To be perfectly honest, I had never thought of what one might call the current political period that has enveloped this nation.

Then, as I was typing a message to an acquaintance, it popped up on my computer screen. I called this period the Age of Rage.

What? Really? Then I thought about it for a moment or two. Then it dawned on me that this is precisely how we should describe this time in the history of our great republic. Besides, it has kind of a nice rhyming ring to it … you know?

A thoroughly unqualified and unfit individual has just returned to the presidency by virtue of an election he managed to win in 2024. Donald Trump took his oath, then delivered an inaugural speech full of bitterness, vindictiveness and anger. He described a country I do not recognize. The US of A is not “in decline.” We remain the envy of the world. The weaker nations of the planet turn to us for help. How can that possibly signal that we are on the decline?

He is an angry man.  Full of rage at immigrants, environmentalists, feminists, those who adhere to the rule of law, gay and transgender people, indigenous people.

Not only that, his first flood executive orders have triggered rage among those of us who oppose him, his policies, his world view (such as it is), his alliances … damn near everything about this guy!

Yep, we have entered the Age of Rage in the United States of America. It doesn’t feel good to me, nor should it feel good to you or anyone else.

Except, of course, for the guy who provokes the rage.