Thoughts of The Journey: Where We Are, Where We Have Been

 I have been pondering, largely in an attempt to avoid falling into despair, the state of the world and especially the place of the USA in that global society. Let me add, in preface, that I have also thought about the role of "influencers" in today's digital morass.  I am not and do not care to be an influencer, someone who tries to seduce people to adopt their beliefs or strategies based upon purported superior knowledge. I am an observer, analyst, critical thinker, and sometimes perspective taker. I do not encourage others to adopt my beliefs or opinions, but do invite others to consider facts, logic, and moral constructs and come to their own conclusions.

This brings me to an assessment of the current state of world affairs. We have a democratic republic that has withstood more than a century of developmental strife and has moved toward "a more perfect union" based upon common acceptance, if not belief in, a set of principles embodied in a foundational "constitution. Yet it is not hyperbole to say that this representative democracy stands on the brink of disintegration with the ascendance of a narcissistic despot who would be king. He has, through intimidation and fiat, with the help of wealthy oligarchs and ideological zealots, disrupted the global economy and eroded the fundamental principles of liberty, due process, and the rule of law. In his regime, whatever he declares is to become "law" and anyone who disagrees or resists becomes a criminal. Basic concepts that have been taken as universally accepted, such as innocence until guilt is proven has been overtaken by Trump Administration agents who simply declare that individuals are "criminals" or "illegals" without proof and often without any basis in fact. In his regime, the arrogation of executive power has come through the declaration of an "emergency" when there is no demonstrable or rational proof that a real emergency exists. 

This usurpation of power has been used to summarily deport individuals, including citizens and sick children, to unlawful detention and to foreign concentration camps without due process, and to impose taxes in the form of tariffs without authorization or approval of Congress. The national severe weather warning system designed and established to provide detection and early warning of natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods has been disabled along with cutting funding for FEMA to help regions respond to and reconstruct damage from such natural disasters. Cancer research and access to vaccines that can prevent deadly pandemic disease have been hobbled and put in the charge of an incompetent moron who does not believe in science or vaccines. International diplomatic relations built and reinforced over the past 80 years have been undermined, if not destroyed. The United States is now viewed as both a laughingstock and an untrustworthy ally by most European nations, and as a "useful tool" that can be bribed and manipulated by middle eastern regimes that have been previously opposed for their funding of terrorism, oppression, murder of a journalist, and the attack on the US soil on 9/11.  The list of degradations could go on, but the picture has been outlined. 

But all of these travesties are not, in my view, the worst aspect of our current state of affairs.  There is a just and rational basis for putting an adolescent in jail for the first shoplifting offense [unless the teen happens to be of color], because it is possible that the adolescent "did not know better," did not appreciate the gravity and wrongfulness of the offense. In contrast, repeat offenders are often given longer and more onerous punishment because it is accepted that the defendant was fully aware that the criminal actions were wrong, unacceptable, and commanded punishment. As a society, there are processes of evolution when the concepts of liberty, freedom, and common humanity mature and expand to embrace rights previously denied. Many Americans did not know what the American society would be like, how it could survive, without chattel slavery which had been in existence since the nation was founded. Over time, abolition developed and became accepted. For the majority of years of the republic, women were denied full citizenship and the right to vote or hold property in their own name. But suffrage and gender parity have changed and continue to evolve. 

The salient point here is that the American public has been in similar circumstances before. Eras of blatant discrimination based upon skin color, gender, sexual orientation, and religion have been experienced. Denial of fair treatment, a safe working environment, and fair wages for workers has been identified and remedial actions have been established. Even the insidious and pernicious manifestations of systemic racism have been assailed by anti-discrimination laws. As a citizenry and society, we KNOW that these practices, policies, and behaviors currently manifested by the Trump Administration and condoned by Congress are WRONG. One might argue that the Trump Administration executive orders to remove certain materials from libraries, curtail and circumscribe teaching of history, and attacks on academic freedom are based upon fear that knowledge of these past wrongs is a threat to the current regime. We also know that, as a society, we can do better. The remedies are not easy or simple to establish and maintain. But the nation has experienced the kind of cruelty, injustice, and moral depravity that these current policies represent and inflict and has grown to become a more just society. 

