Leaks, strange tweets, and lies abound as part of a chaotic approach
to governing. As do attacks on
individuals, the media, the FBI and the CIA, and now our closest Allies.
Add to that something called the “turkey
farm.” It is reported that career civil
servants are being assigned to that farm.
That is, they are being removed from meaningful jobs and placed in jobs
that interns might do, in hopes that they will leave -- retire or just
quit. That’s right. Not only is Trump isolating and diminishing
the role of citizen advocacy councils, appeal boards and watchdogs, but he is
now implementing one of the favorite moves of dictators – getting rid of civil
service career people. They know too
much and want too much of that which Trump opposes.
And then, there is the Budget. Finally, perhaps, blue collar and misguided
senior followers of this fascist-like leader, will begin to get their reward
for supporting a man who ‘fakes’ his concern for his mainly right-wing “base
voters.” His true base is really the 1%
of this country who are wealthy and powerful, not the nearly 40% of foolish
followers who believe or pardon his lies (fact-checkers recently estimated that
Trump tells at least 20 whopping lies within one hour!).
So, you asked for it, Trumpsters – no Medicare for you; no
food stamps (SNAP) for you; no Medicaid for you. And here’s a sobering statistic: the people
who most use government programs like the three just named are people in the
working class and senior citizens who also mainly support this pretend
President. Just wait until you don’t
qualify for Medicare, can’t get Medicaid from overburdened states, and your
poor nutrition starts to require a better diet and more health care, not less. YOU are going to be in a personal situation
that has nothing but restriction, harm and hurt attached.
Who will be able to help? I guess you will find out rather
quickly. It is then you will recall who
is benefiting from your difficulty – you will be left with the haunting truth
-- those cuts in Medicare and Medicaid went toward funding the big tax breaks
for millionaires and billionaires, and left you abandoned.
Remember, Trumpettes – you asked for this – it’s coming and
sooner than you think. Congress turned
down a short-term Farm Bill recently, but you can still start waving good-by to
your food cards (SNAP) because 80% of the funding in that bill is related to
SNAP, which was not the issue around which the bill failed. It will come back around.
So, let’s look again: cuts to food stamps that will affect
many millions of people over 10 years;
cuts of $1.2 billion to Medicare and over a trillion dollars taken from
Medicaid (over a decade) to fund a tax break for the richest among us; 35
million people left without any health care coverage; plus an attack upon Social Security still
pending. And, there’s more coming.
You thought you bought a Champion for your concerns and
needs. What you got is a Chumpion who is
despised around the Globe (and particularly by the G-7) and who is slowly, but
surely, diminishing the unique position of our representative democracy in the
world. But mostly, you got an advocate for
the rich and powerful, who will not ever support YOU against the (less than) 1%
who already control and manipulate your lives and are acting right now – this
moment – to change our whole economy to a robot-based efficiency that will make
your job vulnerable to elimination, along with millions more.
The economy is great, you say. Trump is already benefitting you by what’s
happening in the stock market, and by his (miniscule) temporary tax cuts for
the middle class, and some cheaper prices at stores and food markets, you say. Oh Wow!
Tell that to the potato farmers in Idaho, former autol workers in Tennessee or the former employees of closed department stores (like Sears and J.C.
Penney); ask those who can’t get loans or mortgages and have to depend on
rentals. Ask some of those farmers who are
waiting for subsidies they may never see again.
Ask yourself – what happens if all those countries start
retaliating against us with higher tariffs, cuts in certain items being shipped
and boycotts of certain goods? You
start paying higher prices for food, clothing, shelter and everyday
necessities. China alone could make your shopping a nightmare – just look at
the labels on things you now buy. If they
say “made in China,” you could be seeing price increases for many of those items
next time you shop!
And BTW, how’s your pension shaping up? Don’t have one from your company or Union; or
has it been reduced to a pittance? Just
how is a rich man’s economy going to get you through your retirement years? Not only are you the recipient of attacks
against the costs of American Labor, including the loss of private pension
support and protection, you are the target of attacks of this regime against
Social Security and Medicare.
So, tell us please – how is your retirement shaping up? Probably a lot like the over 60% who simply
do not have enough retirement funds to meet their needs for 10-20 years beyond
retirement. Attention! -- Seniors looking to retire – look around you. Why are so many people in their 60’s and 70’s
working at menial jobs in variety stores, fast food emporiums and other service
jobs either part-time or full-time? You
may soon find out for yourself if you
don’t have enough set aside to cover your retirement needs.
And, maybe you haven’t heard, but drug prices and healthcare
costs are going to eat you up if you or any one of your dependents become quite
ill or develops a chronic condition.
