Where We Are
Is Not the Issue
Joe Biden is being criticized for a cancer that has metastasized from his prostrate to his bones. Donald John Trump has lost not only his mind and soul, but, also, his sense of spatial understanding and mobility command.
These two old white men in failing health are the worrisome political consequence of a society gone lax while feasting too long on its own success.
The table scraps do not satisfy.
The results of Election 2024 indicate that our plurality is okay with degrading our collective national sense of self and despoiling its personal allegiance to good purpose.
Ugly R Us.
In the early hours of 22 May 25, the House passed (215-214) a 1000+-page spending package with the inspid title of a “Big Beautiful Bill”. The bill is everything the 47th president promised.
It taxes the lower 99% to enrich the top 1%. It increases the sovereign debt to an unsustainable level. It attacks the public health, security, and welfare systems. It indemifies illegal actions by the executive branch.
It is not beautiful. It is an authoritarian’s wet dream. It is a mathematical disaster.
Pundits and Substack influencers howl.
“What’s so infuriating about this whole charade is how it relies upon Americans not knowing their own fucking history. The Trump administration’s argument depends upon historical amnesia….The political strategy revolves around keeping you angry but uninformed, passionate but misdirected.” Wendy the Druid, 20 May 25 Substack
“It is the most expensive piece of legislation in 80 years. At a time when the deficit already is at an unsustainable $1.8 trillion.” Charlie Sykes, 20 May 25 To The Contrary Substack
Quietly, the White House has removed from its website all official transcripts of Trump’s public utterances other than his most recent inaugural address. A selective record of his actions and comments hereafter will appear in video format.
Manifesto
Where we are is not the issue. Who we are is the relevant question.
The opposite of love is not hate. It is indifference.
We the People unhappy with the results and consequences of Election 2024 love the myth and the history of America the Beautiful Land of Opportunity. We are not indifferent to the existential and intrisic evil embedded in the implementation of the 2025 playbook
Resistance to the manifest cruelty, chaos, and corruption of Trump 2.0 is a deeply personal matter. It involves risk and sacrifice. It transcends convenient labels of party lines, gender, race, age, and/or religious background.
It's a matter of right and wrong.
Ignoring or demeaning human dignity is not right.
The question is—what are you trying to keep alive? Yourself or your principle?
You may lose your life. The principle will survive. And prevail.
Dignity, hope, and faith are not a battle plan. But they are a dandy battle cry.
Anthem
Target and Tesla are admitting damage to their brands and bottom lines due to adverse consumer reaction to their policies and practices. The time is ripe for Resistance 2.0 to become even more bold.
Increase the volume and instances of resistance.
Consider making more “good trouble.” Go on the offensive. Enough willful and clearly self-serving damage has been done to justify a pleading against The Guy in equity for restitution of funds unjustly gained for personal use. The Trump v United States decision leaves him open to prosecution for objectionable private acts. The very filing of such a complaint, in any applicable jurisdiction, would distract and seriously disturb the Trump 2.0 Magic Show.
Hats off to those who are planning, supporting, and attending visible signs of a growing resistance to Trump 2.0. And all honor and glory to the educational institutions, lower court justices, politicians, lawyers, journalists, and media spokespersons defying implementation of the illegal aspects of the Project 2025 playbook.
And praise all gods great and small for the reporters and editors at The Washington Post for trailing the smoke back to the trigger finger on the hot Trump 2.0 gun.
The early strengthening of Resistance 2.0 is a precious and fragile early spring flower. It needs constant care and close attention to survive and thrive. Do not let the 04 May 25 Washington Post reporting disappear.
It is important to remember that Donald John Trump believes “only the weak will fail.”
Let us continue to be faithful, strategic, and strong in our resistance to the fact and effects of his Reign of Terror and Tour of Revenge
Let us continue to pull up our socks and step into the breach now, every Power of One person dissatisfied with the results and consequences of Election 2024.
Let us continue to put into play our persons and our purses every day in every peaceful way everywhere all at once to demand:
A return to positions of principle those persons, institutions, and organizations betraying a public trust in their integrity when bending a knee, kissing the ring, funding the personal wealth, or furthering the ambitions of Donald John Trump.
The bringing of criminal charges against Musk and articles of impeachment against Trump.
Resumption of support of Ukraine, NATO, WHO, IMF and related international organizations and accords dedicated to the proposition of global peace, health, and prosperity.
The bringing of articles of impeachment against corrupt justices now contaminating the opinions of the high court.
Referendum and recall of congressional representatives not faithful to their oath of office and/or unresponsive to the concerns and wishes of their constituents.
Creation of a Shadow Cabinet charged with daily briefings of administrative assaults upon the rule of law, the health, safety, and welfare of We the People, and simple decency.
Course correction on the conduct of matters related to national security.
Open, timely, and impartial consideration of and rulings on pleadings regarding the constitutionality of executive and administrative actions taken by Trump 2.0 and its implementation of the Project 2025 playbook.
Scrap the Big Beautiful Bill. Draft a reasonable and sustainable budget that maintains the social network and personal rights put into law and custom in the last 80 years.
Our statue of liberty has broken chains at her feet.
This administration does not have our leave to reinstall ancient constraints on her or us.
I truly believe that right is might.
Resist. Persist. Prevail.
In a world where “only the weak will fail,” let us continue to be strong.
We cannot, we will not, fail.
Go, team, go.
Great quote, and the truth stings. “What’s so infuriating about this whole charade is how it relies upon Americans not knowing their own fucking history. The Trump administration’s argument depends upon historical amnesia….The political strategy revolves around keeping you angry but uninformed, passionate but misdirected.”
If every statement and announcement were met with three questions that help individuals examine and challenge stressful thoughts, we wouldn't be here. The questions:
1. Is it true?
2. Can you absolutely know that it's true?
3. How do you react when you believe that thought
The opposite of love is not hate. It is indifference.
True. Cold. Really cold. But true. And many of the people are so exhausted by the tangerine trauma tales that they actually do not care anymore.
There are three stages of stress:
1) Stress - When you're really concerned about what is happening
2) Distress - When you are freaking out about what is happening, and lose your calm center
3) Apathy - When you cannot care any more, so you zone out
This happens with teens and their grades. They get a progress report and they stress. They get an F on their report card and their parents ground them. They don't know how to fix it so they quit caring at all, which equals apathy.
We the people got our progress report with F45. We failed when F47 was elected. Neither Congress nor the Judiciary will help the country or the people balance the Executive's power. So we march and rage and post on social media. But many just can't take it any more. They are now the dreaded INDIFFERENT.