My assertion that the nation has grown and evolved is not mere speculation, but a product of eyewitness experience. I entered public education the same year that Brown v. Board of Education was handed down by the Supreme Court of the United States [SCOTUS] Prior to that, public schools segregated on the basis of race and color were legal. In junior high school, where "aptitude tests" were administered, the counselor told me that I should aspire to become a carpenter or tradesman, despite my superior test scores in math and reading, because a negro could only become frustrated by aspiring to become a professional. This was not stated in malice, but because it was then the "norm" By the time I graduated from high school, I was awarded a Vice President's Nomination to the US Naval Academy from Hubert Humphrey, who was a prime catalyst for the 1964 Civil Rights Act. I visited the Kent State University Campus within days of the national guard shooting of unarmed student protesters, and joined in the protests there and in Washington, DC. While attending law school, I worked as an intern at the EPA on a team that developed the Toxic Substances Control Act which was established to police and prevent major public environmental pollution disasters and hold large corporate polluters accountable for environmental contamination. As a lawyer, I participated in a group that planned and convened the first Conference on Diversity in the Profession ever held by the American Bar Association. While the trajectory of these events and experiences has been positive, the line has not been a straight one, or without setbacks. Other than a belief in a better society and a voice of protest, I could do nothing to prevent the assassinations, of MLK, Jr., JFK, Matthew Sheppard, Trayvon Martin, and the many other victims of a cancerous hated-inspired segment of society. But that is the point. The majority of Americans did believe in a better, more humane, inclusive, and just society. And with that belief, society evolved and did become more worthy of claiming its aspired values.

This brings us to where we are now. The regression and deterioration of American society, as well as the dismantling of American democracy did not take place overnight. It has been a process of erosion, the opposite of the process of evolution that brought salutary and more humane changes.  There has perhaps always been a faction that rejected the notion of "strength through unity" in favor of a belief that "might makes right" and there is never a problem with having too much that grabbing more cannot solve. This sociopathic greedy narcissism has manipulated the fears of poor and less educated whites to believe that a loss of their power and prestige is the "fault" of those in society who do not look and think as they do. They have been told that, despite their own lack of resources and need for health care, government programs to provide such aid to the needy is a wasteful expense of taxpayer funds for the "undeserving." While diverting and distracting this manipulated "base," the current regime has put in place measures that suppress the right to vote and other democrat\c processes. A system has been established which elevates the voice of wealthy corporate and PAC funding significantly above the voice of voters [Citizens United ruling] so that control of campaign funding dictates who will be the "representatives" of "the people." 

This is also a narrative we have seen BEFORE.  We have seen greed and corruption take hold of the reins of power in the nation in the days of the 19th century "Robber Barons" and the "trusts" that dictated government policy and diverted public largess to a privileged few. It took major anti-imperialist wars [Spanish-American War; Boxer Rebellion, WW1, etc.] the financial "Panic of 1907" and the "Great Depression," along with organized pressure from Progressive "Muckrakers," and the 19th Amendment [women's right to vote] to establish laws and standards to curb excessive greedy and power-hungry would-be despots. While seemingly simplistic, the gist is that it took major economic and geopolitical upheaval to dislodge the centralization of power and establish some level of democracy. 

There are mechanisms still in place that ostensibly enable constraints and "checks and balances" regarding illegal and unjust usurpation and exercise of executive power. The question is whether those who have seized power have so weakened the foundations of a representative democracy that those tools may no longer be operative or effectual.  Like the repeat offender analogy, the question is an open one whether the American public that SHOULD have known better and has seen the types of cruelty, inhumanity, and disregard to the rule of law will have to pay a heavier burden of punishment to recover a functioning representative democracy, or whether that form of governance and an inclusive societal ethic is gone forever. 

