|
Crisis is looming –
The actions of the Trump administration are not business as usual. They are destroying our government and with it, the safety net it provides for all Americans. They are sidestepping the rule of law, stripping away our rights and personal liberties, and undercutting longstanding values that this country stands for. Their actions are destabilizing our economy and widening the gap between the wealthiest and poorest Americans. The conflicts of interest that underlie Trump’s and unelected DOGE’s Elon Musk’s reckless actions are already hurting many Americans, including dedicated federal employees and veterans. We are rapidly approaching a constitutional crisis in this country.
The rallies being organized and promoted by 50501 (50 protests, 50 states–1 day) and Indivisible are increasingly critical. The size and frequency of these protests need to increase to show that we recognize and protest what is happening. The above noted rally is scheduled for this weekend and will allow participation by those who otherwise need to tend to other obligations. If we are going to stop the Trump Administration’s attack on our democracy we need growing participation. We need to spread the word and engage our friends and families. If you are asking, “What can I do?” participation in these protests is one answer.
***** Many thoughtful Americans, historians, and writers have addressed the current chaos and turmoil in this country. They find clear indications that if we don’t act, we will lose what we value and trust as Americans, including our democracy and our rights as citizens. A sampling of recent opinions:
Trade war with Canada, one indication of Trump’s disruption to our alliances
Prior to his resignation on Sunday, Prime Minister of Canada Trudeau made a speech to address the Canadian perspective on Trump’s tariffs. He indicated that he was speaking to the American people, his fellow Canadians and to our President, who he addressed as “Donald”. Prime Minister Trudeau brings perspective to what we Americans are up against. While he focuses on the issues surrounding Trump's on-again, off-again imposition of tariffs, he also speaks to the broader dangers of Trump's actions.You can hear his speech here. It is worth taking the time to listen!
“Six Weeks In, This White House Is On Its Way To Being The Most Corrupt In U.S. History”--Senator Chris Murphy Moving on, the Trump - Musk team are currently running rough-shod over our government, showing no respect for anyone. Trump has appointed people to his cabinet who are not qualified to oversee the organizations they manage. Trump, seemingly at the direction of Musk, has taken steps to terminate thousands of workers and cause disruption throughout our government. Trump has allowed Musk to compromise personal information about all Americans. The quick actions Trump is taking are meant to cause confusion and prevent any quick, meaningful, response. As he avoided going to trial before the 2024 elections by ongoing appeals in our court system, he is now playing out the same scenario to allow the implementation of Project 2025. Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy spoke on the floor of the Senate about Trump’s strategy–and the open corruption his administration is demonstrating to redefine what government is. His presentation can be viewed here. Again, this is a must listen. Implications of Game playing with the Ukraine–Robert Hubbell On the Ukrainian front, the tactics used by the Trump Administration are raising great concern and disruption throughout Europe. His most recent actions are causing more casualties for Ukraine and impacting morale amongst the Ukrainian troops while giving Putin the clear advantage. He is destroying the alliances we have with our NATO partners. Robert Hubbell recently spoke to this when he wrote: “Just ending military and intelligence support of a country defending itself from a hostile attack with no warning and planning is a hostile act, intended to inflict harm on Ukraine and help Russia. Republican Senators claim it is a negotiating tactic, but the hard cold reality now is that Trump appears to be in the process of ending our more than century old alliance with Europe, abandoning NATO and taking Russia’s side in the most significant war in Europe since WWII. In addition to all the other reasons all of this is so wrong, we also have to acknowledge that without the NATO Article 5 protection of our European allies, America is far less safe today, and far more vulnerable to a devastating attack by a hostile foreign power (including Russia) than any time in over 200 years. Trump is not just abandoning Ukraine and Europe, he is unilaterally tearing down the global security architecture that has kept America safe and free for generations.” A call to action -“Democracy requires you to be active.” –Timothy Snyder
Timothy Snyder, a world renowned scholar on Eastern Europe and author of On Tyranny, gives an overview of Trump’s actions to date, including his “negotiations” to end the Ukrain war. Snyder reminds us that democracy is not a given. It requires attention and action to maintain it and to ensure it continues.
|
