Trump, and the Congressional Budget Office, are claiming the (illegal) tariffs imposed by Trump (arbitrarily) will raise $4 TRILLION against the “deficit” over the next 10 years. Well, a couple things; Couldn’t they have just raised taxes on corporations? Or, of course, they don’t want to (out in the open) raise taxes on us peons – that wouldn’t go over very well. So, Trump “outwardly” removed “taxes on tips” for the first $25,000 in income while INCREASING taxes on consumer goods purchased mainly by working class people indirectly via the tariffs. Obviously, it’s a bad “trade-off.” And, if anyone in his administration admits to the rising inflation, well, they’ll be fired on the spot!

What is Trump going to do when the courts, as they should, declare his ILLEGAL tariffs are, well, ILLEGAL? First, of course he will “blow his top,” pull out his phone, and start “twittering” (or whatever you call it) about how the courts have no right to tell him what to do. The question then becomes – will he actually follow the directive of the court? Of course he’ll appeal to the SCOTUS and, likely, they’ll allow him to leave them in place while they slow walk whatever they decide. (See my previous post)

Does anyone actually expect Pam Bondi to participate in a challenge of any sorts to Trump’s continued overreach of our legal system of justice? I mean, now he’s also going after the Federal Reserve Board which the SCOTUS has already ruled “hands off.” That’s after they allowed him to fire the heads of supposedly “independent” agencies. But, the Fed, no way. However, aside from him despising Jerome Powell, Trump has an issue with the Fed which I’m sure he’ll say falls into his anti-DEI directive. Fed member Lisa Cook happens to be Black. So, Trump and his lackeys have come up with maybe the most preposterous excuse for “cause” in his attempt to fire Ms. Cook. Trump is claiming Ms. Cook committed “fraud” on an application for a mortgage! No, really!

Does anyone out their fail to see the irony here? Trump accusing Ms. Cook of committing FRAUD? Trump, of course, was found to have committed SERIAL fraud by a New York Court – preventing him or his sons from doing ANY business in New York. They were found to have committed FRAUD in any number of deceitful ways and are appealing the half BILLION dollar fine attached to the verdict. (Trump might actually get out of paying the fine – not only is our country a mess, but a big reason is because the court system is a mess)

I suppose you could say Trump claiming he’s a “law and order” president would tip the scales in its favor as the all time irony. I mean Trump hasn’t seen a law he doesn’t want to obliterate simply by violating it and daring anyone to do something about it. Our present “Justice” department isn’t going to be the backstop to Trump’s ridiculously hypocritical behavior. He must really be getting his “jollies” sitting in the Oval Office and ordering National Guard Troops into America’s largest cities where, you guessed it, lots of people of color happen to reside. If Trump isn’t a wannabe Mob boss, he sure acts like one! (Just like his idol Vladimir Putin – who believes Trump is a “useful idiot”)

Here’s what I think I’ve learned over the past few months listening to and reading works of actual economists: As soon as Trump gets away with firing Ms. Cook if he manages to do so, the DAMAGE to our economy will be far worse than the effects of the tariffs which I can tell you are beginning to show their ugly faces as I’m typing this. You see, I’m one of the poor saps who spends most of his money paying for things like food. And, I’m seeing spikes in a number of items I regularly purchase. So the inflation rise from the tariffs has begun BUT firing a member of the Fed could lead to an actual collapse of our economic system.

And, do you trust Trump and his republican sycophants in Congress to pull our economy out of a downward spiral? Trump actually seems to believe his tariffs are going to offset the HUGE addition to our national debt his so-called big (ugly) bill created. And, of course, those sly republicans in the House and Senate have set up the Medicaid cuts and SNAP cuts to take full effect after the 2026 mid-term elections – which I believe Trump is planning to be a “Russia like” election with republican pre-ordained to “win” the battle for control of Congress.

I believe what Trump really wants is for some left wing nut job to attack one of these National Guard Troops so he can call it a national emergency and deploy troops in every city in America which is full of democratically inclined voters. I’ve said it before, Trump is going to do whatever it takes to avoid having to deal with a democratically run Congress. Should democrats retake control of the House and somehow gain a significant Senate majority (with some young progressive and courageous members) Trump knows exactly what will happen.

For heaven’s sake, the “good” polls regarding Trump’s “approval rating” puts him at 40% “up” and close to 60% down. That’s on his overall approval rating. In other areas, including his handling of “immigration” is worse and getting “worser” by the day. While Trump comes across as being either stupid or losing it mentally because of some age related issue he’s smart enough to know what lies ahead if democrats control even the House – but, double trouble if they regain control of the Senate with some younger members who are willing to FIGHT to save our democratic republic. The other thing to consider is those pesky Project 2025 puppet masters aren’t losing it mentally – and, if you’ve read their manifesto you know they HATE “democracy.” They’ve made it this far it will be an historic challenge to stop them!

For years I’ve been lamenting – as I watch democrats continually getting out smarted by those republicans with all the money working in the background – that it’s much easier to lose a right (or privilege) than it is to gain it back. We’ve seen this, for example, with a “woman’s right to choose” – ie the abortion issue. (Which by the way, the Project 2025 folks want to make illegal nationwide) In the 2024 election a MAJORITY of women voted for Trump. I honestly found that FACT to be among the most disturbing (along with members of the Hispanic community voting for Trump in increased numbers – not to mention the numbers of young people choosing a Climate denier as THEIR president) in the aftermath of the depressing election. Well, now we’re all going to be experiencing the LOSS of “something” we hold “dear” and have taken for granted by the time we get this 34 times convicted FELON, adjudicated sexual assaulter, and serial FRAUDSTER out of office. The next 3 1/2 year are going to be – well, it’s even depressing to think about it! Stay tuned…..

Final Thought: I personally consider Trump’s sending troops into our cities to be an illegal unconstitutional and “un-American” action. Time will tell how the SCOTUS thinks about this – so far they’ve been totally supportive of Trump’s fascist conduct and, therefore, there’s no holding our collective breath. However, the DAMAGE Trump is causing to this once great nation is undeniably awful and could take a generation or more to “fix.” Is he attempting to push America into a second “civil war?” This I can tell you – there is a large number of KKK types located across our nation who want just that. They don’t only HATE undocumented immigrants, they HATE anyone who’s not WHITE! And, if that and MOST of what Trump is doing doesn’t remind you of the Germans of the 30’s and 40’s then I believe you need to do just a bit of reading about Hitler and the rest of the Germans who embedded fascism into their nation’s government. The parallels are eery!!! Yikes!!!

One more thought: Suggested reading – the biography of Diedrich Bonhoeffer by Eric Mataxas. The actual title is “Bonhoeffer Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy.” It’s a great read (I couldn’t put it down – I read it several years ago) and it gives you an insiders view of Hitler’s rise to power in Nazi Germany. If you don’t believe it could happen here, in the U.S., you should really read this book. (Of course there are a plethora of other ways you can educate yourself on what is actually happening in this country that is reminiscent of the Nazi takeover of Germany!) Remember, those who choose to ignore HISTORY are doomed to repeat it!