I really don’t know why there has been no concerted response. Maybe it’s because of the general chaos in this society that we don’t focus on the needs and concerns of children and youth. Maybe it’s because adults don’t really know how to respond. I refuse to believe it’s because we do not care. But when a student survivor of St. Louis’ first school shooting came to me for a platform to express her discounted pain, I wondered about us as a society.

We must build a formidable united front for justice and democracy. The motley picks for cabinet positions by trump mirrors his distorted view of governance and power. The main thing these cronies have in common is their unfettered and unconditional loyalty to trump. This is a required trait for a wanna-be dictator who is now more dangerous the second time around.

Wisconsin voters, you did a valiant job of not being swept into the sea of Republic redness during the presidential election. You lost to trump by a hair and Senator Tammy Baldwin held her ground. You still have Governor Tony E in place. You’re in an excellent position to move forward unlike other states who will have to dig themselves out of red holes on the local and statewide levels. The MAGA movement has gained new momentum, but it is not unstoppable.