American Dream Morphing Into Handmaid’s Tale

Our nation is sliding toward the Handmaid’s Tale set. U.S. Supreme Court justice nominee Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation hearings began today. The Moral Majority’s more than 40 years of planning and plotting have culminated in this surreal moment in history — we’re inching toward theocracy.

Moral Majority Minions

Moral Majority alums and their slightly less urbane descendants, Tea Partiers and Trump supporters, have nearly realized a uniquely American dream — -turning back the clock 50 years. Conservative evangelical Christians are convulsing in praise over dealing a major blow to Roe v. Wade.

Killing The ACA

Meanwhile, Senate Republicans are reveling in the chance to appease their insurance overlords, who’ve kept them in the style they’ve become accustomed. Coney Barrett is also poised to help end he Affordable Care Act (ACA). It would leave 20 million Americans without healthcare and rip pre-existing condition protections from all Americans.

Saving A Presidency

But, wait! Coney Barrett’s ascension to the Supreme Court could solve more Republican problems. They include protecting President Donald J. Trump and his myriad of enablers from ruin. Trump, who couldn’t nudge his approval rating above 42 percent, snagged endorsements from Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Taliban. His re-election chances look grim.

Spreading propaganda about the 2020 election’s legitimacy now aims to justify disputing results. Voting fraud has become a constant talking point. Ironically, all recent instances of voter fraud have only benefited him. Coney Barrett is expected to shield him from loss and prison.

Before becoming more transparent, Trump claimed he nominated Coney Barrett simply because she was pro-life. Really? If reports are true, Trump took a COVID-19 treatment made of fetal cells. He only seems pro-political life.

Manifestations Of Patriarchy

This is how patriarchy can manifest itself. The Trump administration and Senate Republicans will soon celebrate sending a woman to the U.S. Supreme Court — as if they struck a blow for the feminist movement. Meanwhile, Coney Barrett believes women don’t deserve agency. They must be subservient to any man in their vicinity.

Strong women brought this writer to where he is today. A great-grandmother, who survived the Great Depression and domestic abuse, taught me great lessons about women in leadership. So, Coney Barrett’s gender doesn’t give me pause. This Catholic-adjacent Protestant faith leader doesn’t judge her for her faith.

Church, State Shouldn’t Mix

Coney Barrett’s stated intention to let her religiosity dictate judicial decisions is dangerous. Despite conservative evangelicals’ denials, the Founding Fathers established a clear separation of Church and State. The United States of America was never meant to be a Christian nation.

U.S. Supreme Court nominee Robert Bork proclaimed that the nation was slouching toward Gomorrah. Today, the fast descent toward realistic and sinister Harvard Square began.