Elections. Have. Consequences.

As if we needed to be reminded again that elections have consequences, we are staring down the barrel of a potentially fatal shot to women’s reproductive rights as well as other civil liberties in the person of supreme court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. No matter how eminently qualified he may be, his extreme conservatism will replace a swing voter and most certainly shift the position of the court for decades. It seems doubtful that he will not be confirmed by the Senate, no matter what opposition is brought to bear by the Democrats. In addition to the high likelihood that legal abortion will eventually be more and more restricted if not eliminated completely in multiple states, we can look forward to more limitations on gun control, less affirmative action, less consumer protection from big business, even less restriction on the de facto corporate takeover of our government, and more unchecked presidential powers. It is also quite possible that the same sex marriage equality decision will be overturned. This despite the majority of public opinion opposed to all of these changes. So the interests of the majority of Americans will be hijacked by the predominantly right wing religious minority, and that effect will last for decades! It is also certainly possible that Trump may end up with one or more additional Supreme Court picks before he is done, who would also certainly be extreme conservatives. And of course there is the assault on the free press and other democratic institutions, the damage being done to our nation’s alliances, a potential sellout of our national security to Russia, the illegal immigration fiasco, the pervasive corruption of this administration, the degradation of the office of the presidency, the beginning trade wars, and on and on and on.  All this because of fewer than 100,000 voters in three swing states who voted for a dishonest, bigoted, misogynistic, egomaniacal, xenophobic, unqualified con man, or alternatively an equal number of people in those states who sat out the election and did not vote for Clinton. You nonvoters know who you are, and I hope you are satisfied! There is also a special place in hell for any Trump critic who does not vote for Democratic senators and representatives in the midterm election to at least try to limit the damage! If you don't vote, you have no right to complain!!