If you’ve been to my “blog” since Trump was inaugurated I’ve pointed out the MAJOR problem, as I see it, is how much damage Trump will be able to cause before he’s either IMPEACHED or voted out of office – and, it’s MOUNTING fast!  It’s hard to keep up with everything because we’re getting HIT from all sides.  There’s the push for fossil fuels and the denial of climate change – which could end up being the worst DAMAGE caused by Trump – but, that’s just the “tip of the ice berg.”  Just recently, it was announced that Trump’s team will repeal the restrictions on large Telecom’s from creating so-called “fast and slow” lanes on the internet – as his FCC “chair” repeals “net neutrality.”  MILLIONS of Americans will be unhappy with this one.

There’s the so-called “Middle Class Tax Cut” that’s a tax cut where the Middle Class will be funneling their tax dollars to the people in America who least need the help – the top 1%.  That one could prove to have lasting negative values to the Middle Class that we won’t understand for maybe years – Congress is pushing this through at break neck speeds so they can say they accomplished SOMETHING this year AND so their “donors” keep donating.  This “tax cut” is maybe the MOST cynical action of a very cynical republican party I’ve seen – because “we the people” won’t know what “hit us” until it’s too late.  Of course, if enough of us raise a “stink” before it’s actually voted on – who knows – maybe there’s three republicans in the Senate who have somewhat a conscience and will vote NO on this terrible bill.  It reminds me of what’s called “reverse Robin Hood” – that is, taking from the POOR and giving to the RICH.

Of course, there’s the “Russia thing.”  Many in the media are struggling to understand what this amounts to – if it all proves true – and, that is TREASON!  Evidently, it’s being called “collusion” because Fox “news” has determined there’s no law against “collusion.”  But, there ARE laws against espionage, TREASON, conspiracy to commit crimes against America, election laws, and OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE to name a few that seem to be in the “cross-hairs” of the “special counsel, Robert Mueller.  I don’t understand why people are still wondering about “collusion?”  The meeting that Trump Jr. Manafort, and Jared Kushner had on June 9, 2016 ended that question.  It’s irrelevant what “dirt” was involved in the meeting – just that they WILLINGLY took the meeting says it all.  They were involved with the Russians to get Trump elected.  I don’t even they thought they would succeed – the Russians, I believe, hoped for – at best – to undermine our electoral process and create a divisive environment for Hillary Clinton to operate in.  What’s the old saying, “Be careful what you wish for.”

Now, Trump is the president – and, at a minimum, we KNOW the Russians ATTACKED our republic AND – even if it’s until Trump is out of the “White House” – we KNOW what they’re up to and we can defend against it in the future.  Sadly, we also KNOW that the Russians are still at it and Trump is totally OK with that.  Based on Testimony from Jeff Sessions, who heads the Justice department, we’re STILL doing NOTHING to combat the Russian interference in our “democracy.” (It’s really a republic)  It’s up to “we the people” to VOTE these people out of office.  I’ve been saying for years – we have a responsibility to vote republicans – as they are presently constituted (Steve Bannon, for heavens sake, seems to be a leading spokes person for republicans – that SHOULD say it all).  Republicans are masters at manipulating the media, but the Russians are teaching them new ways to get Americans to be voting against their own self interests AND ways to cause neighbor to be arguing with neighbor.

The other day I was reading about the ensuing election in Alabama where Roy Moore is facing charges of sexual impropriety in ways that SHOULD cause – at the minimum, in my view – people who are Christians to refuse to vote for him.  Even the most conservative of republicans in Congress say, “I believe the women” who are accusing him of sexually assaulting them – and, worse in my view and that of many others – when they were under age while he was in his thirties.  There was a quote from a woman in Alabama who was going to vote for Moore and I was taken aback by what she said.  She pointed out she “can’t watch the cable news because they’re dishonest” or something of that sort.  Well, on that I’d have to agree – especially if she was talking about Fox.  However, her rationale for voting for Moore mirrored that of Fox – so, my first thought was she was LYING (that’s what republicans do – well, in my view, more than the rest of us – we’re all guilty of our own perspectives which may “wobble” from time to time – but, I’m talking about willful LYING) and, then she said, “I have to read to stay informed.”

