Trump

Excerpts from The Trump Diaries: Criminal Use of the Law

When Donald Trump became president many of his previous immoral acts were called into question. His answer was that he had done nothing illegal, he just knew how to game the system. Unfortunately, he was correct. The Trump administration is often applauded for its dismissal of political, social, and cultural norms and traditions by his supporters, but this is a dangerous precedence because law is supposed to be based upon and acceptance of political normalcy.

With Trump and other wealthy individuals, law is a weapon wielded to undermine these norms that have been put into place to protect the public in order to open avenues for corporate profits. These profits are nothing more than legal thievery plain and simple; public monies given to corporations through subsidies and even bailouts for corporations that have done nothing but cheat their way to the profligate profits that they pay their executives and their shareholders, and now the politicians that they support. The reliance upon public funding through subsidies and tax breaks has a long, sordid history and one that has been for the most part, hidden from the public eye but has, over time, been made legal.

The conservative movement, now headed by Donald Trump and his administrative cronies, are much more than a political movement. They are a plutocratic movement whose sole motivation is authoritarian politics put into place to destroy the very thing that they claim to stand for: a fair free market economic system and the government that was put into place to create laws in order to protect people and not plutocrats.

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Excerpts from The Trump Diaries: A Fascist is a Fascist

Since Trump’s taking office in 2016 there has been a slide into fear and loathing by rational, thinking people. This fear and loathing is not unwarranted, as any thinking person can realize that his taking office signifies a dangerous trend in this country. It is fair to say that the Trump administration has fascist tendencies if the traditional definition of fascism is used.

The use of and belief in certain ideologies, especially political and religious, is the cornerstone of what was once considered radical conservative thinking but is now the norm for the conservative movement. Unfortunately, the conservative movement is based upon a platform which empowers ignorance, creates fear, and will most likely, if left unchecked, lead to a corporate-fascist government if all is taken into consideration.

Trump has shown that he is more than willing to resort to more than just the symbols of violence, invoking violence against political rivals, the news media, his implied and direct support of white-supremist groups, and invoking the military against legal protesters.

The goals of the conservative movement seem clear. First, to dismantle the system of government as put forth by the constitution and replace it with a corporatocracy, and secondly, to destroy any opposition to the first goal. If Grover Norquist’s claim to want to drown the government in the bathtub is true[i], then his attitude begs the question: what will the government of the United States be replaced with if not with fascism? If fascism is the future of the United States, let’s at least call it what it is.

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Truth in Poetry: 15

Problem: Trump and the Republican Party

Trump and the 20% or so of the American population that adulates him is not a new problem in the United States. Of course, there are racist issues, xenophobic tendencies, conspiratorial thinking. But there is also utter sociopathy, paranoia, fanaticism, and just pure, unadulterated greed. There is also stupidity. There is not ignorance, because ignorance is self-correcting.

This brings us to the problem. Trump was allowed to take office and those who support him, support him knowing who and what he is.

In order for Donald Trump to have taken office, there was a decades long movement to undermine good government policies. The undermining of these policies has allowed for a minority to take control of this country. This is part of the problem. In a functioning and fair, and healthy governing system, Donald Trump would not have stood a chance.

However, there will always be the fringe minority, the “deplorables” of any country. These people are the cost of a civil society but the majority must not let them overtake the country. People who support Donald Trump have no place in a civil society, and yet to be civil, there must be a place for them. This is the catch-22. However, all opinions must be allowed, but all opinions cannot be considered respectable, much less accepted.

Religion, fear, and greed all play a part in the debacle that the Republican Party has become, and in the once unthinkable idea that someone such as Donald Trump could become president. While we cannot rid our society of people who would stand in the way of social and political progress, we must never, ever let them become philosopher kings.

Solution: Civil Responsibilities, Individual Responsibilities, Realism

It would be much easier to simply state that education is the answer. It would be much more comfortable if we could just make policy changes in the government, or regulate the billions of dollars that unconscionable corporations and individuals poured into both political parties for dubious reasons. But these solutions, however much they are needed, are short-sighted for this particular problem.

A solution to Donald Trump is more opaque, less ideological perhaps. The United States has something very good, worth fighting for. But we must always keep that in mind. We often get derailed. We often lose track of what it is that is important. With that in mind, we must concentrate on changing anything and everything that allowed for Donald Trump. This ranges from accepting everyone’s opinion (which we mustn’t do), to “agreeing to disagree”. This includes calling out and facing people who would undo those ideals this country supposedly stands for. This includes holding people responsible, especially politicians and religious leaders who allowed this atrocity as well as those who would undermine the basic ideals of the concept of democracy.

