Be Careful

Tomorrow's comics are likely going to be heavily weighted towards themes of American patriotism and celebrating. Tomorrow is official 250th anniversary of the United States' independence as a nation. In theory, it should be a grand celebration that lasts most of the summer if not the entire year. At least if the 200th anniversary from 1976 is anything to go by. Because those celebrations were pervasive! And for those of you who might say, "Yeah, but things weren't as bad then" then I'll remind you that the US had been in a recession since 1973 and Nixon resigned from the White House due to pressure from the Watergate scandal in 1974. When Superman came out in 1978, the tag line was "you'll believe a man can fly" -- that was only partly a reference to the special effects; it was a much about showing Americans that there were still things to be optimistic about and hopeful for despite a decade of evidence to the contrary.

I scanned back through my Indepence Day related blog posts from the past twenty years, and they largely fall into two categories. First, they just collect all the Independence Day related newspaper strips from that day. Second, I talk about how I don't understand patriotism (at least as Americans express it) and how I don't feel there's really much worth celebrating here. This year, July 4 happens to fall on a Saturday, when I don't usually post anything, so guess which type of post you get here today?

You don't need me to tell you that things are bad. Statistically, you probably have things worse than I do. But I can tell you that I won't be celebrating. If you get a few moments of lightness setting off firecrackers or watching a big fireworks display at a nearby park, please do. I'm well past judging people on what brings them joy; there's too much awfulness in the world to even try to strip that from them. But Independence Day is not a holiday I get much out of.

The system has been increasingly stacked against "regular" folks (i.e. anyone who's not super-wealthy) since Ronald Reagan. I'm not about to simplistically say he's to blame for all of it, but there are generations (plural) of Americans now that have never not had a government working against them. Not just "not working for" them but actively working against them. When the studies that started coming out in the late 1980s that said Gen X would be the first generation of Americans that would probably not do better than their parents, that is why.

If you're still optimistic about the US, more power to you! I don't understand how that's possible, but again, if that brings you some joy or comfort, knock yourself out. Just do me a favor and be careful, and please return next week with the same number of fingers you have now.

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