moved into the shadows, searching for a leader; one they have found today. Women continue to fight for equality, but it appears that the conditions of the 1950’s will return. Religious tolerance was on the rise. There was no Christian religious right offering instruction to the Republican Party.
In 2008, I witnessed the greatest event in my life, I had to wait until 62-years of age to witness our nation’s first black president. His message of hope; his intellect; and his love of his country did create change. He led us out of a near depression, and at the same time fought for the rights of the working class, women, the LGBT community, and Muslims after their condemnation in 2001.
Here we are today. Some, who call themselves ‘Americans,’ elected a man who believes in hatred and prejudice. He rejects the America which nurtured me in my youth. He believes that only white men should have the power to rule our nation. He objectifies women, believing that they have a single purpose, and that denies them equal rights with men.
Our government no longer serves the majority. They are all millionaires whose only concern is personal advancement.
My America has ‘left the building,’ and a white supremacist and sexual predator will be living in the once grand White House.
Op-Ed
By James Turnage
Follow me on twitter; @jamesturnagenov
The Truth With No Restrictions 