I couldn’t help but wonder, “what on earth is this lady reading?”  Personally, I guess the reason this “stuck” in my mind, is because I’ve become a near prolific “reader” since the day Bush/Cheney took us into Iraq based on clear LIES.  That’s when I decided to start expressing my opinions (complaining :o) AND I decided I needed to educate myself further than what I could find on the TV – regarding current events.  Plus, this all caused me to start reading as much as I can about American History – essentially from the Great Depression up to this time – with a few “side trips” to the revolutionary war period, Jefferson, Madison, Hamilton, Polk, Grant, and Lincoln to name some that come to the top of my mind.  I had to wonder what this lady was reading to come to the conclusion Roy Moore was better than either voting for a “liberal” or not voting or writing in someone else.  My conclusion, we’re reading completely different stuff – although, I believe we BOTH read the Bible – I’m confused with her interpretation.

So, if Roy Moore gets elected to the Senate, to me that just compounds the “damage” I keep talking about regarding the Trump era.  This guy is bizarre before you start questioning his past sexual misconduct – but, we’re looking at having both a president and member of the Senate with MULTIPLE allegations of sexual misconduct running our country.  Yikes!  Roy Moore will stand alongside Trump in much of his draconian plans for “we the people.”

As I was thinking about the “damage” to this nation via the Trump administration, Moore reminds me of more that we should all be worrying about.  Take for example all the young people who came to this country years ago when their parents immigrated illegally.  They were granted what I understand to be permanent residence with the opportunity to become citizens during President Obama’s administration in a program I’m not over familiar with called DACA.  These young people are often referred to as “Dreamers.”  Of course, Trump – as he’s apparently trying to purge any memory of President Obama – repealed “DACA” a couple months ago and gave Congress six months to “solve the problem” – which, apparently wasn’t a problem until he repealed Obama’s executive order.  Now, we’ve got almost a MILLION young people who know no other homeland – AND who identified themselves trusting they would be part of this program – potentially facing deportation – to who knows where?  Draconian is too nice of a word to describe this Trump maneuver – let’s hope Congress sees fit to “fix” this – but, I’m guessing it will be used as a “hostage” to get democrats to agree to some other piece of draconian legislation “down the road.”

Then there’s health care.  Trump’s been going after the Affordable Care Act (AKA “Obamacare”) since before he took office.  Of course, as in MOST other areas, Trump has no idea what he’s talking about and, in this case, what to “replace” the health care law with.  He suggested there would be a “repeal and replace” on his desk the first day of his term.  Well, as Trump himself has said since, “Who knew health care could be this complicated?”  Well, most of us who’ve been paying attention for the past 60 years knew.  What Obama was attempting to do has been repealed by republicans since the days of Truman.  This is a fight that separates America from EVERY other “advanced” nation – MOST nations have “universal” health care and, believe it or not, their “outcomes” are superior to those in America.  The childbirth statistics in America are somewhere in the thirties in relationship to the best outcomes world wide.  Republicans would have you believe we’re the “top of the heap” when it comes to health care – but, the only way that’s true is we’ve got the least percentage of people covered and the highest costs in the world for health care.  I guess the important part to republican is the CEO’s of the large Health Care conglomerates, like “United Health” are among the highest paid executives in the World – and, they give among the most to republicans!

Of course, we can’t forget foreign policy.  Whether we like it or not, our standing in the world is important to our way of life at home.  The reality is we are intertwined with many countries around the world – you often hear people say “China owns us.”  Well, it’s true that China has large investments in America, but I don’t think they “own” us – at least not quite yet.  But, what I’m really referring to are our alliances that have created a mostly safe world since WW II.  Europe and America have stood together since the 1940’s and Trump has been very dismissive of Europe and NATO.  Ruining those relationships could be devastating to us in many ways – including the one way that would affect even republicans – and, that’s economically.  Let’s all just hope the damage being done to our alliance with Europe is temporary and fixable.  While Trump is creating angst with Germany, France, Great Britain, and others in Europe, he’s openly kissing up to people like Putin, Erdogan of Turkey, and Duterte of the Philippines – DICTATORS.  It’s as if Trump just dreams of remaking America in the image of those “strongmen.”  These “checks and balances” are for losers – in Trump’s (and the aforementioned dictator’s minds).

