A WILD RIDE AHEAD
Buckle Up and Pack a Barf Bag
Hang on for a wild ride, not only for residents of the United States but also for the rest of the free world. Even if we succeed in taking back our government from the insurrectionists over the next four years, it could take decades to recover from the damage done by the Project 2025 gang of thugs. In a single day our beloved country lost all of its credibility and trust as leader of the free world. It will no longer be able to broker peace treaties, international environmental protections, or trade agreements. That damage could take a generation to repair.
The fascists are prepared to step in on inauguration day and begin the task of dismantling our government, removing our personal freedoms, and muzzling all opposition, as outlined in the Republican party platform and detailed in the Project 2025 report. They are well aware that they have only two years to seize absolute control. Elon Musk has stated it publicly. They know that their policies are wildly unpopular with a large majority of the population, and that they will lose both houses of congress at mid-term and be ousted from power in 2028 unless they can cancel or annul those elections. Trump has boldly stated several times that we won’t have to bother voting after this year.
The most immediate threat is the potential for major economic collapse, with soaring inflation, widespread unemployment, and devastating poverty levels. A full-blown economic depression and collapse of the stock market in the United States would trigger similar action around the world. The ignorant voters who believe that a Trump administration will lower the cost of food and housing will be the first to fall and the farthest to drop.
There are a few glimmers of hope flickering among the ashes of this dumpster fire, though. Trump got his get out of jail free card, which was his main reason for running again. He doesn’t give a flying fig for governing or the wishes of his constituents. He will focus on making money for himself and inflicting pain on all those who have opposed him. Trump’s inability to focus on important issues, his declining mental acuity, and his lack of interest in governing leave a clear field for the anti-government operatives, but also make it easier for the opposition to eventually succeed.
The narrow majorities by which the Republicans hold both branches of congress mean that they will meet constant challenges to their efforts to dismantle the government. The remaining traditional Republicans in the house and senate realize they no longer need to cower to Trump under threat of being primaried because they have little chance of staying in office anyway if the insurrectionists succeed. Republican senators have already demonstrated this by selecting John Thune to be majority leader instead of Trump’s choice of Rick Scott. Watch for Republicans Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins to team up with Democrat Elizabeth Warren to create a vocal opposition in the senate.
Unless the fascists succeed in cancelling future elections, the MAGA Republicans will be ousted and Democratic control restored in four years. Elections in the United States are controlled by the states and administered by more than 4,000 county or municipal governments. This is the primary reason that they have proven so hard to rig or manipulate. And while the states collect and report the votes, the federal government’s certification of the results is mandatory, with no discretion to alter or challenge the final tally. And unless the Project 25 operatives are able to completely muzzle the free press, the wire services and media channels will continue to monitor the votes and declare winners and losers before the official count concludes.
It is essential that all of us who understand the enormity of the threat to our democracy and personal freedom do not hide under the bed but step up our game and continue shining the light of reason, compassion, and hope. Keep encouraging the non-MAGA senators and representatives to block the challenges to our democracy. Keep posting positive messages on social media. Join the ACLU and send whatever you can afford to support their effort. And most of all, limit your news intake to only reliable sources, do not waste your energy on negative thoughts, and keep expecting positive results. Our world will never again be as it was two weeks ago, but we will get through this together.