This also includes facing realities. As a country we must face certain realities that are beyond ideological beliefs. We must realize that ideologies fall short, and that reality is what counts. While we may want “things to be different”, we must agree on a direction, how we want them to be different. In short, we must decide on what kind of society we want to live in, and then work (not wish) our way towards that goal. We must give up John Locke and look towards John Stuart Mill.

Donald Trump is a wakeup call. His followers have always been here and unfortunately those sorts of people will always exist. The rest of us allowed this to happen because of apathy, or laziness, or indecision. We allowed this because we were too caught up in our own personal battles. We were too busy buying the latest gadget or checking our “feed”. We turned our heads instead of facing reality. We got what we deserved: the Republicans and Donald Trump. The Republicans, Donald Trump and that ilk are correct about one thing: freedom does not come free. But none of us can be free from our responsibilities to never allow another Donald Trump.

Truth is Like Poetry: 11

Problem: Fascism and Dictatorships

Unfortunately, this particular problem is apropos to the times that we are currently living in. In 2022 Vladimir Putin is attacking the Ukraine and Donald Trump seems to be gearing up for another run at western Democracy. These two individuals are typical examples of what fascism and dictatorships are. And a further unfortunate truth is that they are not, and have not been alone. Throughout history there have been fascists and dictators that have wrecked and ruined otherwise civil societies. That’s what fascists and dictators do; they do it to further their own, selfish ends.

The ultimate problem of fascism and dictatorship ought to be apparent. But the problem that fascism and dictatorships stem from is deeper. Typically, they take power by promising and fear-mongering. The basis of fascism and dictatorship is the same: groups of people within society that are fearful, ignorant, or are generally unhappy with the society that they live in. These people tend to be a faction of the minority (in a Democracy) in a given society. They feel their “rights” have been suppressed in some way or that they have been unjustly represented (in a representative government)

The other side of civil unrest is civil apathy, and this too allows for fascist and dictatorial ideas to come to fruition and grow. As apathy towards politics grows so do the chances for fascist and dictatorial ideas gain traction. It is often in the dark, un-visited corners of our societies that these ruinous ideas are born. And so it is with apathy towards the politics of one’s society. If few pay attention, then a few will do as they will.

Solution: *Eradication of Poverty***, re-implementation of separation of powers

The solution to government overthrow by those who would disregard civil societies is not a simple one, nor is it one that will last without close attention by citizens who want civil societies. There must be, of course, consequences for those that would be dictators as there should be for those that would have fascist tendencies. However, it is the strength of any civil society to allow for voices and viewpoints from all sides. This is why it is important to allow even violent voices a place.

However, the true eradication of these tendencies would be in eradicating the reasons that they come to exist. Poverty has been, throughout history, a breeding ground for revolution because poverty is often the result of unfair and unjust government policies, greed, over-reach. With this in mind, the eradication of poverty is necessary in order to undermine the need for, or the belief that there is a need for a fascist and/or dictatorship. With poverty eradicated, there must be a voice for citizens in the government by which they are a part of.

Government itself can lend a helpful hand to undermining fascist/dictatorial movements. But like these movements, government itself has been, or allowed itself to be, part of the problem. The founding fathers of the United States borrowed concepts from their forefathers, and their forefather’s forefathers when they introduced the concept of a governing citizenry. Whatever form of government that a society takes upon itself, that government must be able to be held accountable. One of the best ways to do so is to separate powers, sequester the chance for a government to allow fascist ideas to breed, or dictators to manipulate. Donald Trump is a perfect example of what can happen when powers are separated in theory only rather than in reality. He is the dark and foreboding face of apathy and governmental greed and the ignorant masses that follow dictators and fascists.

A Civil Society

In New Hampshire, armed idiots chased the governor elect away.

Ted Cruz is leading a group of Republican traitors, trying to fight the results of the recent elections. Mitch McConnell gives them his “blessings”.

No warranted evidence for any of their allegations has been produced, and our current president tried to change voter results in Georgia and an ongoing health concern is still, still a political debate.

Most of us turn our heads in disgust with some egging the upending of our country on for religious or other ideological reasons. Gun sales are up and fear and loathing are at an all-time high while rational and critical analysis and thinking are at an all-time low.

It is time for us as a nation to ask some simple questions:

What kind of society do we want, and how do we get it? How did we allow our society to come to this point?

It is time for us to look past the platitudes and bumper stickers and realize that a civil society does not come free and that unfettered freedoms do not equal a civil society.

Something for Nothing

There is no such thing as something for nothing. Our need for cheap goods and services is real, but the ability for companies to offer them is an illusion. Think about this the next time you walk into a Walmart or refuse to buy quality, ethical food because it is too expensive. Think about this the next time you hire someone.