    

Don't Look Now. Northing to See Here!

 Let us be logical and honest about motives and pretense. 

IF the Trump Administration had any serious intent to identify and reduce government spending waste or fraud, it could easily have begun by identifying a few specific instances of redundant services or programs with limited justification. By starting out with credible "efficiency" moves, it could have supported a belief in an honest effort to pare down government spending.

HOWEVER, firing federal employees responsible for securing the nation's nuclear arsenal, firing air traffic controllers, targeting FEMA, and gutting the CDC function of alerting the public to pandemics [on the heels of COVID], all suggest that the motivation of Trump's cutting barrage has nothing to do with reducing "inefficient" or non-essential services. When held up to scrutiny, both the basis for the allegations or waste and fraud have lacked substance, and the purported "savings" from the cuts have not materialized.

The sensationalist and reckless approach logically indicate that the effort is to create a distraction of public attention from other actions. And we are seeing evidence of corruption and self-dealing by Trump and his family that may have escaped public and media attention while focused upon outrage over the decimation of key government national security, health, and public safety functions. It is the strategy of a practiced "con man" to distract and deflect attention while stealing and grifting.

After 100 days of the distraction sideshow, which has included leaking very sensitive classified military operations information, deporting children who are citizens, and pardoning treasonous insurrection participants, the corruption is now being done in broad daylight. Trump is currently in the Middle East engaged in so-called "official" negotiations regarding tariffs, while his family members and oligarchy club members are securing lucrative deals for developments and trade with representatives of Qatar, UEA and Saudi Arabia. And the corruption is so brazen that Trump joked about and chastised a reporter for questioning his acceptance of a $400 million plane as a "gift" from the Qatar regime. Of course, the "gift" was opined as legally permissible by AG Bondi whose previous "job" was as a lobbyist and adviser to Qatar with a $115 K per month retainer. Even a few spineless GOP members were caught off guard and choked on the corruption and violation of the emoluments clause of the Constitution. 

The only thing "surprising" about the transactions is the lack of business acumen of the rulers of Qatar and Saudi Arabia. After all, Elon Musk "bought" Trump and a seat in the Oval Office for only about $270 million in campaign funding. So, paying a bribe to trump of $400 million seems a bit "wasteful and inefficient." He could have been bought and bribed for much less. 

Trump's "Commencement-Adjacent" Speech at University of Alabama

I believe that a few fair and germane questions should be asked about the planned involvement of Trump at a Commencement related event at the University of Alabama. The first question would be: “who proposed or initiated plans for the event?” I would speculate that, while Gov. Ivey is not known for her respect for academia or education, the impetus for the event probably did not come from her office or that of the University President. At least the event apparently will not be mandatory or included in the formal ceremony of awarding degrees, and neither students nor faculty will be compelled to attend if they should choose not to support the event.

Trump is known to be fundamentally transactional, among other traits. His primary tools of “negotiation” are the proverbial “carrot and stick.” He will either offer financial inducements to get compliance with his wishes or threaten serious punishments if his wishes are not complied with. This brings the second question: “did Trump threaten [express or implied] to cut federal funding for University of Alabama if it did not accommodate a “platform” at Commencement?” While the background politics in Alabama are favorable to Trump, the University leadership must have realized that providing Trump a “bully pulpit” at the academic ceremony would only tarnish the reputation of the institution. After all, Trump has many attributes, but none of them are related to education, intellectualism, or academic excellence.

