What do you do when you’re in a country, a very wealthy country, with a bumbling numskull at the helm, and no relief in sight for almost four years. And, of course, I’m talking (writing) about Donald Trump and the FACT that (without action by Congress) he’s going to be president of the United States of America for THREE more long years and NINE MONTHS. Yikes! By now, everyone who pays attention to this knows that Trump hit the world economy with a bunch of poorly thought out tariffs last week, right before he took a long weekend to go down to Florida and play golf.
Not only was he playing golf (while the rest of the nation was experiencing the largest Wall Street sell-off in years (well, since the last time he was president – go figure) but he was also hosting the Saudi funded “LIV” golf league at one of his golf courses in Florida. On one of the nights during his “vacation” he managed to hold a ONE MILLION dollar a plate fundraiser at his gaudy Florida “club” which he calls his residence. On the way back from Florida on Sunday it was reported he commented that “you have to take your medicine” regarding the impact his tariffs are having on the U.S. and World economies. He’s reaping unbelievable amounts of “emoluments” in Trump 2.0 with a big middle finger to those he’s hurting.
And, his “hurting” goes way beyond the financial calamity he’s imposing on the rest of us – Joe Biden left him an economy which was the “envy of the world.” It took him just over 2 months to begin the process of tanking it. But, the DAMAGE he’s inflicting is far worse and will probably not be “fixed” in my lifetime. One of the previous books I’ve read was by Anthony Fauci – one of America’s greatest scientists of the past half century – notwithstanding Trump attempting to put the blame of the COVID pandemic on him. A significant portion of Fauci’s book was focused on the fight against the AIDS epidemic back in the latter part of the 20th century into the 21st. During this “fight” the scientists involved in attempting to find a vaccine for the epidemic came up with drugs which, as I remember the reading, allowed people with HIV to live almost normal lives.
During the administration of George W Bush – a president who I’ve said little positive about – a program with the acronym “PEPFAR” – The Presidents Emergency Plan for Aids Relief – was developed at the National Institutes of Health where Fauci was one of the leading doctors. Bush OKed the funding which began a program providing assistance for MILLIONS of people in Africa (you know, Trump’s “shithole countries”) – where people with HIV got relief, and the spread was slowed down – including, as I remember it, (I’ve since given the book to someone else to read) women with HIV being able to have healthy HIV “free” births.
That program, along with all the other programs which were administered through the USAID (United States Agency for International Development) were abruptly discontinued almost the day Trump took (lied about – refusing to put his hand on the Bible) the oath of office. Hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of food aid was left to rot in the warehouses where it was stored – all the while people around the globe who were counting on the food for survival were – SOL. As the Musk/Trump administration was cutting off this aid, people were DYING as a direct result. To me, this sin is worse than the tanking of the markets – although, who knows the long term affect of that move – “we the people” just have to “take our medicine.”
As a bit of a digression – I’ve got to mention about the Saudi golf league funneling a BUNCH of money directly into Trump’s pockets – which, to me, is bad enough. But in the past I’ve read that Trump has become involved in the negotiations to merge that league with the PGA (golf) tour and the European Tour – the best golfers on the planet. I started playing golf as a hobby over 60 years ago. I never made it to my goal of becoming a “scratch” golfer and with the maladies I’m experiencing in my “old age” I’m coming to grips with the fact I’m likely not going to live long enough to shoot my age. (One of the last two things on my bucket list – the other one is likely as far out of reach – to see Trump behind bars) I still have hopes of getting healthy enough to spend a couple months each year golfing – HOWEVER, I’m not sure how I’ll react if the PGA succumbs to the Saudi “sports washing” – i.e. throwing the MONEY at the tours and the tours taking it. Enough of my digressing.
When I think about all the DAMAGE the Musk/Trump administration is causing to America’s traditional institutions (well beyond USAID) I have to wonder if this Trump induced CRASH of the world stock exchanges isn’t a way to get people’s attention off of what Musk/Trump are doing to agencies like Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. If you don’t want to look for “waste, fraud, and abuse” in the budgets of the Department of Defense and you want to take a butcher knife to America’s economy, the logical place to “attack” is where the poorest and least able to fight back reside. Reports have been “out there” for several weeks now about the plan in the House republican’s budget proposal for cutting Medicaid and SNAP (food stamps) as a way to offset the nearly $5 TRILLION in tax cuts (mostly for corporations and those residing in the upper tiers of America’s wealthy). Where are all those budget hawks in the republican caucus?
