“Perceptions,” by Gerry Warner

Op-Ed Commentary

Any doubts about the sanity of the nation immediately to the south of us were surely erased Thursday with the bizarre Senate hearing to “advise and consent” to the confirmation of former frat boy Brett Kavanaugh to be a justice of the US Supreme Court.

The only thing “supreme” about this soap opera masquerading as a Senate confirmation hearing is it proves once and for all that irony is not dead, at least not in the Excited States of America.

As I write this before the Senate votes, I can’t help but wonder if the vote really matters at all because it wasn’t Brett Kavanaugh being grilled in the Senate hearing room. It was Donald Trump, who Kavanaugh channeled perfectly in all of Trump’s belligerence, hostility and contempt for democracy and the human race other than himself. Even if a lightning bolt from heaven stops Kavanaugh’s confirmation we’re still left with Trump, a narcissistic bully intent on making the US the world’s only super power with himself as emperor and all other nations vassal states.

It’s not a pretty picture and it would be laughable if it weren’t so true. In fact, a movie that came out in 2016, actually envisions what Trump is doing to the US. It’s called “Idiocracy” and though it was a flop at the box office it was a hit with some critics who believe that’s exactly what the U.S. is becoming.

Written and directed by Beavis and Butthead creator Mike Judge (wouldn’t you know it?), the movie follows the travails of a librarian who gets frozen in a military experiment and wakes up 500 years later to discover that America is a land over-run by morons and led by a president who’s a former porn star and wrestling champion.

In the America of 500 years hence, executions are by monster truck demolition derbies, dying crops are watered with sport drinks to make them grow better and free health care plans can be won in slot machines. The movie was meant to be a satire, but some are now calling for it to be brought back as a documentary.

Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

So, what’s next? Judges in the US will be appointed on the basis of political affiliation and not on how well they know the law. The US Supreme Court will be “conservative” for at least a generation instead of impartial. Women will be even less likely to report sexual assaults after they saw how Kavanaugh’s accuser was treated. Trump will be emboldened to continue his trade war against the world and Canada will be one of the countries most severely affected. Perhaps a wall will be built on the Canadian border too?

Having just returned with my wife from a weeklong road trip through Idaho and eastern Oregon, I have to admit I feel painfully conflicted. We met no one but nice people down there. The hospitality was great. The food cheap and delicious. The scenery from the Grand Canyon of the Snake River to the Painted Hills of the John Day fossil beds was spectacular and gas was cheaper too. It reminded me of when I was a kid and we regularly crossed the border and one of the main discussion items at the time was should Canada join the United States. It would be anathema to ask Canadians that question now and has been for years. At the United Nations last week President Trump wouldn’t even rise from his chair to shake Prime Minister Trudeau’s hand. That’s an insult to all Canadians regardless of their politics. No wonder delegates laughed at Trump when he addressed the UN General Assembly.

I don’t know how all of this is going to end, but I have to admit I’m worried. The rest of the world has good reason to be worried too.

– Gerry Warner is a retired journalist, who loves the landscape south of the border, but is appalled by the politics.

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