Was Any of This Really Worth Our Time?

With the Inauguration now past - with all the hoopla, sturm und drang, and sharply divided opinion associated with it -  the question pops up: Is any of this really worth our time? That is, is it worth our lingering on every word of the Inauguration speech (pro or con) and the endless repetition and commentary by the legion of media people who make a living repeating the words of politicians and purporting to "interpret" them for us? 

On this last point, was there really any need for interpretation. Bald (and some would say bold) statements were made by our 47th President. If you bothered to listen, or read them, they were pretty clear.

If they floated your boat, you were lifted up. If they stabbed your political sensibilities like a hot knife through butter, you grimaced and clenched your teeth - or some variation on that theme.

In the end though, even if we know what they all meant, the plethora of words are just that: words. And words and politicians flow freely, for the most part without cost and frequently without consequence.

How many times have we who live in New York City heard politicians talk about improving subway service and - especially lately - safety? The consequences of such words, with few exceptions, have been negligible, to say the least.

Ditto for the Niagara Falls of words that gush from so many of our leaders whose promises drown in the aftermath.

Is it any wonder that we wonder whether it's all worth our time - at least the listening, certainly the post-speech discussing.

What we want to see is the consequences of this latest banquet of delights that will make our country, what is it again? oh, right - great again.

For example, the whole illegal immigrant thing. After weeks to assertions about "mass deportations" we might ask ourselves what exactly has ensued so far. And if not too much, why? Is there some plan that we can perceive that is in process of being executed?

Of course, it's not always easy to assess such a program. Only the truly mentally challenged think that the massive illegal immigrant influx of the past few years - and beyond - will be somehow resolved in a relatively effective, healthy and - dare we say it - happy manner.

On a more local and immediate level, we here in NYC heard talk of rolling back the congestion pricing scheme that descended on us a few weeks ago. There's nothing complicated here. Congestion pricing remains in place; and the waterfall of words beginning on January 20th has not included hide nor hair of talk of ending it. That's something we will easily be able to assess as being something more than mere words.

We could go down the laundry list of promises, many expressed initially in that slew of Executive Orders signed the very day of the Inauguration, some of which have already been opposed by court action by the enemies of the new regime. But let's not. Let's instead first step back and assess what's transpired so far post-inauguration. Then we can decide how - also if - we want to keep following and focusing on this new Administration and the changes it purports to impose on the government and ultimately on us all.

So far, we've had the words but few instantiations of the claims made. In other words, little has occurred - or at least been reported - that shows us the consequences of either the Executive orders or the the other promises made by the incoming crew. And that's to be expected. Even the deportation of immigrants - maybe the most striking of the promises - has barely moved the needle, assuming it has been initiated. Again, to be expected. It's ridiculous to expect massive raids and the transporting of illegals south of the border in the space of the week. Still, we might legitimately expect at least some indication that something is going on, right? And indeed, reports of 400 arrests made have circulated. But, of course, this is far less than the "millions" of criminal illegals that were claimed.

Meanwhile, we're still finding media that's commenting on the Inauguration speech - this now five days post facto.

Which brings us to is any of this really worth our time? 

By now, you've either heard the speech or read some reliable (one hopes) summary of it. So you know what's cooking. And you're likely either for it or agin' it. Either way, there's not much else to consider at this point. 

And that leads to if it isn't worth our time at this point, then let's get on with life and leave the Trumping to Trump and the media to its words, pix, and videos - all of which will likely be designed to attract clicks and viewers so that the sponsors of said media feel comfortable forking over the bucks that will feed even more of the same.

One last parting "Worth our time?"