Let’s start with the good news: For the 13th consecutive year, the New York Yankees failed to even get into the World Series.
That’s about it, I’m afraid.
In this year of tribulations, ground war returned to Europe courtesy of Vladimir Putin and the Delta Variant created yet another wave of social media epidemiologists, “advancing” science 280 characters at a time.
Roe v Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court, prompting yet another massive run on Handmaiden Tale outfits, p*&Sy hats and bad constitutional takes on social media. The dread hand of fascism and the death of democracy were discerned from the highest court in the land actually reversing its previous power grab and allowing the issue to return to the democratic process in the various states. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden decided on his own to forgive a trillion dollars of student debt without congressional approval, in direct contravention of the Constitution, and was hailed as a savior of democracy.
The Spirit of ’06 (1/6/21, that is) was kept alive just long enough to reach the midterms by a congressional committee handpicked by the famously impartial Nancy Pelosi and chaired by a former election-denier. Having dispensed with the unpleasantness of hearing opposing views by rejecting members selected by the GOP leadership, Pelosi’s choice for her Potemkin Republican “representation” were two congressmen whose public condemnation of the subject of the inquiry – Trump – would have made John Dean blush. The proceedings were marred, however, by the inexplicable presence of kangaroos throughout the hearing.
Inflation returned as a dominant economic issue after wallowing for several decades. The Biden administration devised a series of creative policy proposals designed to address the issue that went something like this (in order): simply deny that inflation exists; admit that it exists but downplay it as “temporary;” admit that, yes, well, it isn’t temporary but it’s really the fault of Vladimir Putin and the war in Ukraine, despite the fact that the majority of inflation occurred prior to the invasion; admit that, well, yes, there was some inflation before the invasion, but that was the fault of the previous administration and those bastards at the Fed; and, finally, lie about the statistics and say “problem solved.” When asked about his policy, the President responded “hey, Jack, we held the Senate.” You can’t really argue with that.
On the immigration front, the term “Sanctuary City” took a beating as one such self-proclaimed community, Martha’s Vineyard, summer home to some of the wealthiest people in America (including former President Obama), was surprised to find 48 – 48 – undocumented migrants disembarking on to their island courtesy of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Displaying a true “sanctuary” mentality, within 24 hours the residents had successfully petitioned the Governor to call in the National Guard to remove them to a nearby military base, and within 48 hours all traces of the immigrants were gone…except a GoFund me page set up by the residents for the residents to offset their (the residents’) suffering. One apparently sober observer described it as viewing “the best of humanity.”
On the sports front here locally, the Cubs regressed to the median, while the Sox missed the playoffs despite (because of?) the documented fact that manager Tony LaRussa stayed awake for the majority of Sox games. LaRussa won’t be managing the Sox next year.
Bears, Bulls and Blackhawks? Nevermind (although the Legend of Justine Fields may be THE story of 2023).
Finally, we lost Angela Lansbury, Sidney Poitier, Loretta Lynn, Gilbert Gottfried, Christine McVie, Meat Loaf and the extraordinary Queen Elizabeth II. Requiescat In Pace.
Here’s to a better 2023.
Paul Stukel
Editor
Fox Valley Magazine
