Apoplectic elites, Trump’s victory lap, fragile democracy, CPS workers

Apoplectic elites

Elites are absolutely apoplectic with the election of Donald Trump.

They can’t accept that the working class proletariat had the audacity to believe they have the intelligence to think for themselves and elect a successful businessman and demonstrated leader.

The better candidate, the elites pontificated, was the candidate who had waited her turn even though her only notable accomplishment was to enable her family to become millionaires while they were on the dole for 30 years.

The liberals’ overriding concern is that the Trump administration will demonstrate effective leadership that provides opportunity for all rather than entitlements for some, coupled with domestic security, and will again confirm JFK’s admonition that “a rising tide lifts all boats.”

Maybe the elites need an intervention rather than puppies and “safe zones.”

Or hopefully they’ll learn that opportunities “Trump” entitlements and they’ll participate in making America great again.

Trump’s victory lap

I call Donald Trump’s trip to Ohio a great victory lap.

America will be great again. The basic principals that made this country unique and great will be restored and all of the people will benefit.

Fragile democracy

The election process further exposed our fragile democracy.

Deliberative democracy — a way of thinking, living and communicating — was quickly compromised by a deluge of factual inaccuracies, fake news items, personal attacks, racial and religious insults and identity caricatures.

Post-election disrespect further reveals the thin veneer of our democratic values, as more have been emboldened to adopt antidemocratic behavior.

An expanded combative climate may be emerging.

In the aftermath of WWII, Albert Camus concluded that the only feasible political discussion was “the kind between people who remain what they are and speak their minds.”

But, if misunderstood, speaking our minds can take us deeper into adversarial relationships.

Deliberative dialogues produce clearer and deeper understanding among people who have many commonalities and differences.

If dialoguers are amenable, they gradually erode phobias, stereotypes, prejudices and build friendships across borders.

Happily, there are many people in all social sectors who welcome respectful deliberations about one or more of our societal or political divisions.

For a robust democracy, families, schools, clubs, religious centers, media and websites need to model and teach deliberative democracy.

CPS workers

It’s good that Child Protective Services defenders Monica Faulkner and Will Frances had their say in support of greater preparation of men and women who take on investigative work regarding abuse and neglect of children in Texas. (“Make Child Protective Services a better place for social workers,” Nov. 16)

I was shocked and ashamed to learn that these child welfare workers are being hired by our state at salaries below even those of our underpaid public school teachers and given less training in this field, which might challenge the wisdom of Solomon himself.

The family-wrecking possibilities of hiring unschooled mere high-school graduates are enormous. Even with “trained” professional social workers, they can ruin lives.

I am sure that Texans value charity and have the compassion to enable our Legislature to find the money to hire more, better-qualified child welfare workers and supervisors to serve the children and their families in our wealthy state.

This story was originally published December 2, 2016 at 3:17 PM with the headline "Apoplectic elites, Trump’s victory lap, fragile democracy, CPS workers."