Here’s how it really is.
Say, your teenager develops cancer. The usual treatments will cost you a large
sum in co-pays and out-of-pocket costs; your insurance premiums will undoubtedly escalate, and then
there are those costs that are uncovered by insurance companies. With the attacks upon Obamacare and Medicaid also
comes the fact that government subsidies are not available. Oh! – and now there is talk of returning to
the times when insurance companies will be able to withhold coverage – or increase their costs –
for pre-existing conditions and conditions that cost them a lot in payable benefits,
so they cap the coverage.
And, don’t forget, if you have to pay for some treatments
that are extra special, or experimental, or too new for insurance company
attention, well let’s just say that to save a child’s life may cost you the
equivalent of the rest of your life.
$50,000-$100,000-a-month is not unusual for such treatments. For those who say this is a rarity, you may
want to know that childhood cancers of extreme proportions are on the rise!
- What else might you want to consider while the cyclical stock market and employment rate look so good to you? Well, there is:
- that pesky problem of the national debt which will increase by tens of trillions of dollars because Trump, as usual, hasn’t planned for how to off-set those huge increases in your tax money flowing into the coffers of the rich and powerful. Funny isn’t it that Republicans could find it so important to talk about during the Obama administration but seem now to have brushed aside the effects of their additions to the deficit and our national debt?
- that problem of trade deficits and trade wars because of new tariffs: never mind the fact that our massive trading partners like Canada and the rest of our European allies are being alienated by He-who-would-be-King Trump. They will push back….
- that kingly complex seems to extend to more than just our best trade partners; after all there is something called a global economy. We don’t exist in a vacuum, and if Trump persists in his misadventures with other nations (particularly in Asia and the Middle East) we will be faced with a war economy that will limit everyone (except the monied few who will benefit from such a horrendous event).
- and what is this policy of withdrawing from agreements like the Paris Accords and the G-7 conclusion, thus alienating and threatening not only the good-will of allied countries, but destroying partnerships, coalitions, and associations that are critical to world order? Is he preparing this nation to accept a world disorder that includes Russia and countries with dictators? Are you aware of what will happen to you and your family if there are no allies of strength and common values to work with us in times of world crisis, such as war, or humanitarian crises?
- and BTW – your support of Trump may become equivalent to supporting someone who gives “aid and comfort to our enemies” (Constitution’s definition of Treason); that makes you a co-conspirator (possibly a “traitor”), and how will that play in your hometown?
- perhaps we should also stress what few will tell you: we are on course to a future that is much different from the present, and it is impinging on us in the present. I have written about it before, so check out my most recent Blog posting in May, because not preparing for a technological, robotic, and jobless future is a disaster in-the-making, and Trump doesn’t believe in preparation.
The question is: will you be better off when:
·
harmful and hurtful Trump budgets begin to take
effect?
·
tax cuts for the rich have to be paid and you
have to sacrifice to pay them?
·
alienation of many nations rebounds to raise our
prices on imported goods?
·
the lack of adequate healthcare puts ordinary
folks like you and me into bankruptcy?
·
you lose your children (our children) to
unnecessary and illegitimate violence or wars?
·
You have to face cut-backs in food, clothing and
every necessity to pay for the military might needed to defeat the enemy on
multiple fronts (and no great coalition like NATO comes to our side to help)?
·
you can’t afford a house, a first or second car,
your child’s healthcare, college education or your mother’s (or father’s) long-term
care?
·
the list goes on forever, and the consequences
will be felt most severely by those who follow without questioning or
preparation!
It is indeed a travesty of our democratic system that this
president practices policies and attitudes that harm, even abuse, children. How
else can we interpret the treatment of immigrant children being separated from
their parents and then detained in facilities from which legislators and press
are barred? Is this any different from
a presidential budget that cuts or zeros out necessary programs for families by
which tens of millions of vulnerable children are left without health care,
housing, nutritional meals, public education, activities after-school,
assistance for college attendance, or protection from physical and mental
abuse? See my Blog posting of 10/10/2017
and decide for yourself if Donald J. Trump
fits the definition of a child abuser!
And then, look around – is there a child with whom you are acquainted
who is being harmed or hurt (abused) by Trump policies? That child could be your child… and, what affects one will eventually affect
all!
The worst president in our history (according to many) is about to hand you
consequences and problems that could devastate you and your family (as well as
millions of other families). And yet,
because the stock market is up and unemployment down, you think you are living
in Roseland? Talk about being
BAMBOOZLED!
The worst is yet to come, and your view of it will be from
under a bus somewhere compliments of King Donald the Trump.
