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Column: Shootings, Trump crazies and political unrest

It will not have escaped anyone's attention, even in The Netherlands not that there has been another mass shooting at an elementary school in the United States. This time 19 children and 2 adults lost their lives. The previous mass shooting in America was only 1,5 weeks earlier New York City, which further highlights the painful problem of the politically extremely divided country. How can it be that there are mass shootings at schools, restaurants, stations or elsewhere almost every week?


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This article is part of a large one-year tour the United States en Canada, with a Dutch 4×4 camper that we shipped ourselves… It is a bucket list worthy and an once in a lifetime experience that will never be forgotten.

The ultimate roadtrip route through America and Canada | Wereldreizigers.nl
The ultimate roadtrip route through America and Canada | Wereldreizigers.nl

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Another shooting

We have been traveling around America for a few months now and find this news terrible to hear every time. When we talk to the local people in this country we feel the unrest among both supporters and opponents of weapons.

To better understand where exactly the problem comes from, I recommend everyone to watch this short – but very informative – video from NOS. Below the video I will continue with how I experience the political game (and especially the lack of dialogue) in the US.

Weapons Weapons Weapons

As you know, Malou and I (Chris) have been traveling through the US for a few months now. Until now we visited cities, parks and often camped deep in nature at many campgrounds in a dozen different states.

With the exception of New York, Georgia en Washington D.C., where people are more left oriented, I have already spoken to several people who are only too happy to talk about their weapons. It often starts with small talk when you have just arrived at the campsite… ´Hey how are you?´

I've already answered a few questions about who we are and how we got our motorhome here on a number of occasions. But once I've answered those two questions, I sometimes quickly get a plea about them idiot President and that they have guns under their RV seat. just in case.

Weapons are for sale almost everywhere in America. In many states, they're even in Walmart, next to coolers and car tires.
Weapons are for sale almost everywhere in America. In many states, they're even in Walmart, next to coolers and car tires.

Let this be clear: I'm not asking for it. People tell me of their own accord. This was even the case a few times first what she wanted to share with me. Do they see me, the little 1.71 meter man from the Netherlands, as a threat? Why do people feel the need to tell me this immediately? I really don't understand it and I find it difficult to get used to it.

More children die in shootings than in traffic

All those weapons that everyone is so proud of have a clear downside. The Washington Post came up with a shocking statistic this week: in America, more children now die in mass shootings than in traffic† Isn't that really unbelievable?

The following example is also incomprehensible to me. In America, if you see a school bus stop, you must stop your car at all times, even if you are driving on the other side of the road, so that the children can get out and cross safely. You protect the children, don't take any risks. Well organised, you would think.

An American school bus
An American school bus

But what if that child then has a greater chance of being shot at school? Even bigger than being involved in traffic accidents? It sounds like a joke, like satire, but it is the terrible and incredibly sad truth. That's incomprehensible, isn't it?

Below you can see how the average number of gun deaths in the US compares to other developed countries, per 100.000 residents...

Photo via: Bernie Sanders Facebook Page
Photo via: Bernie Sanders Facebook Page

Political upheaval

It's not just the bizarre love of guns that amazes me. As the conversation progresses, a few things quickly become clear. Fuel prices in the United States have soared over the past year. even doubled† It's a hot topic that always comes up.

Petrol is still much cheaper per liter than in XNUMX The Netherlands. However, prices have risen even faster in America compared to the Netherlands, something that many Dutch people do not realize at all.

Idiot President (Biden)

The high inflation, expensive fuel and rising grocery prices that the president (Biden) is now dealing with is mainly a legacy of his predecessor(s). But, people don't look that far back here. The problem is happening now and that is President Biden's fault, I often hear people say here.

President Biden Is The Least Appreciated President In 50 Years

CNN.com

Biden is currently (May 2022) even the record holder at the moment, in a negative sense. He is the least appreciated president in the last 50 years. Only 38% of the American people still support President Biden. That is even 2% less than Trump, who at his worst moment still received 40% support from the American people.

America is scared and divided

It is the short-term vision that amazes me. People don't seem to want to look further than their nose. They only think about today, about the now. And they just copy everything from TV, without thinking for themselves.

What you mainly see here on TV is really sad. Because this is no longer about the news, progress or improving the country. The news here is exclusively about vilifying each other (left and right). They really don't agree on anything.

Prices are rising, China is on a dangerous path, poverty is skyrocketing and it's all the fault of the other party† How are they going to solve that? Nobody talks about that. That's not important either, or so it seems.

It doesn't even matter if you're left (Democrat) or right (Republican), both sides are guilty of throwing mud.

The news on American TV is like watching two chimpanzees arguing. Both camps throw shit at each other 24/7.

Politics is hopelessly screwed up as a result – and it only seems to get worse in recent years.

Propaganda

Throwing mud and making each other black in 2022 is more like propaganda than politics. It is no longer about any plans, setting goals and making budgets. Here the news goes on 24/7 but almost exclusively about the missteps that the other party makes.

In every restaurant you go to. In every bar, sports café and almost all public spaces in this country the TV is on with 'the news'. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This propaganda is consumed dozens of hours a week.

