September 3, 2020
I just returned from a third world country, and it was a real eye opener. We are so lucky to be living in the United States. Here is what I observed.
Due to lack of resources, proper sanitation, and colossal mismanagement, thousands of people were dying every day because of the coronavirus. There was no adequate testing, contact tracing, PPE, or ventilators. There was no national strategy for dealing with the pandemic.
Characteristic of most third world countries, unemployment was high as was the ratio of national debt to GDP. There were high levels of poverty, food lines, and inadequate or no healthcare for millions. Life expectancies were declining, and there were wide disparities between different economic groups.
Large numbers of the population were having trouble accessing quality education. Many were too afraid to go to school, and others could simply not afford it.
The President was doing all he could to foment violence and unrest in the streets. He was sending armed militia against citizens protesting for basic human rights. If needed, he would call on the military or his private army to quell the protestors.
Oligarchs controlled the economy. The government was filled with plutocrats and political donors, who were only there to fatten their own wallets through tax cuts and contracts. The stock market was their primary indicator of success.
The country was run by a tight circle of family members. Conflicts of interest were rampant. Expertise was replaced by the apparatchik willing to blindly follow the dear leader.
The media was attacked as the enemy of the people. There was a daily misinformation campaign promulgated from the top. A constant stream of lies came from the President, and they were echoed by his minions or ignored by his party members. The President employed state-run TV to get out his message.
The government had a strangle hold on the courts, and this effort was led by the country’s leading prosecutor. The prosecutor’s job was not to seek justice, but to justify the actions of the President. He obfuscated and covered up the President’s criminality. He looked the other way at obvious violations of mixing political campaigning with governing. The President eliminated anyone involved in oversight. He used the Justice Department to go after his political enemies, and he advocated locking them up.
The government made repeated attempts to control the elections. It sought help from foreign adversaries. It undermined the post office. It made it difficult for many voters to cast a ballot through intimidation, ID laws, reduced hours or elimination of polling centers, signature verification requirements, and more. People working for the government were found guilty of ballot harvesting. Gerrymandering made true change very difficult. In addition, the President claimed that the elections were rigged, and he would not say that he would concede if defeated.
The President maintained cozy relations with other autocrats, and attacked the leaders of democratic countries. He refused information from his own intelligence agencies, and parroted talking points from dictators. He buried intelligent reports that reflected negatively on his administration. He shared classified information with adversaries. He used his powers to extract quid pro quo’s from dependent countries in exchange for political favors.
Boy, I am sure happy I don’t live in a shit hole country like that.
The Spin Doctor 