The first year of the Trump presidency was a test of our national character. Would we stand by as the president and his party tried to rob tens of millions of poor and middle class Americans of their health insurance? Would we care if the president allowed restaurants to confiscate tips from their employees? Would we stand by in acquiescence while he slashed taxes on the wealthy and hiked them on the poor?
Would we mind if the White House showed utter disdain for the truth, telling us over 1000 documented falsehoods? Would we allow the President to forbid transgender troops from serving in our military? Would we stand by in silence as he declared the press to be an “Enemy of the American People”? Would we agree with him banning travelers from Muslim countries and banning Syrian refugees?
Would we stand by while he provided aid and comfort to white supremacists and Neo Nazis? While he obstructed justice? While he appointed an ultra-conservative to a stolen Supreme Court seat? While he handed over sacred Native American national parks to private developers? While he pushed a budget that would slash Medicaid and anti-poverty efforts?
Would we look the other way as he maligned women he’d allegedly sexually assaulted even as the #MeToo movement was finally holding sexual harassers and predators accountable? While he at first stood by and did nothing as 3 million American citizens suffered and more than 1000 died in impoverished Puerto Rico?
This was our test. Did we pass?
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