Yesterday as everyone knows by now was a day of mass protest. Millions of people came out all over the world in solidarity to protest a number of issues. Originally started by a facebook post by a woman in Hawaii the so called Women’s March turned into so much more. I was proud to participate in my first political action in joining my fellow Montanans by coming together for positive action in Big Sky Country.
There were marches in every state of this union and on 7 continents. Everything I have read in the papers and online today has indicated that this has been the largest protest action ever. It hearkens back to the 60ies and the protests against the Vietnam War. I was a child in that era – I was born at the end of the 1950s. My husband was born at the beginning of that decade so he was a little more involved. He had a draft number so the war was a little more real to him. He never got called for which he (and I) was very grateful.
What this tells me is that people are very concerned. Concerned enough that hundreds of thousands have taken to the streets for the first time to indicate their concern. I am one of them.
Why Did I March?
Much has been written about how silly the marches were or how people don’t understand why people were out. Some were writing that Trump won so get over it and get on with your lives. I am 57 years old and I have voted in every election available to me with one exception since I turned 18. The one I missed was because I was in the hospital due to an emergency situation. It was a school board election. So I participate in our political process. I have had my chosen candidate win and I have had my chosen candidate lose but I have never felt concerned enough about the governance of the country to get my chubby butt up off of the couch to march in protest.
Until this election.
I am very concerned about the man this country has chosen to put into the presidency. I am very concerned about the people he is picking for his cabinet. Combined they are the most inexperienced group of individuals ever. In watching the confirmation hearings for some of them I was appalled. And scared. The actions that this president wants to take on healthcare and the environment are not good. They may have business experience but that is not governing experience. You cannot run a government like a business. For one thing – you can’t fire the Senators and Congressmen if they don’t do what you want. They are elected by the people. Only we can fire them.
Healthcare
The Republicans talk about health savings accounts and tax credits as health care solutions but these are only beneficial if you have money to deposit into the accounts and make enough money for tax credits to matter. I am old enough to remember what insurance used to be like before HMOs. I am old enough to remember when lifetime spending limits came into play.
I am also chronically ill. I have looked into high risk pools and individual insurance when you are already sick. It is not affordable no matter what these politicians try to tell you. The fact remains that when you put something like healthcare in the hands of a for profit industry they will not want to provide an affordable product for sick people. It is not profitable. And you healthy people who think you don’t need insurance – you are living on a precipice.
I will note that I didn’t feel well yesterday but I still went. I knew I would pay for that decision but I felt it was important to go. We didn’t stay for the whole event which I know disappointed the hubby but I did what I could. I will be down for two days at least but this was that important to me.
The Environment
The President talks about easing regulations to stir business. He talks about more drilling and mining. The regulations are in place because of how bad things were. I am old enough to remember how bad the air was before some of the clean air rules went into place. I am old enough to remember when the rivers were full of toxins and trash. He talks as if this is the reason all of the jobs have left the country. No one seems to mention that many of the jobs that have been lost were lost to automation and nothing any president does is going to bring those jobs back. Ruining our environment through the easing of regulations is only going to end up putting more money in the pockets of the shareholders and managers of the companies.
Peaceful Demonstration
I was amazed at the turnout in Helena. Four thousand were expected over ten thousand turned out. The protest was peaceful and happy. There was no violence. We talked to a police officer and he said that they weren’t prepared for such a crowd but everything was going well. In fact there were no arrests at any of the demonstrations – and from what I read Los Angeles had over 750,000 people!
For Montana that ten thousand number is really something. The state population is only just over a million. It’s also a state where nothing is close. Everything is a distance away. It took us close to three hours to get to Helena, but it was worth it. I felt such happiness and hope in that group. It left me with the feeling that if we work together we will keep moving forwards, not backwards.
I know that many still will not understand. I know many feel that poor people deserve the life they have. I know many people feel that gay people are choosing their lifestyle and are evil. I know many people feel that we should all worship one God, one way. But this is not the American way. We should uplift our fellow citizens and do what we can to help. I wish someone could effectively explain to me why gay people getting married is such a bad thing. Why a gay couple getting married in New York should matter to a family in Arkansas is beyond my comprehension. My getting married didn’t impact anything but my father’s checkbook, my living arrangements and where my brother was going to sleep. He got to move into my old bedroom. Obviously I’m being a little facetious here in regards to my marriage but you understand what I mean.
I just hope that not too much damage is done to relationships, to my country to the world before the next election. The blog will not become political. This was just such an important day for me I had to document it.
I will also welcome civil discourse. Any offensive or divisive comments will be deleted. I am more than willing to discuss an opposing opinion in a respectful manner.