The next logical question that should be asked is: “who benefits financially from the planned event?” It is reported that the event will take place in university facilities but will be “ticketed.” It is not reported how much the tickets will cost, but they will not likely be cheap. Where will the ticket proceeds go? Trump is well known as a “grifter,” with his fake for-profit university, sales of signed Bibles, sneakers, coins with his image, selling US citizenship for $5 million coin purchase, and other scams. He also has a long history of convening rallies requiring significant local security and traffic control costs, and then leaving without paying the local authorities who get stuck with the bill for such expenses. Keep in mind also that US taxpayers are fully funding Trump’s visit to Tuscaloosa, including security. So there is no reason to charge admission for the event, unless it is a fund raiser for the University. If the funds are going to Trump’s “campaign accounts” [and note that he has nothing to campaign for any longer] then he is prostituting the University of Alabama for personal gain. So, who will get the ticket proceeds??

The last, and probably most speculative question is: "whether there is some plan to award Trump an “honorary degree?” While it is understood that such awards are ceremonial, they have traditionally been used to recognize serious accomplishments in public service or education. To award an honorary degree is to place the institution’s reputation and imprimatur behind the endorsement of the recipient. Trump has cut funding for academic research at internationally recognized centers for academic excellence and is in the process of dismantling the US Department of Education. He has labeled academics as “left wing lunatics” and disparaged higher education, while pressuring universities to reverse efforts to diversify opportunities for higher education to students who have heretofore been marginalized and discriminated against in admissions and access. Whether liberal or conservative, each graduate of the University of Alabama was provided the atmosphere, resources, and opportunity to study, formulate and debate their understanding and views about their professions, their society and the world. To grant Trump any such an “honorary” accolade, even if only ceremonial, is to denigrate any degree previously awarded by the University of Alabama, and to insult every Bama alumnus.

Living in a Fallacy World

One of the interesting aspects of those supporting Donald Trump is that he would be a good president because he has been a good “businessman.” We need to first suspend reality to buy into the notion that someone who has made a fortune is necessarily a “good businessman,” especially in light of six bankruptcies, criminal fraud convictions, and a history of cheating or “stiffing” his business associates and contractors who provided services upon promist of payment.

But this latter aspect is relevant to establishing the “fallacy” that success in business translates to good leadership in public office. The premise and the “rules“ of practice are quite different in these two arenas. A businessman is answerable primarily to investors to generate profits and may do so without regard to the wellbeing of suppliers, contractors or employees whose contributions generate the profits. The businessman would be expected to have some special expertise in the narrowed confines of the business enterprise being managed. To be sure, SOME business owners and managers regard healthy relations with business partners and employee safety and morale as important tools for profit making. But sharp practices and behavior some would deem unethical are only constrained by the risk of the challenge and prosecution of civil or criminal judicial process. And as Trump has demonstrated frequently, delayed judicial processes create opportunity for profit, and the costs of civil litigation serve to favor the actor with deeper pockets. This is the “ethic” that has driven Trump as a “businessman.” And it is noteworthy that if this bullying and cheating modus operandus should fail, a bankruptcy may harm investors and employees, but the “businessman” can simply start over and continue the practices with a new company, not unlike a casino gambler who has lost on the roll of the dice.

In stark contrast, the role and responsibility of an elected official, and specifically a president, is to uphold and administer the laws, not to skirt the laws and evade prosecution. This oath and responsibility to “faithfully execute” the laws and uphold the Constitution is supposed to operate in favor of all citizens and the American public. Including those who did not vote for or “invest” in the candidate for that role. Their investment was in the stability and functioning of a system where the infrastructure of democracy is sustained, and opposition voices are respected.  The risks of a failure of leadership of a president, unlike that of a businessman, could be calamitous for all Americans, not just those connected with a specific business enterprise.  Also, an elected president does not typically have the option to just liquidate the nation and start over with a new country after a failure of leadership. 

While the analogy is far from perfect, think of the distinction between a butcher and a neurosurgeon.  The butcher, not unlike the businessman, seeks the slab of meat from which one hopes to generate a profit. The meat is cut and fat is trimmed to yield the more marketable selections which can be sold publicly at the highest markup, even if the quality of the original meat is slightly embellished or misrepresented. The profits are generated for the business owners, and the only yield to employees would be a continuation of jobs. If misrepresentations as to quality of the meat were discovered, the business might be sued and eventually forced to close. 