Honestly, I’m not surprised at all at their willingness to cut programs like Medicaid and SNAP – although, the backlash is going to be significant. (My guess is it will recede by the 2026 mid-terms and/or they’ll be able to lie their way out of it – i.e. it’s Joe Biden’s fault) What does surprise me is their willingness to once again RAISE the debt ceiling – this time by a proposed $5TRILLION. Remember, when Trump left office the first time he had run up 25% of ALL the national debt in history. Just as Bush/Cheney did in 2009 to Obama/Biden Trump had left Biden/Harris with an even greater MESS in 2021. And, just as Obama/Biden left Trump/Pense an economy on the upswing so did Biden/Harris leave to Musk/Trump this year. And, just as republicans always do, MORE tax cuts “for the rich” (Mainly) and an acceleration of the national debt – this time in just 3 months.
I mean, not only are Musk/Trump closing departments like the Department of Education (cuts I’m personally gutted by – knowing how it will affect kids from low socio-economic families), several departments under the umbrella of HHS (Health and Human Services) – including the CDC, FDA, and the NIH – to name a few, but they’ve also INVADED – and I mean that LITERALLY) – the United States Institute of Peace. (USIP) The Institute of Peace is an INDEPENDENT, non profit, national institute funded by Congress and “tasked with promoting conflict resolution and prevention worldwide. It provides research, analysis, and training to individuals in diplomacy, mediation, and other peace-building measures.” Following years of proposals for a national peace academy it was founded during the days of Ronald Reagan.
It’s totally independent from our government (although Congress funds it), it owns its own building separate from the “government,” and it was actually INVADED by Musk’s Dogeshits – who got the Metropolitan Police to help them “get in” and they promptly forced ALL of USIP’s personnel to LEAVE the building. Then they (the Dogeshits) changed the locks on all the doors. Not the kind of government action you would expect in a representative democracy. Now, I haven’t heard much about what has happened since the BREAKIN – My guess is it’s just part of the nearly 60 lawsuits filed against Musk/Trump’s administration – but, it raises other questions in my mind.
Like, for example, when “everyone” is trying to figure out what really is Trump’s plan (if he’s capable of having one) for implementing tariffs which, within three trading sessions pushed Wall Street into “bear” territory. Me, not being an expert on the economy OR the stock market, seems to remember people who are experts suggesting Wall Street is a predictor of what lies ahead in the economy. There must be something to that because virtually everywhere I’ve looked in the previous 5 days the topic of conversation is Trump’s tariffs. What if the purpose is to get people’s minds off of all the other stuff Musk/Trump are “up to?” I’ve felt from the beginning of Trump 2.0 that his “flooding the zone” strategy would be aimed at furthering his own pocket book while “we the people” are looking elsewhere.
I mean, if there’s one thing consistent in all the stuff I’ve read about Trump over the years is that he’s able to FOCUS on one thing more than any other – and, that’s what is going into his pocket book. And, he was trained in revenge by mob lawyer Roy Cohn – which explains how he’s attacking those who even investigated his CRIMINAL conduct that his voters chose to ignore. His first term ended with the worst job record since Herbert Hoover and he might be headed to topping that this time. Trump has no idea what he’s doing and his “advisors” are afraid to tell him the truth. So, here we are.
It should be obvious by this time why Vladimir Putin was so involved in trying to help Trump back into the “White House.” Putin couldn’t have a better “useful idiot” in charge in America if he’d been allowed to bypass the election process and simply hand pick him. We’re seeing the results of this “deplorable” election all over the world. How many lives will be lost because of Trump’s hubris? I certainly don’t know, but it actually scares me to think about it. Is there any hope, or are we simply going to have to endure this for at least the next 3 1/2 years. (And, I’m not even taking into account here that I believe one of the things Musk/Trump are doing is further “rigging” our future elections to make us “more like Russia.” – pay close attention to their voter registration “plans”)
Well, this past weekend, there were massive demonstrations against what Musk/Trump are doing. I actually drove to the one in the city close to where I live and there were LOTS of protestors there – I can’t walk very far and there was NO parking for many blocks so all I could do was honk my horn with a “thumbs up” acknowledgement to the people I saw there. Will “we the people” soon tire of going out and publicly protesting the DAMAGE Musk/Trump are inflictin on us and the people we love? I certainly hope not – but, put yourself in the place of Trump and his advisors.
