Joseph Batory, a retired superintendent in Pennsylvania, told me that he has tried everything to distract him from the events taking place in the nation: Walking in the woods, cutting down news consumption, exercise, mood music. It hasn’t worked. So he has finally given in and admitted all the ways in which America is “great” again (note the air quotes, as in “wiretapped”):
He writes:
America Is Now Great Again!
By Joseph Batory
It’s morning in America. America is great again. Below are the reasons why!
1. America’s supposed “man of the people” leader has surrounded himself with ideological corporate bosses and multi-millionaires determined to pollute our environment, ignore the needs of the poor, dramatically increase corporate welfare, and privatize public schools. What wonderful gifts for the people!
2. USA citizens no longer have any need to read…or think… or analyze. Bizarre hallucinatory tweets in the middle of the night provide all the “wisdom” anyone needs.
3. Constant lying and distorting reality is exemplary leadership. When caught in a lie, just tell a bigger one. False statements are now “truth.”
4. In the tradition of fascists and other totalitarians, the news media are now “the enemies of the people” in America.
5. Immigrants are likely to be rapists and criminals. So the Statue of Liberty should be dissembled and its copper sold to the highest bidder. And the phrase… “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free” … is now considered to be anti-American.
6. Multiple bankruptcies and walking away from business failures and debts are the definition of a “great businessperson.”
7. Foul mouthed men can now walk up to women and grope their genitals because that is what women want.
8. Military prisoners of war past and present are to now be considered as weak and cowardly for being captured.
9. Mocking physically disabled persons is cool and amusing!
10. Promising to share “university” expertise in real estate seminars and delivering little or nothing of what was promised is an acceptable practice as long as you settle the lawsuit complaints with millions of dollars out of court.
11. The leadership (dictator) skills of Vladimir Putin, the former KGB agent who has imprisoned thousands, killed others, and illegally invaded countries as the dictator of Russia, are to be admired.
12. Insulting and bullying anyone who dares to disagree with you by calling them poisonous names has replaced courtesy and politeness which are signs of weakness.
13. It is perfectly acceptable to insult the parents of soldiers killed in action in service to their country.
14. It is OK to violate anti-trust laws as long as you pay the huge fines levied by the Federal Trade Commission.
15. It is OK to “short change” contractors, laborers and service workers who have done work for you. Just arrange for the settlement of lawsuits and have the courts seal the records.
16. Hiding your income tax returns is a great way to finally rid ourselves of transparency and honesty in government.
17. Cutting federal money to the National Institutes of Health for scientific research, for studying diseases, and for other medical issues is a wise idea. After all, science is “fake.”
18. Decreasing federal investment and support for public schools attended by 90% of our nation’s young people is the best way to improve education in the USA.
19. Drastic cuts in federal appropriations to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities will help to “dumb down” American society.
20. Health insurance is not important for poor people.
America is great again. How lucky we are!
_____________________________________
(Joseph Batory is a former award-winning public school superintendent who has been widely published on politics and education.)
I would add two important points to this list:
21. Conflicts of interest do not need to be avoided. They are okay now.
22. Family members should be included in the decision making process at the highest levels of government, even replacing the Secretary of State.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
America sure is GRATING, and not so great.
The best thing for public education is to appoint a billionaire who hates public schools and knows nothing about education.
Americans, including children, are better off without any garantees of privacy from their internet service providers.
Fantastic summary of tRump’s accomplishments!!
Superintendent Batory said it all. Said it clearly in a transparent way without lies or false truths. It to bad all that he stated has become the “Truth and the American Way”. Sad. Very sad. What is the future for our children and grandchildren? I worry daily about their futures.
George W nearly brought this country to ruin. It will NEVER be the same. Trump is well on his way to finishing the job. How could so many Americans be so stupid as to elect these personages? For my children and grandchildren I fear the very worst. Climate change, loss of Constitutional guarantees of liberties. So very much.
Americans have sold their birthright for a mess of pottage – or less. PROMISE of jobs but it was well known he is a liar, womanizer, cheat – ALL the “virtues” of which it was thought America stood for.
Gordon,
Where’s my mess of pottage?
By the way, my history book has a picture of a Ronald Reagan poster. It has a now familiar slogan. “Make America Great Again”.
Nailed it! Pass the tip jar.
This young musician from Chicago donated 1 million $ to Chicago Public Schools, asked others to donate and planned a birthday party this past weekend -proceeds to be donated to Chicago Public Schools. I think he is all of 25 years old and recently won a grammy although he does not have a record label promoting him.
>