In sharp contrast, the neurosurgeon must carefully weigh the decision to operate, considering professional standards and consultation with the patient regarding risks and benefits. The professional oath of the physician requires: “By all that I hold highest, I promise my patients competence, integrity, candor, personal commitment to their best interest, compassion, and absolute discretion, and confidentiality within the law.” The physician swears to take only reasonable fees for the services rendered and no other financial profit from the relation with the patient. In conducting surgical procedures, the surgeon must be aware of the potential impact of surgical actions on all other systems of the patient that could be adversely affected. The more radical the procedure, the greater the risk to the patient. The goal and objective is to promote, to the extent possible, the health and wellbeing of the patient and, by extension, the public.

This comparison may help in understanding the complete fallacy of placing confidence in someone viewed as a “good businessman” as a presumptively good, elected president of the nation. The breadth of expertise, the ethics of professionalism, the standards of performance and the risks of failure are very different. The risks of failure in the role of president by the so-called “good businessman” are greater by several orders of magnitude. The breadth of expertise can be bridged by the selection of subordinates and advisors, But that remedy is only available IF the person chosen as leader adheres to the principles and standards of the Oath of Office and a sincere commitment to uphold the rule of law.  If the subordinates are chosen only because they swear fealty to the president, and the president has the moral compass of the “businessman” described above, the advice and counsel given to that president will be as flawed and lacking as the character and judgment of the elected president.

And during this time, all Americans are subjected to living in a fallacy world while their future and wellbeing depend upon the reasoning and judgment of someone committed only to personal power and profit. 

The Perils and the Price of "Trusting Trump"

The American electorate, especially the MAGA followers and devotees, are not quite as stupid as their actions in electing Trump might suggest. First, it must be understood that more eligible voters chose not to vote than actually votes for Trump. But those who did vote for and still support Trump were given a target and focus for their anger and hate, which motivated and bound them to his cause more tightly than any rational assessment of their own self-interest. In short, they placed their trust in Trump. The more educated and intelligent voters did not follow that lead, and many professional politicians initially noted publicly that the election of Trump would be a mistake, and possibly a disaster. They neither agreed with his hyperbolic claims nor trusted that he could fulfill his promises. Yet these knowledgeable politicians caved in and switched allegiance, either because of weak character or fear of political retribution from the well-heeled Trumpian juggernaut that had captured the GOP.

It does not take professional experience or genius to figure out that the driving force of Trump policies and disruptive actions have nothing to do with government efficiency or improvement of the economy for average Americans. The driving force is his narcissism and egocentric megalomania. Regardless of impact, regardless of who is harmed, each of his actions is designed to force others to kneel to his whims and do his bidding, or fact retribution. It really is that simple.

The disruption [destruction?] of global alliances took only 2 months, and now former allies have stated publicly that the US can no longer be trusted or relied upon as an ally. Free trade relationships and mutually beneficial commerce agreements have torn up and been tossed aside, with negative repercussions for American consumers of inflation, stagflation, and possibly a recession. Yet the only discernible "gain" to be achieved from such actions is that world leaders will be obliged to send envoys to Washington, DC to "talk" with Trump. Given what we have seen so far, there is no assurance, consistency, or predictability as to what demands Trump may make in exchange for relief from his threats. And there is no assurance that he will not renege on any purported "agreement" a week or a month later. He behaves like a petty tyrant, a spoiled child.

There are, however, positive signs arising from recognition that Trump and, because he currently is its voice, the United States cannot be trusted. European nations to which Trump has issued demands for more expenditures for military and security are seriously looking at suppliers other than the US for weapons systems. The EU wants to break its security dependency on the US and buy more European weapons | AP News Not only are US weapons of questionable "superiority," but Trump's actions call into question reliability of delivery and longer-term maintenance commitments for such systems. Australia and other nations, as indicated by this article, are exploring other suppliers, customers and trading relationships. Australia seeks alternative partners for beef. beef-industry-figures-reveal-why-the-us-just-shot-itself-in-the-foot/ar-AA1CbR3W This is a perfectly sensible response when a former trading partner has attacked and betrayed former trade and security relationships.

