Turmoil

For 13 months we've been shown videos of that winter day when rioters stormed the nation's Capitol, and I ask, what is their problem? Are they facing starvation? Are they homeless? What do they crave that they do not have and cannot obtain? What drives them to lawlessness and insurrection? If they crave a better life, what are they doing to create a path to the life they want? Are they going to night school and taking courses that will enable them to obtain a better job? People used to do that. I had my first paying job when I was 13 and I went to night school when I was 16. Are these rioters unable to find a job? There are more job openings now than job applicants. I see signs reading "Hiring Now" in shop windows wherever I go in my city. In my state, the Virginia General Assembly has passed legislation to gradually raise the minimum wage to $15/hour. The minimum wage is now $11/hour and will go to $12/hour next year. We're making progress.

But that is not the problem. The Capitol riots were not caused by the frustrations of some underclass, according to a report by the Chicago Project on Security and Threats. Here's what they discovered about the Capitol rioters.

Over half of those who have been arrested are business owners and workers from white-collar occupations, doctors, lawyers, and architects. They include CEOs, a cardiovascular specialist, lawyers, a design engineer, accountants, and the founder and president of a firm that tests satellites. The percentage of business owners facing charges is 26 percent, more than twice their percentage in the U.S. population. In other words, the January 6th riots were riots of the relatively rich—not suffering farmers, inner-city gangs, or unemployed blue-collar workers. This rebellion of the well-off explains how some rioters were able to travel to Washington, DC, by passenger jet and then were able to afford hotel rooms, rental cars, and restaurant meals.

Trump is dangling the hope of pardons for the convicted rioters if he is elected again. But Trump seems to be the kind of man who only wants to help people if it benefits Trump. He will dangle the pardons (with the caveat that they would go to those who were convicted "unfairly") hoping the offer will buy votes. But once he has gotten those votes, what is the advantage to Trump of following through with his promise of pardons? Does he really care about those people? Doubtful. There is no advantage for Trump, so it is likely that he will forget about his promise of pardons. That's my opinion, of course, but also the opinion of people more knowledgeable than me.

But all that is beside the fact. The fact is that it is wrong to riot, trespass, destroy public property, to attack, injure, and kill police officers, to steal government property and commit other crimes, egged on by an ex-president. 

But suppose the rioters had been successful in overturning the 2020 election. What then? How would that improve their lives? In what ways would having Trump back in office make their lives better? Is there nothing they can do while they're at home—and not destroying property—that might make them happier and more satisfied with life? I just don't get it. But I have a message for them.

Dear unhappy people: I want you to take a deep breath, sit down, relax, and listen to the wisdom of Bobby McFerrin. His words are as on-target today as they were in 1988. Don't Worry, Be Happy. If, when the song ends, you still feel like overthrowing the U.S. government, then listen to the song again. And then again, and again, until you feel like a normal human being. You remember how that feels, right?