I’m Looking for America

Progress in the United States is in retrograde

When former President Donald Trump moved into the White House, I hoped that I was wrong about him. About a year and a half later, I found myself in a serious depression over the state of the world. Israel seemed to have gone backward 10 years in 18 months. Violence was at unacceptable levels and it looked like nothing could be done. How could we have gone so far in the wrong direction so fast?

What made me feel better is that nothing is permanent. That’s a very good and very scary thing but if progress can be erased so can retrogression. That idea gave me hope then and it gives me hope today.

This isn’t the America I grew up loving

Politics has always been important in my life. My grandmother, Judy Clarke, held regular meetings of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom at the house where I now live. My father was very active in local politics. I started volunteering on campaigns when I was eight years old.

My first real goal was to work to bridge the perceived gap that exists between the people and the government. Ours is really a “government of the people, by the people, and for the people.” Unlike places like China…