While COVID complications are still very much on my mind, I completed most of my flight arrangements to Portugal yesterday and have a rental car reserved. Now I will start locking down accommodations. I plan to spend the first few days in Lisbon, then grab my rental car and head up north to the Silver Coast and the area around Porto. I will be there a little over a week. I then plan to drive the length of Portugal down to the Algarve in the south where I will spend the next two weeks. At least that’s the plan. Everything these days is subject to change with short notice.
Right now, Portugal is open, although a negative COVID test is required prior to entry. The worst-case scenario would be if I successfully get over there but have trouble getting home. I guess we’ll see. I’m hoping that if they determine that a third booster shot is required, they will make that decision before I leave. I will certainly be one of the first in line.
Cases in Montana are now surging like across much of the nation. We are also one of those Republican-controlled states where Governor Gianforte signed a bill prohibiting the enforcement of mask mandates. I find it extremely ironic that all of these Republican-controlled states cry loudly about ‘States’ rights’ when the Federal government issues nationwide mandates but apparently think that once things get to the state level, they are entitled to act like dictators and strip the rights of every company, institution and person beneath them. They don’t want the president to act in an authoritarian manner but are perfectly comfortable doing it themselves. Go figure.
It is hard to understand the thinking (or lack thereof) of people like Governor DeSantis (Florida) or Governor Greg Abbott who are acting like tin horn dictators with respect to outlawing basic public health measures that have been proven effective. Now, Governor DeSantis is threatening to withhold the salaries of school officials who defy his edict to ban masks in schools. Really? Using children as political pawns is outrageous. There are international laws against using children as soldiers and this seems to be on the same level.
Think about this for a second. Ron DeSantis is one of the frontrunners in polls regarding who might be the Republican nominee for president in the 2024 elections if Trump doesn’t run. (Hopefully he will have been indicted by then!). DeSantis’ behavior to date seems to be Trump on steroids, if that’s even possible. It’s not hard to see what direction this country would take if someone like DeSantis were to be elected. That is truly frightening. If you thought Trump did everything he could to undermine democracy in this country, DeSantis would likely join Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, as someone who was responsible for the actual death of democracy.
DeSantis’ continuing harangue against immigrants and blaming them for the surge in COVID cases in Florida is right out of the ‘authoritarian playbook.’ When you look at virtually every authoritarian leader who rose to power, they almost universally used inflammatory rhetoric against immigrants as one of their springboards to power. Trump did it in 2016 and you can bet whoever the Republican nominee is for 2024 will do it again. If the nominee is DeSantis, the existing polarization in this country will get even worse. As I have said before, many people in this country don’t seem to have any idea of how close we are to succumbing to authoritarian forces that will change this country forever. I’d like to be optimistic and think that this trend can be reversed but somedays, after reading the news, it’s very difficult. Which is why I intend to carry on with my exploration of places to potentially move.
The Republican Party is dying. Desperation to stay alive at any costs even if it destroys our democracy is where they are. Demagoguery that appeals to their supporters that plays on their emotions and prejudices rather than on their rational side is now their only hope for them to stay alive. The Republicans realize they cannot survive without Trump because he has changed the supporters of the Party into his cult. I feel that the situation is going to get far worse before it will get better.
What would a full report on Portugal from you cost me upon your return? That’s a place I’m considering fleeing to if Trumplicans gain power…. Have a great trip !
Bob, it is my plan to ‘post as I go’ on my Portugal adventure here, assuming COVID doesn’t get in the way. I will be happy to answer any and all questions upon my return.