Trump's ego suggests to him that, despite acknowledgement of near-term pain and suffering his actions inflict, that "in the long run" the adversaries that he is creating will bend to his will. As Sen. Kennedy [R-LA] stated: "In the long run, we’re all dead. The short-run matters too. I don’t care what the experts say. We do not know yet the impact of these [tariffs]. … We just don’t know, and anybody who tells you otherwise that says they know has been smoking the devil’s lettuce.”

The more likely outcome is that rational nations and companies will choose strategies and implement them over time that reduce risk and do not rely upon the United States. They will seek out and develop alternative investments and trade relations that meet their needs and do not depend upon the "good faith and integrity" of America that has been the foundation for international relationships for decades.

The curious and fragile nature of "trust" is that it is far easier to destroy than it is to build. Once broken, it is doubly hard to re-establish. The United States has had egotistical presidents in the past, Nixon and LBJ were noteworthy for their pride and sometimes abusive use of authority, but they were reasonably competent and respected the Constitution. [Nixon resigned upon Constitutional impeachment.] And the nation has had presidents of marginal competence, as in the case of George W. Bush, who could be manipulated to abuse authority. But at no time in the history of the nation has a president displayed the combination of narcissism and hubris, combined with ignorance and incompetence [including his closest officials and advisors] that enabled him to wreak as much havoc and destroy international and domestic trust in the national government in so short a time as Trump has done. And the chaos continues while Trump rants and raves on Truth Social over any and every perceived slight or criticism.

The extent of the damage will not be fully appreciated for some time. The period of recovery, if ever, from his hubris and erratic ravaging will take years. And, like trust, the time required to rebuild the economy and international relations will doubtless take far longer than the time it takes Trump to destroy.

The Critical "State of the Union" - Can America Ever Be Great Again?

 With a political science degree and over 40 years of study and practice at law in state and federal courts, I think I have some perspective on the law, the Constitution, and the judicial system. The following are some of my thoughts, opinions, and analysis. 

The functioning and survival of our constitutional democracy depends upon the vitality of all three branches  of government, providing “checks and balances” for failures and overreach of the co-equal branches. We are currently in a state of “constitutional crisis” because of overreach and abuse by the executive branch, abandonment of responsibility and inaction by the legislative branch, and potential complicity bny the judicial branch at its highest level.

The executive branch, headed by Trump [and an unelected co-conspirator Musk] has claimed and attempted to assert unrestricted powers to take actions, including discretionary authority expressly prohibited by the Constitution and laws passed by Congress. Federal court judges have issued rulings enjoining some actions as unlawful or unconstitutional, but Trump has evaded or ignored federal court orders, refused to comply with judicial directives, and threatened to impeach judges issuing rulings with which he disagrees. He has issued executive orders that violate the 1st, 14th, and 5th amendments to the Constitution, as well as legislation prohibiting discrimination. His appointed cabinet officers have followed and amplified this abuse. However, the federal courts have no physical or practical capability to enforce the federal court rulings, no army or police forces to intervene. 

The Constitution clearly states that the judicial branch has unique powers and authority to say what the law is and to determine whether actions are or are not constitutionally sound. For 250 years, the nation has operated on the consensus agreement that the executive and legislative branches would accede to the determinations by the judiciary, subject to the process of appellate review up to the determination by the Supreme Court, if necessary. The SCOTUS is, under the Constitution, the supreme arbiter of what the Constitution and the laws permit, prohibit, or require.

