Fair Warning
Back Off
Interruption or reduction of social security benefits is totally unacceptable.
Telling recipients of this particular “entitlement” to talk to the Justice Hand because the Trump Face ain’t seeing and/or the Congress Ears ain’t listening just is not going to cut it on this one.
Here is a bottom line easy to understand. “Entitlement” too often is used perjoratively, as code for unearned benefits. That is wrong in concept and in fact. And insulting to boot.
Those of us receiving a monthly check from the social security administration earned every thin dime now being returned to us. For all of our working lives, our full fair wages never reached us. Part of the total due was diverted to the program. Calling it a Ponzi scheme is disingenuous. We understood we were affording the security of those retired from active earning.
It is our turn.
Promises, Oaths, Affirmations and Rituals
Promises are a form of oath. Oaths are sealed by invoking sacrality as a sign of verity. It is to be noticed that Donald John Trump did not rest his hand on any sacred object when taking his second oath of office. He broke with custom in order to avoid consequence in law. And used his usual loophole approach to justice. He gave affirmation—a common and acceptable legal substitute—rather than a sacred promise. He used his hovering hand to increase confidence in his brand without committing to improving his attitude or conduct.
Okay, so the guy is in his “trust me” mode.
Again.
Is his dodgy conduct worth consideration and discussion? I say “yes”.
Donald John Trump defied the ritual of taking true allegiance to our founding documents. He refused to commit to a lawful and humane course of action. He left We the People with a single expectation. That he would be a dictator on Day One.
Promises are more than just important. They are essential to civilized conduct. They make us unique in the animal kingdom. Salmon and sea turtles do not sign a contract to return to spawning grounds.
Little girls and grown-up boys seal a promise differently. Ritual is used to bind a promise of future conduct.
Little girls hook pinky fingers.
Big guys shake hands.
Both boys and girls of all ages ritually mix blood to bind oaths mutually considered of signal importance.
The purpose is the same. To bind a preferred action in time. To create an actionable expectation.
A Contract between Generations
The math does not work for deducting trillions of dollars in federal budget without attacking social security payments.
Some of We the People now are “entitled” to receive is full and faithful return of a reasonable portion of funds seized and held under our name and to our account. Anything other or less is a clear breach of contract in law and a traitorous betrayal of faith in fact.
Donald John Trump is famous for deceptive business practices and stiffing his creditors. He is not a good legislative role model.
Congressional kabuki theater acts on this issue do not distract or frighten. Much less inform.
They just send at least one generation to the barricades.
Missing in Action
Our system of governance has two-party conflict baked into the notions of an informed citizenry, rule of law, and peaceful dissent. A growing number of We the People are tired of echo chamber silos of partisan opinion. Give it up.
There no longer is a Republican party. There only is a wannabe monarch.
There no longer is a Democratic party. There only is a fund-raising machine searching for a backbone.
Situation on the Ground
The Mad King has Europe on its ear, international law and order in peril, domestic programs on the ropes, the stock markets troubled, and the GDP in free fall. So it is no wonder that he takes time from the serious business of golfing to help a good friend sell cars.
Bottom line: We must innovate around Trump’s affection for, and practice of, the law of the jungle.
Heads up.
Hearts strong.
We the People unhappy with the results and consequences of Election 2024 are gaining traction. Politicians are beginning to calculate the odds about what to fear most—Musk’s promised primary challenges or our actual vote. Ralph Tresvant was right. Money can’t buy you love.
Oh, time will sort the wheat from the chaff. Trump will die. And his kingdom of illusion and self-interest will collapse into a well-deserved pile of ashes of everything he destroyed to sate a weak mind lacking any moral compass. And the phoenix of freedom, liberty, and equity will rise again. The kingdom of decency has a strong survival pattern.
It has taken Germany four generations to overcome and rise above the consequences of Adolph Hitler. China and Russia remain hobbled by the consequences of actions of their most recent ideological tyrants.
Our punishement and penance for the fact and acts of our Mad King are yet to be determined. One thing is certain. Stopping the bleeding is imperative to limit the damage of the wound.
Plus.
Our planet demands attention and action politicians would ignore. New babies and ocean temperatures are not distinct issues.
Until then.
Anthem
Here is what We the People of sound mind, solid principle, and decent memory are going to do.
With our persons and our purses every day in every legal way, we will delay, dismantle, and destroy the implementation of the Project 2025 playbook.
We will resist.
We will prevail.
So that government of the people, by the people and for the people shall not perish from the earth on our watch.
And we are going to take names and kick butts on any flaming asshat who tries to diminish or delay our timely receipt each month of full and just compensation for our faithful performance under the semi-sacred terms and conditions of this country’s intergenerational contract for the wellness and security of its law-abiding citizenry.
Susan...your consistent, continued guidance is clear. With our persons and our purses every day in every legal way, we will delay, dismantle, and destroy the implementation of the Project 2025 playbook. We will resist. We will prevail.
What makes this so horrible is the destruction is fast, like a bomb, and the loss of life, economic disaster, and rebuilding could take 10, 20, maybe 30 years. Trump is counting on the Social Security population (72 million) going away so he doesn't hear our screams. What he has missed is his vulnerability and mortality. What he also missed is the long list of failed autocracies and dictators fleeing for their lives when the people no longer tolerated repression, corruption, and economic collapse.
You are 100% correct to point to new babies and ocean temperatures (nature in all forms) will overtake whatever the rest of us thought was going to benefit the 1050 billionaires in the USA.