By Michael F. Duggan
Almost a year and a half ago, I wrote on this blog that the 2022 midterm elections might be the most consequential, or fateful, in U.S. history. With 17 day until election day, I reaffirm that statement.
At this point, it is likely that the Democrats will lose the House, the Senate, or both. If any of these happen The Hill will return to gridlock and obstruction and President Biden will become a lame duck with two years left in his administration. What happens after that is anybody’s guess, but we can assume that it will not be good. Of course, this is not even a worst case scenario and does not address issues of election denying by the losers in close races or the possibility of outright violence by extremest elements.
A friend of mine recently analogized contemporary American political and social life to a river flowing toward an uncertain end. He recently modified that metaphor to a fast-moving, rapids-strewn, wild river immediately above a great waterfall. Another metaphor might be the event horizon to the black hole that is the future of our nation.
Hope for the best, but strap in.