The legislative branch has three critical functions: to pass laws that establish governmental  policy objectives and programs, to appropriate funds to support and carry out those policy objectives and programs, and the power of impeachment to remove government officials for misconduct amounting to “high crimes and misdemeanors.” The last of these powers is what is in crisis now. To a large extent, the legislative power to impeach depends upon the same public support which the elected members of Congress are supposed to represent. In the case of President Richard Nixon, Congress pursued impeachment with crucial support from respected members of Nixon’s own party. He resigned rather than be removed from office. President Clinton was impeached for lesser offenses, was not convicted, and remained in office. Albeit chastised. Trump was impeached twice during his first term for acts more serious than those against Nixon, but nearly unanimous support from his party members prevented conviction. 

This has led to the current crisis where Trump actions substantially exceed the abuses of his first term in scope, damages, and contravention of laws and precedent. The breakdown of the system of checks and balances is serious in two major respects. First, a GOP strategy of installing appointees to the SCOTUS making up a majority who value partisan loyalty above professionalism. That “conservative” majority, an ironic descriptor because their actions reflect radical departures from norms and precedent that the term suggests should be “conserved,” has issued an earthshaking ruling that provides presumptive immunity for the president for any actions and orders that are taken under the guise of presidential authority.  Unless and until presented to the SCOTUS, actions by Trump, including those that violate laws and the Constitution or defy federal court injunctions, are presumed legitimate exercise of presidential power, and immune from prosecution even if later deemed unlawful. The second major breakdown is that control of both houses of Congress by Trump’s party, together with overt threats by Trump and Musk to severely penalize any member of Congress who opposes Trump’s agenda has made Congress impotent regarding the power of impeachment. His blatant abuses of power, even when identified by federal judges, will not even be challenged in articles of impeachment so that evidence can be laid bare before the public, even if post-impeachment conviction should fail.    

An additional flaw in the fabric of the system of democracy is a failure of the media to support an informed electorate. Certain media outlets, such as FOX, are acknowledged as “infotainment” and are not really expected to broadcast truthful or reliable content. However, the so-called “mainstream” media outlets have succumbed to unprofessional journalistic standards and repeatedly broadcast claims that are not only uncorroborated, but which the news organization and broadcasters KNOW to be false and ungrounded. In addition, they undermine faith in the judiciary by including a tag identifier of who appointed the judge when reporting significant rulings. Who may have appointed the judge should be irrelevant to the substance and implications of the ruling, but the media imply that the affiliation of the party who appointed the judge is the REASON for the judge’s decision. This creates in the mind of the public a politically biased judiciary as a “norm” rather than rulings based upon the law, precedent, and evidence. 

Further erosion in the process of informing the electorate comes from technology transformation where literally thousands of voices are vying for media attention and consumer “clicks” and followers. Branding and influencer status outweigh accuracy and reliability. “Noise” and reliability have attained a false equivalency. Those claiming that “vaccines don’t work” are able to attract as much media attention as the decades and mountains of verified research that show vaccines not only work but have prevented millions of deaths. Claims of “government fraud and waste” to support destruction of government agencies and programs can gain priority media access despite the lack of any substantial evidence to back up such claims. 

It remains to be seen how much damage will be wrought by Trump and his supplicants pending delays awaiting review of actions by the SCOTUS. It also remains to be seen whether Trump will abide by a decision of the SCOTUS should the majority of justices deem his conduct illegitimate and in violation of the Constitution or other laws. Unfortunately, it is rather predictable that the current Congress will lack the courage or professionalism to attempt impeachment and conviction, which would ostensibly remove Trump’s authority to violate laws, to direct subordinates to assist in his abuse of authority, and to pardon subordinates who violate the law at his direction. And it also remains to be seen whether the nation can recover from the damage that Trump has and will continue to cause, if recovery is possible.

The Trouble With Trump

 It is not "hyperbole" to describe Trump as a narcissistic and amoral pathological liar, as well as a convicted felon. It is not political bias or ever "Trump hate." All is based upon objective facts, no matter how much his delusional followers deny or ignore them. His actions require scrutiny and analysis. Consider the following:

"After meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump said that about 2 million Palestinians could be resettled as the U.S. rebuilds the war-torn area into the "Riviera of the Middle East."

