This is turning out to be one of the most splendid years of the American Republic. I’m referring, of course, to the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court not to review the question of same-sex marriages, which has been taken as a decision that they are legal. But that’s not the only thing. There’s also the new Silver Line, the extension of the D.C. subway out to Dulles. And there’s Citizens United, and the scandal of Republican money in politics.
Far away, other things are happening. Iraq is falling apart, and we’re looking at the prospect of a repeat of the 1975 U.S. exit from Saigon (except this time the enemy has stinger missiles). Then there’s NATO, which is crumbling in the face of a determined foe in Vladimir Putin. And the Fed has continued its easy money policy, creating an artificial stock market boom that has deepened income inequality.
What’s really important, however, is the progress we’re making on the rights of transgendered people. Yes, the president rules by executive decree, and refuses to enforce the country’s laws, but recall that we no longer offend Native Americans by calling Washington’s football team the Redskins.
Sure, American prestige abroad has sunk to new lows, but what about the epidemic of rapes on college campuses?
War? The only war is the war on women.
In newspapers, it’s all the Metro Section now.
