Do you Agree?

Robert Reich, whom I have followed for a year, wrote a piece today called “The Shittiest Year.” He asked the question, "What was the worst year?"

I do not think it is wise to pick one year as the worst, since tragedy and goodness occur simultaneously every year. However, 2025 stands out as pretty bad for the United States. I know how and why. Trump came to power.

A wise person who wrote about the Holocaust said the important question to ask is How. Trump won the election because half the country voted for him. The answer to the other question of Why has been mulled over since that dreadful night in early November 2024: apathy, disillusionment, anger, economic problems, racism, fear of the other, misogyny. The other day I saw a woman--one of the only MAGA's I know--walk to a parking lot. She looked and acted normally. Yet, by her vote, she voiced her acceptance that an unqualified, greedy, immoral person should be our president for the second time. That is how we have Trump, and, multiplied by millions, makes this year a pretty bad one.

When I read the piece by Mr. Reich, what occurred to me was selfishness. He did not write specifically about selfishness. I observe the behavior frequently, among all age groups--not following simple rules for courtesy in a parking lot, driving dangerously, bragging about one's children (as if they are better than your friend's kids and only they should get advantages), driving huge cars that guzzle gas, littering, and not recycling. Simply put, not caring. I have written about these actions frequently during the past year. I forgot playing loud music in public, overstaying at a cafe because one is working, and talking loudly on one's cell phone. These are petty annoyances. Nothing like bombing speedboats that might be transporting drugs, snatching up undocumented individuals in the night, closing vital government offices, and taking over an iconic concert artistic institutuion for one's aggrandizement or denying election results, encouraging hatred by one's statements, and pardoning criminals. These are decisions that our president has made that affect our country. Selfish because the executive orders were for personal gain, not the common good.

When adults act in a narcissistic manner, they model that behavior for their children. When the president of a country decides on policies, which are self-centered, the inhabitants of the country do the same. Incredible that this is actually happening. We are the witnesses to these unfathomable occurrences. When events come to pass that are unbelievable, we know we are in trouble. History instructs us that this is true.

I have seen Americans be incredibly altruistic. When I visited Cuba in 2016, Americans brought bagloads of hygiene supplies, medications, sheet music, etc. along to give to the people. When disaster occurs, people act immediately by rescuing stranded individuals, providing meals, and offering their homes. We do this because we are able. It is an instinct to help our neighbors, both known and unknown. If someone faints in a crowd, people surround the person who collapsed within seconds. Doctors appear to take a pulse and look for dangeous signs of stroke or heart attack. We are good people.

However, when a demagogue stands before a crowd and spouts hatred, Americans listen carefully. If they lack education or information, they are particularly vulnerable. This happened in the 1930's--Father Coughlin--the 1950's--Senator Joseph Mc Carthy--and now--Donald Trump. Listening to demagogues occurs everywhere in the world. A kind person allows selfishness to triumph over generosity or common sense. It is rather easy to trigger self-centeredness. I am prone; especially if the concern is about well-being, security, or those dependent on you. And no one wants someone else to get the better of them. It is natural. When fear overrides common sense and one's values, the opportunity for serious trouble results. That is where we find ourselves on this late December day in 2025. A demagogue has bamboozled millions of Americans to the point that our Democracy is in trouble and our safety is threatened. At least, the other half (of Americans) possess sufficient self-esteem and knowledge not to let fear win.

I close with one of my biggest concerns, the ability for any American adult to obtain a high powered instrument of death (and the accoutrements), originally meant for the military, guns, not for hunting or self-protection but for murdering. Gun aficionados--and they can love firearms forever--act selfishly when they insist that no curbs should be created for gun ownership. Twenty five years after a deadly shooting in an elementary school, significant loopholes remain in gun laws.

This is my take on one of this country's shittiest years. At this point in the current administration, I do not feel I am shocking anyone with this dismal summary. I hope my readers remain healthy and have pleasant moments in 2026. I end this piece with a picture of a dancer openly expressing beauty, the antithesis of fear.

©Karen Levi 2025