In March of 2024 Trump was CONVICTED by a unanimous jury of 34 Felony counts resulting from his “election interference” prior to Trump 1.0. Keep in mind Trump cheats routinely (he considers it being “smart” if he gets away with it) and if his lips are moving he’s LYING. He can’t help himself – at this point it’s all “ingrained.” So, the American people were (or should have been) aware of this – PLUS he was accused and indicted for an additonal 50 some FELONIES – including violation of the Espionage Act and voters “looked the other way.” He attempted a coup d’etat on January 6th, 2021 in an attempt to overthrow the results of a free and fair election. Yet voters looked the other way. And, he’ll be busy blaming Joe Biden and Barack Obama for the “necessity” to give “we the people” our “medicine” via purposely tanking the stock market. My guess is Musk/Trump believe this will “wash over” just as having a CRIMINAL leading our country did in the 2024 election – and, why wouldn’t they believe that?
Here’s why Musk/Trump, in m view, have a warped view of the likely future events. They have forced Europe and the UK into the position of planning to defend themselves from Russian aggression without the alliance they’ve had since WW II. The very reason NATO was formed after WW II was to create a block to further “Soviet” expansion. (The Eastern Europeans formed the Warsaw Pact in response) Since then, the Soviet Union dissolved (much to Putin’s chagrine) and, now, Putin wants it back – beginning with the invasion of Ukraine. I’m sure it’s obvious to Putin he won’t succeed (even in toppling Ukraine) as long as the United States is an adversary. Enter Trump.
Well, the Europeans – who experienced WW II on their soil, and have a vivid memory of Hitler – are now viewing Putin as potentially the 21st Century’s version of Hitler – potentially with Trump at his side. (And, I don’t think I’ve ever had a feeling I hope more to be wrong) They are ramping up their war time economies – and, keep in mind, the Germans are capable of, in my view, extraordinary wartime production. France is also gearing up for potential war with Putin and Russia. The next few months will be very “telling” and my hope is the American people WON’T do their usual act of political amnesia and that the protests will grow exponentially and “we the people” will DEMAND our nation honors it’s article 5 obligation to NATO. While some Europeans are revolting against their authoritarian dictators – “we the people” ushered in a wannabee! It remains to be seen what can be done about that. God help us!
Final Thought: I often wonder about the extent Trump is a Russian asset. The more I think about what he and his co-president (Musk) are doing, it is beginning to be obvious he’s working in the interests of Vladimir Putin. What do they have on him? Would the “pee tape” be enough to cause Trump to sell out his own country and the Western alliances formed after WW II? I honestly hope not, but the evidence is mounting to the contrary. Just the “you’ve got to take the medicine” comment about him blowing a HUGE hole in the stock market just really hit me the wrong way. Not to suggest MANY of his other comments have done so as well. But, this assault on the World’s economy – from the country which was sitting on top after the pandemic – is almost like Putin’s revenge. (For all the sanctions post invasion of Ukraine)
If I’m at all on to something here, it’s time for the Congress – including republicans – to remove this threat from our country’s government. If he’s purposely – which is what it seems at this point – attempting to throw the world into a “Great recession” or “depression” he becomes an even worse TRAITOR – than the man who attempted to have his thugs overthrow the 2020 election on January 6th, 2021. I mentioned above all the people who are DYING due to the Musk/Trump reckless attack on our fundamental institutions (ie USAID) but, what I didn’t mention was all the Ukrainian’s (including MANY children) are DYING at the hands of Putin’s WAR CRIMES. This could become clear very quickly – as the markets are headed into an even deeper chasm starting with Monday’s trading. (I probably won’t post this until after that reality strikes) Stay tuned…….