Pondering 2021 news and setting an agenda for 2022

Reflecting on 2021’s highs and lows and contemplating what’s ahead in 2022 is reality therapy; good for the soul.

In 2021 we witnessed the “Big Lie,” a congressional power shift, booming economy, botched Afghanistan exit, COVID-19 vaccination success and anti-vax woes, disinformation and misinformation campaigns, the list goes on.

Jan. 6: Pro-Trump right-wing extremists’ riot at the Capitol attempted to change America from democracy to authoritarian rule.

March 11: President Joe Biden signs $1.9 trillion COVID-19 stimulus package to ease financial pain and stimulate the economy.

April 20: Derek Chauvin, former Minneapolis police officer, found guilty of killing George Floyd; racial justice alarm resonates … again.

May 19: Texas abortion law further suppresses women’s right to health care decision-making.

Summer: Twenty-five state legislators and governors increase voter access laws while 19 states (including Iowa) instill voter suppression and discrimination laws.

Oct. 8: Nearly 140 countries agree to invoke a minimum 15 percent corporate tax rate, creating international trade parity.

Nov. 9: A $1.2 trillion infrastructure package for improvements in roads, bridges, rail, airports, broadband, water and energy systems becomes law.

Nov. 13: Over 190 nations agree to climate-change pact.

Dec. 9: Weekly jobless claims fall to lowest level since 1969.

Dec. 19: Sen. Joe Manchin (D., W.Va.) opposes President Biden’s $1.75 trillion “Build Back Better” bill, putting its passage in peril.

Jan. 7-present: More than 700 people arrested and charged in relation to Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol insurrection while over 300 Donald Trump associates are interviewed by bipartisan U.S. Capitol Riot Committee for Trump’s attempt to overturn his election defeat.

January-December: Some GOP leaders attempt to ban books, pander disinformation about critical race theory and penalize teachers for telling the truth about slavery and historical events.

January-December: The Standard & Poor’s 500 stock market index produces ~23% gain for the year; history of America’s GDP to increase whenever a Democrat is president remains on track.

For 2022 and beyond, patriotic Americans must accept that COVID-19 will be a perpetual endemic — like the flu — with vaccinations, face masks and social distancing as the remedies.

Furthermore, the Freedom to Vote Act and John Lewis Voting Rights Amendment Act must be approved so all 50 states will operate under the same voting rules, to permit democracy to survive and prevent another insurrection attempt in 2022 and 2024.

Americans must recognize that Russia, China, Iran and North Korea are the new axis of evil and will go to any extreme to advance their military and economic interests at our expense.

Additionally, Congress must approve Equal Rights Amendment to bring women’s rights on par with men.

Finally, registered voters need to pressure legislators of all political stripes to work together to solve problems just like elementary students work side-by-side regardless of their peers’ identity. Is that too much to ask of our legislators to demonstrate their loyalty to America instead of a political party? Bipartisanship must prevail in 2022 or America’s survival as a democracy is in jeopardy.

Steve Corbin is emeritus professor of marketing, University of Northern Iowa and freelance writer.