UN Secretary Guterres described the proposal as "tantamount to ethnic cleansing," and Amnesty International called such action a "war crime." US Secretary of State Rubio called it "a very generous plan to rebuild Gaza," ignoring the fact that massive destruction in Gaza was done by indiscriminate Israeli bombing of infrastructure, including schools and hospitals, while murdering over 48,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children. That massive destruction, accompanied by denial and blockage of humanitarian aid by Israel is "collective punishment," also defined by international conventions as a war crime.

The cultural insensitivity and inhumane tenor of the proposal is astounding, but also unfortunately typical of Trump. He envisions Gaza as one of his golf course development projects for the wealthy. It is not that he necessarily "hates" Palestinians, though his history regarding Arab and Muslim people suggests racial and religious bigotry. His more salient ethic is that he doesn't care about or regard Palestinians as human beings. They are "inconvenient" obstacles to his view of "economic development."

The "problematic" aspect, the trouble with Trump, is that he is in the White House. When he previously opposed/demanded removal of North Sea wind farms to improve the views from a proposed Trump golf course development, he was ignored and laughed at, not least because of implications for UK energy if he were taken seriously. However, when he makes equally or more insane self-serving proposals as a US president, and the Sec. of State obediently genuflects, world leaders are less sure whether to take him seriously. They know that Trump is a madman but given the submissive nature of the GOP majorities in Congress and slavering fealty of Trump appointed US government officials, other countries and their leaders are uncertain whether they can trust the American people any longer.

For better or worse, Trump "speaks for" the USA for the next 4 years [subject to possible impeachment]. Whether it is annexing Canada, seizing the Panama Canal, purchasing Greenland, or a trade war with the nations primary trading partners the American public is "responsible for" the idiotic things said and done by its president, including CRIMINAL actions. The SCOTUS has said such high crimes and misdemeanors are presumptively subject to presidential immunity from prosecution. The DOJ will not investigate wrongdoing and is persecuting government employees who have done their job investigating and seeking to hold Trump and others accountable. The GOP led Congress lacks the integrity or courage to impeach Trump, and prior failed attempts to do so have emboldened Trump.

The current GOP has been described as a "jellyfish," an organism without a brain or a backbone. The description is unkind, but not entirely inaccurate. The point is that any remedy cannot be expected from those quarters, regardless of damage Trump inflicts on the nation and the world, regardless of the adverse effects on countless of American families. They have produced this durable result through gerrymandering, financial corruption, and coopting media, and will make recovery most difficult.

And now, the steering wheel of US government has largely been turned over to an unelected billionaire tyrant who has openly threatened any GOP congress member who might dare to resist or disobey. Federal employees are subject to a reign of terror, fearing for their jobs if they do not swear fealty to the Trump/Musk regime.

Two courses of action remain. The first is to continue to pay attention, analyze, and call out falsehoods and deceit. The purpose of this is not to persuade the MAGA cult members or change their minds, arguably a lost cause. The purpose is to make factual information visible and to reaffirm the value of truth and integrity. Changing minds of those who refuse to accept facts might be a futile and frustrating effort, like "teaching a pig to sing," but such affirmation does resist allowing prevarication, deceit, and corruption to change those who do value honesty, facts and integrity.

The second course of action is to cultivate and support representatives at all levels of government who do value democracy, honesty, and integrity. Seek out and communicate with representatives who truly are representative of voices and values that wish to make life better for all. Engage in difficult and uncomfortable conversations about deficiencies in governance and systemic ills of racism, sexism, homophobia and other forms of institutionalized bigotry.

If these courses of action are followed vigorously and consistently, the eyes of the world may see that the American people may be worthy of trust, despite the "trouble with Trump," and that this too shall pass.