ELAINE HARRIS SPEARMAN: Beware the angry train that's hurdling down the tracks

“People get ready there’s a train a coming. Don’t need no ticket, just get on board.”

Those words, written and sung by Curtis Mayfield in 1965, carry a message. Many singers and songwriters infused their songs with social commentary during this period.

Mayfield was referring to persistence and deliverance, because the country was in turmoil over race relations and the escalating Vietnam War.

I have often spoken of the light at the end of the tunnel being a train. The train that I reference bears no resemblance to the train Mayfield wrote about, however.

The train I see hurdling down the tracks is being engineered by the wealthy and the politically powerful among certain groups. The key engineers are Donald J. Trump, Elon Musk and Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida.

Crowded into cars are the Republican officeholder hopefuls and members of the angry GOP base that the officeholder hopefuls wish to appease. The free ride and free meals of disdain for all who do not agree with the engineers are a bonus for boarding this fast, angry train.

This train ultimately will go off track, but until then, who will be hurt as it runs over the American people and, generally, the rest of the world?

You have already witnessed the fact that only the rich and possibly famous can book a seat on rockets headed to outer space. We have had a period of relative calm without the daily barrage of ugly Twitter messages from Trump. That may change soon if Tesla CEO Elon Musk completes his purchase of Twitter.

The offer is to allegedly take Twitter private in the name of defending free speech. Musk has long complained about the media. Look at the fact that he wants to control the edit button for free speech. I firmly believe that the result will be the allowance of hate-filled, violence-inciting messages from Trump and those of his ilk.

Do you know who Elon Musk is and what fuels him? An insightful article by Eve Peyser in the Intelligencer newsletter can give you a glimpse. The article contains quotes from Musk.

He was born in South Africa during the apartheid era. His father was part owner of an emerald mine. He stated that “his father is evil,” as he fathered a child by a stepdaughter, Jana Bezuidenhout, whom Musk considers his sister.

Musk ran several companies that ultimately turned into PayPal. He opposes unions and made the statement that he would donate $6 billion to end world hunger. (He made a large donation to an unspecified charity, but there’s never been confirmation that he kept his promise.) His worth is estimated at $239.2 billion.

As I read the never-ending articles about Musk and Twitter, I am reminded of Mike Myers in his Austin Powers role in “Goldmember.” These movies were spoofs on the spy adventure films of the James Bond type. As you look at these movies with Dr. Evil present, replace him with Elon Musk.

You may not want the rich to get richer, as the poor get poorer. You may not want to see power and money concentrated in the fortunate few.

It is scary to look at one of the latest observable divisions in America. It has always been there, but the division between the rich and powerful and the poor is more pronounced than ever. The level of poor is irrelevant. It can be the working poor, the purely economic poor, the insurance poor, the mortgage poor or the educational cost poor — poor is poor.

There once was a middle ground called the middle class, and most people aspired to be there. This group is being squeezed out by the rich and powerful.

Ron DeSantis used his political power to get back at Disney for daring to disagree with the “Don’t Say Gay” law, as it's been tagged by critics. Gov. Gavin Newsome of California has said on Twitter, “Disney, the door is open to bring those jobs back to California – the state that actually represents the values of your workers.” This was after workers at Disneyland in California balked after being told they would have to move to Florida.

I would strongly suggest that one of the offers by states to “grant Mickey and Minnie asylum” be accepted by the Walt Disney Co.

With Elon Musk and his views on “free speech” and other matters of serious import; Donald Trump and his raw, open admiration of Vladimir Putin “taking over a whole country, just walking in”; and Ron DeSantis aspiring for the presidency as he punishes millions, we are headed for a national disaster.

Pay attention to that train. The average American is not welcome aboard.

Elaine Harris Spearman, Esq., a Gadsden native, is an attorney and is the retired legal advisor to the comptroller of the City of St. Louis. The opinions expressed are her own.

This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: GOP, wealthy aboard fast, angry train