Readers: this blog is set in the future (sometime after the year 2020). Each entry assumes there has been a 5th revolution in the US — the Revenge Revolution. More about the Revenge Revolution and author, Entry #1.  Most entries are formatted as conversations. Characters appear in a number of entries, with many entries building on previous conversations.

Occasionally I break from the normal formatting and do a “sense check.”  Auditing one’s own work is problematic but I try to be objective.  Entries #300 and #301 are the most recent “sense checks.”  Your thoughts are welcomed and appreciated.  Thanks for your time and interest…and comments, please.

Scene: Jordan’s office, Washington, DC.  Jordan having coffee with Walt, a friend from college days.  Conversation began entry #302.

Walt:  “So, you want my thoughts on next steps to help the US recover from Trump and his brainwashed supporters, right?”

Jordan:  “That’s what I asked.”

Walt:  “First step would be to rebuild trust in the judiciary system.  Look, I used to cheer when Trump would talk about the crooked FBI or how unfairly he was being treated…and all that crap.”

Jordan:  “What changed your mind?”

Walt:  “Like most things about Trump, after a few real facts…not Fox facts…but real facts penetrated my brainwashing cap, I asked myself, ‘Why would the FBI all of a sudden switch from being good guys to bad guys?’”

Jordan:  “And your answer was?”

Walt:  “I couldn’t come up with a good answer.  I also thought if the president had been a Democrat and had done 1/10 what the public knew Trump had done, Republicans would have been ranting and raving, demanding impeachment and jail time.  Just look at how long Republicans were obsessed with Hillary’s email server.  Even when no one could find any evidence of criminal activity, they kept probing.  They wouldn’t give up no matter what the evidence was.”

Jordan:  “Well, how would you compare Trump’s behavior to say presidents Clinton or Nixon?”

Walt:  “Clinton was no one’s angel.  Yes, sex in the White House might be tawdry, but Monica a threat to national security? C’mon.”

Jordan:  “What about Nixon’s behavior?”

Walt:  “The Watergate break-in was illegal.  The cover-up worse.  But, again, was there any threat to national security?”

Jordan:  “Only if you consider Nixon might have become so unhinged about the investigation that he’d try to start a war as a diversion.  But I think the military would have ignored the orders.”

Walt:  “Trump, on the other hand, set a new standard for illicit behavior.  OK, most everybody can overlook being in bed with porn stars.  But in bed with the Russians?  No way.  Think about it.  The president of the United States, and much of his immediate family, in bed with the Russians.  Some of his sleaziness was well-known and not a surprise.  So, with his known background, why did Republicans let him on the ticket, let alone get nominated?  When the info on the Russian connection started to come out, why did Republicans sit on their hands and do nothing to get rid of him?  I admit I’m not innocent…for a while I retweeted some of his stuff.  But what about Republican leaders in the House and Senate?  They had access to confidential information and did nothing with it.  They’re still in denial.  Bunch of whims.”

Jordan:  “You know why they’re in denial.”

Walt:  “Probably same reason as I was – brainwashing.  And that’s my point — now that there has been the Revenge Revolution , the next step should be to start rebuilding confidence in the judiciary.  The country needs a credible counter to the Congressional clowns — the judiciary.”

Jordan:  “Stating the obvious…or at least what should be obvious to the populace…if a country does not have a fair-and-objective judicial system, there can be no democracy.”

Walt:  “We’ve joked…maybe more like gallows humor…about how the US could slide into becoming a banana republic.  You really think that’s possible?”

Jordan:  “Yes, and let me give you an example.  An example of what happens when an fair-and-objective judiciary and a fair executive branch are ignored.  The result is lack of sustained economic growth…and for some countries the result is so bad that ‘Yes, we have no bananas.’”

Walt:  “You really think there’s a link between a fair judicial system and economic growth?”

Jordan:  “No question about it…but for some reason many people don’t make the link.  And politicians don’t talk about it — maybe they don’t know it either.  Here’s a chart that I keep close at hand as a reminder why fair government matters.”

Walt:  “If I read this chart correctly, in about 1900, GDP (Gross Domestic Product) per capita was about the same in the US and Argentina.”

Jordan:  “I’ve seen some studies that indicate Argentina was actually ahead of the US.”

Walt:  “Wow, look what happened over the next century, and especially after WWII.”

Jordan:  “Amazing huh?  Argentina migrated to less and less of a democracy with a less objective judiciary — one that favored the wealthy.  And what happened?  Economic growth stagnated compared to the US.”

Walt:  “So by 2016, real GDP per capita in the US was 4-4.5 times greater than Argentina.  I never knew that.  And you’re saying a lot of the difference was due to a fair-and-objective judicial system.”

Jordan:  “That’s not the only cause but I think the foundation.  Sure, the judicial system in the United States has never been perfect, but until Trump tried to pack the Supreme Court and lower courts with benefit-the-rich only cronies, the system had been reasonably objective.”

Walt:  “At the same time, we had Trump trash talking, claiming the judiciary was crooked.  Remind you of someone from the 1930’s?  Anyway, when I suggested it was important to rebuild confidence in the judiciary, I never considered that without a fair judiciary, sustained economic growth was not possible.”

Jordan:  “I’m not sure many of Trump’s wealthier supporters didn’t realize that either.  Do me a favor.  Next time someone claims that only economies with minimal government oversight can grow, ask them about the value of an objective judiciary.  After the blank stare, then remind the laissez-fairer’s about what happened to economic growth in Argentina compared to the US.”

Walt:  “I will.  I confess, I never realized for the country to grow its wealth, there must be an objective judiciary.  And the judiciary must not just protect businesses and/or those with money…but an objective judiciary must protect everyone.  You know what?  I need another break.  My post-Trump ‘de-brainwashing’ is emotionally draining.”