Companies do not need to eat; they do not have needs. People have needs, and when we demand more for less we are demanding that others give up what they need; we are demanding that others give up what they need for what we desire.

The arguments are similar and ubiquitous against this way of thinking.

“I cannot afford…”

This is true, but it is not the cost of quality goods and services that is the problem; companies do not pay living wages, we need to reevaluate our priorities, our economy is based upon a lie. We have overextended our finances.

“That is too expensive.”

Perhaps. Maybe you do not understand what it takes to bring “that” to you. It might be that “that” is not subsidized by your taxes. Chances are you do not value “that” enough to buy it or don’t realize the true cost of doing so.

“I can get it cheaper….”

Yes, it is probably true that you can get it seemingly cheaper, but at what cost? The true costs of cheap goods and services are rarely seen or thought about.

There is no such thing as something for nothing because for most of us nothing is simply not enough.

Pride, Ignorance & Reality

(Trump Voters Will Not Like What Happens Next)-Washington Post Garrison Keillor is an author and radio personality.

So he won. The nation takes a deep breath. Raw ego and proud illiteracy have won out, and a severely learning-disabled man with a real character problem will be president. We are so exhausted from thinking about this election, millions of people will take up leaf-raking and garage cleaning with intense pleasure. We liberal elitists are wrecks. The Trumpers had a whale of a good time, waving their signs, jeering at the media, beating up protesters, chanting “Lock her up” — we elitists just stood and clapped. Nobody chanted “Stronger Together.” It just doesn’t chant.

The Trumpers never expected their guy to actually win the thing, and that’s their problem now. They wanted only to whoop and yell, boo at the H-word, wear profane T-shirts, maybe grab a crotch or two, jump in the RV with a couple of six-packs and go out and shoot some spotted owls. It was pleasure enough for them just to know that they were driving us wild with dismay — by “us,” I mean librarians, children’s authors, yoga practitioners, Unitarians, bird-watchers, people who make their own pasta, opera-goers, the grammar police, people who keep books on their shelves, that bunch. The Trumpers exulted in knowing we were tearing our hair out. They had our number, like a bratty kid who knows exactly how to make you grit your teeth and froth at the mouth.

Alas for the Trump voters, the disasters he will bring on this country will fall more heavily on them than anyone else. The uneducated white males who elected him are the vulnerable ones, and they will not like what happens next.

To all the patronizing B.S. we’ve read about Trump expressing the white working-class’s displacement and loss of the American Dream, I say, “Feh!” — go put your head under cold water. Resentment is no excuse for bald-faced stupidity. America is still the land where the waitress’s kids can grow up to become physicists and novelists and pediatricians, but it helps a lot if the waitress and her husband encourage good habits and the ambition to use your God-given talents and the kids aren’t plugged into electronics day and night. Whooping it up for the candidate of cruelty and ignorance does less than nothing for your kids.

We liberal elitists are now completely in the clear. The government is in Republican hands. Let them deal with him. Democrats can spend four years raising heirloom tomatoes, meditating, reading Jane Austen, traveling around the country, tasting artisan beers, and let the Republicans build the wall and carry on the trade war with China and deport the undocumented and deal with opioids, and we Democrats can go for a long , brisk walk and smell the roses.

The effect of working women on society goes well beyond added income.

I like Republicans. I used to spend Sunday afternoons with a bunch of them, drinking Scotch and soda and trying to care about NFL football. It was fun. I tried to think like them. (Life is what you make it. People are people. When the going gets tough, tough noogies.) But I came back to liberal elitism.

Don’t be cruel. Elvis said it, and it’s true. We all experienced cruelty back in our playground days — boys who beat up on the timid, girls who made fun of the homely and naive — and most of us, to our shame, went along with it, afraid to defend the victims lest we become one of them. But by your 20s, you should be done with cruelty. Mr. Trump was the cruelest candidate since George Wallace. How he won on fear and bile is for political pathologists to study. The country is already tired of his noise, even his own voters. He is likely to become the most intensely disliked president since Herbert Hoover. His children will carry the burden of his name. He will never be happy in his own skin. But the damage he will do to our country — who knows? His supporters voted for change, and boy, are they going to get it.

Back to real life. I went up to my home town the other day and ran into my gym teacher, Stan Nelson, looking good at 96. He commanded a landing craft at Normandy on June 6, 1944, and never said a word about it back then, just made us do chin-ups whether we wanted to or not. I saw my biology teacher Lyle Bradley, a Marine pilot in the Korean War, still going bird-watching in his 90s. I was not a good student then, but I am studying both of them now. They have seen it all and are still optimistic. The past year of politics has taught us absolutely nothing. Zilch. Zero. Nada. The future is scary. Let the uneducated have their day. I am now going to pay more attention to teachers.

The Armchair Philosopher

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