I’m constantly amused when the media throws around the term “blockbuster” to describe some new crime, malfeasance, idiotic comment, lie, or scandal swirling around Donald Trump. At this point, can there really be anything more shocking or revolting that we haven’t already seen from him? It feels like we’ve hit the limit of outrage, and most people seem to be numb to it.
For the anti-Trump crowd, it’s clear: Trump has glided through scandal after scandal, barely touched by accountability. Nothing he does seems to stick, so what’s left to be shocked by? On the flip side, if you’re a Trump supporter, none of it matters anyway. You’ve long dismissed the onslaught of reports, evidence, and documentation. His personal behavior, crimes, and failures? They mean nothing. Trump has become untouchable in his own bubble of denial and deflection.
There’s a pervasive worry among many that if Trump returns to power, it will spell the end of democracy as we know it. But here’s the real gut-punch: if someone as blatantly unqualified as Trump can win a national election, what does that say about the judgment of the American people? And if you can’t trust the people’s judgment, how can you trust democracy itself? It’s like we’re testing the very system we claim to cherish, racing toward disaster without a second thought.
I recently came across a term that fits this moment perfectly: sanewashing. It’s the attempt to normalize abhorrent or vile behavior, especially when it’s done by politicians or the media covering for them. We’ve seen it play out endlessly, particularly with one candidate in mind. But the sad truth is, no matter how bizarre or outrageous the behavior, it often doesn’t register anymore. Why? Because we’ve allowed ourselves to grow numb to it.
It’s like those storm-chaser videos where you see a tornado bearing down, and yet there’s always some car trying to outrun it. That reckless dash parallels our current political landscape, where half the electorate seems willing to gamble on disaster. Will we outrun the storm, or will we be swallowed by it? Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure: we’re speeding straight into the whirlwind, and it’s anyone’s guess how this ride ends.
Esot-eric 