Similar to China and Russia

In my view, therefore, it is very similar to what we are in Russia en China to see. The only difference with those countries is that in America big money rules, instead of a government that limits what you can think, hear or see. Because behind those major news channels are big names who want to impose their political preferences, mainly for greater economic gain.

Every political interest in the US has to do with money. The rich (multinationals) are pulling the strings here. They determine what you see on TV, which topics are discussed in the Senate (through lobbying) and even who sits in the Senate. Because without money you can't get anywhere in this country. Certainly not in politics.

Two camps that oppose

So the propaganda in this country does not have one side as in Russia and China, but two sides. The two camps, the Democrats and the Republicans, have even lost sight of the track to govern so much that in 2022 it is still mainly about what the other person wants. And yes, the other party will be directly opposed to that. People no longer want to work together. The dialogue is not there. I definitely don't want what you want. That's mainly the idea here. That works both ways, both camps are guilty of this.

The government is corrupt

This is taking extreme forms. Even for things that are clearly wrong. The weapons law is a good example of this. This does not deviate from the thinking of their party. No matter what.

That is strange, because even the Republicans want more control. At least, the citizens. Research shows that 90% of the American people wants stricter gun laws and yet nothing happens.

Example: to drive a car in the US you must take driving lessons, take an exam, register the car by name, be mentally and physically healthy, have insurance and have the car checked annually. This is not necessary with a weapon. If you were to simply take over the rules of a car for gun ownership, you'd come a long way…

But as much as the people would like to see this happen, a solution seems far away. This has everything to do with corrupt senators. The stakes are too high. That the NRA (the National Rifle Association - where the big gun money is), half the Republican camp continues to be provided with millions in bribes and lobbying money of course doesn't help either. Those who can change the law simply make too much money from it. In my opinion, it is corruption at the highest level - but it is still legal under the law.

extremism

While the propaganda machine at US Senators, FOX and CNN continues to run at full speed, more and more people in this country are sliding towards extremism. These extremists are easy to recognize, because they are more than happy to show what they stand for and who they support.

Flags and bumper stickers

The many Trump bumper stickers, the Trump flags and yes, the countless signs in people's gardens that read: Trump 2024. The extremists are only too happy to push their political preference down your throat, something that is really unthinkable in the Netherlands, on a few FvD-Logos as profile pictures on Facebook after then…

And if you think that's it, the above attributes are still the neat variants. What I have also seen a lot are variants like FUCK BIDEN and LETS GO BRANDON (which has become a kind of neat translation / slogan for FUCK BIDEN, see background info here).

And I haven't even mentioned the many 'abortion is murder' signs along the road...

Imagine...
That you drive around in the Netherlands and see FUCK RUTTE on countless cars.

Or that your neighbor hangs up a giant flag with FUCK BAUDET or FUCK PVDA.

That's what you see here.

It is a bizarre custom in America that will hopefully never spread to the Netherlands...

Chris – Wereldreizigers.nl

They hang those extreme flags in their garden, on their house, and even on pickup trucks. The bigger the better. Everyone must and will know that they are for Trump but especially against Biden. Entering into a dialogue with these people makes no sense at all.

Trump crazies

As a supporter of Trump, you probably don't want to hear it, but I'll say it anyway: The extreme lunatics in this country seem to be mainly on the right, the side of the Republicans. I've been traveling around America for months and I have yet to see the first FUCK TRUMP flag. And yet I have already seen hundreds of extreme right-wing flags, stickers and signs.

In my opinion, the statements that the Republicans make with this say a lot about the right-wing camp in America. They are much more visible, both on TV and online and yes, also offline in the cities and towns of the country with the many billboards and flags.

How is America doing now?

I don't know. But just to get straight to the point… I think Trump will easily become president again in 2024. This man's cult-like followers are literally doing everything they can to pull the election back to them. I mean, they even storm the Capitol if it has to.

Here I (Chris) stand in front of the Capitol in Washington DC
Here I (Chris) stand in front of the Capitol in Washington DC

In addition, I still see thousands, especially in Florida and the interior confederate flags, republican Trump and FUCK BIDEN flags. Supplemented with bumper stickers, hats, T-shirts and even giant billboards when I drive into a city or town. And while the elections are still more than two years away.

Painful to watch

It pains me to see how this great country, because it still is, is slowly slipping into an increasingly extreme state. This is my third trip in America and you can see the sentiment change. Every time I come back, it seems to have gotten a little crazier and more extreme.

only losers

What I do know is that the average American in the middle, and especially the children and youth, are the victims of all the fighting. There are hardly any social security anymore and that is also continuing to crumble. In addition, they are increasingly being shot almost weekly in schools and shopping centers while senators and multinationals continue to enrich themselves in the name of God, so-called freedom (5th amendment) and “The American Dream” (capitalism).

How many more deaths will there be before the gun law is finally changed? The emotional speech of Texas NBA coach Steve Kerr speaks volumes in that regard. enough is enough

…and I would like to end with that…


Plan your vacation to America here


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Chris

Owner of Wereldreizigers.nl † Discover the world!
- Full-time blogging world traveler.
- Writes about travel, photography, sustainability and gadgets.
- Likes to discover extreme and unknown places.

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