Essay: "A G.O.P. Dystopia?"

Essay: "A G.O.P. Dystopia?"

In science-fiction Dystopia is a world in which, according to the Random House Webster's College Dictionary (1991): "social or technological trends " results in "a greatly diminished quality of life or degradation of values." It is basically a literal Hell on earth or the antithesis of Utopia or paradise. In my view the United States is now or is starting to become a Dystopia disguised as a Utopia, especially for the poor, vulnerable and have-nots. If Wisconsin Congress-man Paul Ryan's evisceration of Medicare happens, if the G.O.P gets a majority in both Houses of Congress, and/or if the next President is a right-wing Republican (and these days the mainstream of the Republican Party is the extreme right-wing) I can foresee our country falling apart for the poor and vulnerable in our society. I can foresee more alcoholism, drug and substance abuse, crime of all kinds flourishing, angry citizenry, a spike in homelessness, more suicides, a sadder, less free and less happy society. We will literally be a Dystopia except for those of us on the wealthy side, especially since most of the jobs to be had are low-paying, unpleasant service professions, which cause stress rather than affluence.