The Verdict Is In -- We Are A Somewhat Divided Nation

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The Zimmerman trial verdict is "Not guilty" and it leaves me dumbfounded. But, I also recall the state of affairs when the OJ Simpson trial verdict of "Not guilty" came through. The nation is clearly divided.

In Congress the immigration reform legislation might not get a vote in the House of Representatives. It's clear there are representatives, and their constituents, who only want reform to build a big wall to keep out foreigners. If the legislation passes to improve the immigration system that would be terrific, but if this minority requires such legislative features as a gigantic anti-immigrant wall they will still have shot the nation in the foot.

In the Senate the Republicans deny the president warm bodies to fill administration offices by using the filibuster to prevent nominees a hearing or vote. It doesn't matter that the individuals are considered qualified by everyone. It only matters that the Republicans oppose Pres. Obama and anything Democrats want to do. Case in point: a few years ago when Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) was the majority leader he proposed ending the filibuster (or at least some parts of it). Today, now that the Democrats are agreeing to change the filibuster he is against it.

In the House of Representatives the Hastert Rule is in effect. Dennis Hastert was the Speaker of the House a few years ago and he instituted a rule not found in the Constitution. The rule says that only legislation which is approved by a majority of the majority party can come to the floor. This disallows all legislation Democrats propose and any proposed by a minority of the majority party. This crazy Republican rule shackles the House, so that only that which the vocal minority (the radical Right) support can be brought to a vote. Does current Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio) care about this division of the House and its current ineffectiveness?

In Washington D.C. the people want a higher minimum wage, what they call a 'living wage'. In many states around the country there are state-wide minimum wage laws which are higher than the federal minimum wage. All around the country Walmart does business and makes a nice profit. But, in Washington D.C. the straw broke their back and they say they'll move out if the law is signed (it passed the City Council and awaits the mayor's signature). Ultimately Walmart is run by the Walton family who own a majority of it's corporate shares. Do the billionaire Waltons not have enough? Will they surrender-up the ghost if they don't make quite the same profit as yesterday?

White & Black, Republican & Democrat, Rich & Poor, the nation has major divisions which are not good. Will we hear Libertarians like Senator Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) calling for Justice in the Zimmerman case? It's not likely as a young African-American was killed and Rand Paul only calls for Liberty and Justice for White men. Will we hear Constitutional geniuses on the Right calling for the Rule of Constitutional Law in the Senate to get the simple majority rule the Constitution calls for? It's not likely if that means opposing Mitch McConnell? Will we hear FOX television commentators or other Constitutional geniuses call for the House to be rid of the Hastert Rule to return to Constitutional order and real functionality of the House? It's not likely when they view that rule as key to maintaining unity of the Republican party -- regardless of what it does to the institution or the nation. When will we hear from billionaire CEOs and Wall St. leaders on the major divide between the 1% who have about half the nation's wealth and the 99% who have to share the other 50%? Do they care the real economy is struggling because their corporations aren't pumping more money into the pockets of the 99% (the workers)? They've worked hard to create the current situation, this mess, so I can't imagine they would want to see it change.

We are a nation divided and the people hate it.