Trouble at the Top!

What's happening with national leaders at the top is a mixed bag.  On the one hand:

Pakistan has dumped their Prime Minister.

In Sri Lanka, the President and his brother the Prime Minister are hanging on while tens of thousands of people in the streets are demanding they resign.

In Israel, the Prime Minister has lost his majority and could be headed for another election.

Iraq had an election last October but can't decide who their leader should be.

Sudan is in a perpetual state of turmoil.

A junta is in charge in Burkina Faso and they say it will be three years before they have another election.

Lebanon will have an election next month, but no one expects their chronic instability to subside.

On the other hand:

An autocrat rules in Hungary.

An autocrat rules in Serbia

An autocrat rules in Russia.

The military rules in Myanmar.

In France, a runoff election on April 24 pits the President against a strong challenge from the right wing candidate.

In India, the Prime Minister has a near-autocratic grip on power.

Finally, a bright spot:

Zelensky in Ukraine!

Midterms!

This week's edition of the political show "The Circus" focused on the upcoming midterm elections and the likelihood that the Democrats will get crushed.  The current conventional wisdom is that the Dems will not only lose both the House and the Senate, they'll lose big.

Biden's poll numbers are in the toilet.  Inflation is hurting people and Biden is to blame.  Touting some real accomplishments, like the infrastructure bill, low unemployment and more jobs, a diminishing Covid threat, aren't resonating with voters.  Democrats aren't able to excite their base.  Fewer Black voters are supporting Biden, etc., etc., etc.

The prospect that these current realities will turn around in the next six months, no matter what the Dems do, looks dismal.  When the show ended I was more unhappy with what's happening than before it began. 

So what now?  Is a miracle possible?  Is there a magic solution somewhere out there on the horizon?  Are the American people going to undergo a mass conversion and realize that turning the country over to the Republicans led by Trump will further erode our democracy, our institutions, and our values?

Am I now in the panicked "the sky is falling" crowd?  It sounds like it.  I'll continue to look for some bright spots, but until I see something new I'll be remembering that old mantra:  If we don't change our direction we're likely to end up where we're going.