Although the stated overarching goal in each of the trials will be justice, let's face it -- that's only part of what this country's citizens need. Those of us who give a damn about truth surely need to get some satisfaction from this process. Satisfaction that tells more than just what happened; we need to better understand how the hell we got here.
For instance, I don't just want to see Trump convicted of stealing and hiding secret files. Satisfaction will entail learning WHY those particular files were selected. Hey, I don't buy it that they were merely souvenirs of an outrageously vain man's days in power.
Plus, the ordeal of this parade of trials will likely have an effect on 2024's national and statewide elections. Nonetheless, at this writing, who knows what shape that effect will take?
Anyway, I've got high hopes that a year's worth of Trump-related trials and verdicts is going to be consequential. And, regardless of who the big winners or losers in each of the trials turn out to be, my guess is we're going to find out much about what kind of country the USA really is ... and isn't, anymore.
One of the lessons we ought to learn in 2024 is that court system isn't going to swoop in and fix the nation's most vexing problems -- those to do with the environment, with abortion, with race, with democracy, with guns, with wealth disparity, and so forth.
Along with helpful verdicts from courts, the culture needs to evolve its way out of the same ol' ruts. Snares that have been hobbling society's ability to make progress on several fronts.
Bottom line: Next year is calling for we the people to take the Rooftop Singers advice and find, "a new way of walkin'."
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