My God, this is getting longer than I thought, but what about the environment?  Trump started his administration by OK ing the Keystone XL pipeline for one thing.  Well, this pipeline will travel over America’s greatest aquifer and, just the other day, the first part of the pipeline put THOUSANDS of gallons of the worst form of oil, tar sands, on the ground in South Dakota.  This is the very concern of people who don’t want that pipeline anywhere near the great farmland and water of America’s heartland.  And, worse, NONE of this oil is intended for domestic use and it’s waste will remain an American problem once the refined product heads  to China or who knows where.  Plus, all the “jobs” Trump talks about will be around 35 “permanent” jobs once the pipeline is completed.  It will create a couple thousand temporary jobs for the construction – but, is that worth the risk? Not to me.  And, I believe Trump has a financial interest in the completion of this pipeline – I KNOW the Koch brothers do.  Again, “follow the money.”  In America, we live by the “golden rule.”  “Them that have the gold, rule!”

If you’re still reading this post I trust you know what the Paris Climate Accords are – and, you probably know Trump pulled America out of the agreement – maybe only because President Obama was central to negotiating it.  This action, of course, sent a terrible message to the rest of the world, but, be assured, while Trump is pushing coal and tar sands oil, China is busy developing the most advanced clean energy technology in the world.  Trump’s days in the “White House” hopefully won’t last past four years (and, I’m saying that not only because I made a “double or nothing bet” with a friend that predicted Trump’s election) and, America will come around to a more committed push for clean energy – but, because of Trump (and his republican cohorts) America is likely to be way behind in the development of clean energy technologies – although, as I’m writing this I’m thinking – “thank you Elon Musk.”  I’ve got solar panels on my house and they produce enough energy for our use only about half the year – but, that’s enough for me to make the investment – and, there are still government incentives to help with the cost – so, “we the people” can still make a difference – although, I’m guessing the “Middle Class tax cut” may very well end the solar tax credit.  (I hope I’m wrong – I live in Washington state where it rains about half the year – and, of course MOST of the sun’s rays are blocked while it’s raining :o)

I could go on and on – of course, I know what you’re thinking, “You’re already way past ‘on and on.'” So I’ll end with the push to control the media.  It’s been reported that while the FCC is set up to repeal “net neutrality” – which will have, as I said above, MILLIONS protesting they’re ALSO rigging the rules for the media in a way that favors groups like “Sinclair Broadcasting” which have most of the channels that are favorable to Trump.  When the republicans are able to TOTALLY control the media AND manipulate the Justice department, “we the people” are in serious trouble.  This is a main part of the plan for a “permanent republican ‘majority’ which, of course, is nowhere near a “majority.”  Trump believes he can be reelected with a base of 32%.  We’ve all seen Trump BLASTING the “mainstream media” (which is actually attempting to do investigative journalism, I’ve personally subscribed to the Washington Post and New York Times online as a way to support this type of journalism).  Additionally, Trump has been lamenting that he can’t order the Justice Department to investigate his political opponents.  Just imagine what that would mean if he could fulfill his “dream.”  As I’m pondering all this it’s hard to decide what damage is the worst.  It’s all bad.  Trump is taking us back to the days of the robber barons.  The challenge for “we the people” is to stand against this en masse – no matter whether you’re a republican or democrat – you should be concerned with someone doing all this damage to our great nation!  I’ve pointed this out before – when the American History of this era is written – Trump and those enabling him will be viewed as Benedict Arnold was back in the beginning of this nation!  As Trump, himself, would “tweet,” Sad!

One (I promise) Final Thought:  I failed to mention Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid while I was writing this post.  The DAMAGE to these programs could be among the most significant to the MOST people in America.  I’m a “young” recipient of Social Security and Medicare.  It’s very easy for me to see how it prevents MILLIONS of America’s senior citizens from being in poverty.  And, if they are successful in undermining Medicare and Medicaid, this country will fast become unrecognizable.  These are the signature programs of the New Deal and Great Society of FDR and LBJ.  Back when this nation was what I called a “we” nation.  Ronald Reagan spurred so many Americans to believe this SHOULD be an “I” nation.  Young people in America don’t know the difference because they’ve only seen the latter – the “Reaganomics” part of America.  Trump is putting “Reaganomics” on steroids and, apparently, many in the top 1% are cheering.  I don’t believe we need leaders who are my age, but we do need leaders who understand we’re stronger when those who “have” are concerned for those who “have not.”