So many people who knew him predicted this and he still got elected. The conventional media didn't emphasise it enough but even if they had nobody listens or reads anymore. This is self inflicted by the lazy, poorly informed electorate. The consequences are horrendous suffering, loss of rights and an economy in the toilet.
Trump is a madman. He is surrounded by madmen and madwomen. I wish there were a Blue State Secession movement. I come from a Trifecta Blue State that has a Red section where our farmland is. Still, I do not see non-violent protest movement as powerful, but it is not enough. We need to see where the military is. Trump is waiting on that. He may not have fired enough people yet. Once he does, we shall see.
I recommend all foreign students leave. That would help Trump cut off his nose to spite his face. There are other countries in which they could go to university. Even with a PhD, you could go elsewhere. People would understand.
Everyone should be considering whether they need to move to another state or leave the country. When people say they cannot afford to leave I wonder if that is true. Most people could go to Mexico. Plenty of Americans retired there, but I don't know about getting a job. Teaching English is cliche, but can be a possibility. Most countries south of the border are cheaper than the US. Here is piece I wrote in November, but it seems relevant still.
The DoJ is now his personal law firm. We can expect little or no help from them in protecting our rights as Americans. WE also should not depend on SCOTUS. We must protest in overwhelming numbers
Thanks for keeping us informed. I have some concern referring to Trump and his administration's actions as insane, implying, in medical terms, a "thought disorder". Although Trump is clearly a mentally damaged person, his actions and directions are thought out and purposeful. As has been pointed out, he is following the step by step plan to fascism that has been carried out too many times in the past. Although subjective, I would say, not insane, but evil.
I don't believe the "CRAZY OR INSANITY" hypothesis.
I believe that the true intent of the regime is more simple than that.
I believe that they are not unlike any other predator. They are creating diversions to come up with this brilliant plan to generate billions of $$$$$$ value by stoking world markets up and down to the tune of Trump's extreme undulating uncertainties. (intentionally flipping the sentiment every time things settle a bit) and trading the binary swings that his lies create.
As the American people gradually begin to realize the losing path they have chosen, and the burden that is being created FOR THEM by the lost trust in their country, they will eventually become assertive and autonomous and take back their freedom.
I agree that it could be with civil war, or perhaps their democracy will respond through the consciences of their representatives. By all accounts, the shift could happen in a heart beat.
I don't hold out much hope for their democracy, because of the corruption in the Republican representation, which is visible for all to see. It isn't just the billionaires that are benefitting from the pillaging of the markets by the billionaires, but the corruption is bolstered by the "chosen ones" (the followers that are embracing the Trump message that he will REWARD anyone that is loyal to him and PUNISH those who resist him).
There is little hope for the Trump prophecy to succeed and profit by isolating the rest of the world, while demanding that the people of the world pay homage the the USA. ( the population of the USA is only 4% of the world population--- not exactly a majority).
I believe that the hope for humanity rests in INTER-BEING. I recognize that before trump, a long term positive trend (hundreds of years) in the reduction of wars and an increase in prosperity has been developing. There is reason to have hope regarding a peaceful solution.
The American public will need to rise up from their perilous position to take their democracy back; since, sadly they trusted the false hopes that were promised and surrendered their destiny to a large group of their political leaders who prefer money over leading the people to peace and prosperity.
I personally am hoping that the shift back to "balance" comes without violence.
Regarding the media, of late it has been disclosed the "social media" may have been the culprit; One person can make tens of thousands of social media testimonieals that look like tens of thousands reviews, using AI, all looking like they were created by tens of thousands people.
One of the main factors of elections is that the psycology of people is to band together to choose the winner----and if one person can present tens of thousands of opinions, then the impression is that tens of thousands of people thing that Trump is the best thing since sliced bread. People want to be on the side of the winner, even if they are a FAKE winner.
Trump has his followers believing that he will protect them because they continue to honor his identity. Truth is he won't protect anyone because he wants all of the spoils for himself.
I agree with the premise that there is no insanity in the approach taken but rather that it is the continuing effort at creating a unique type of American totalitarian state.
Whether Trump is in charge of all this or working with an informal cadre from Project 2025 is still not clear.
A student of the history of totalitarian states only has to look at the late 1940's work of Stalin's "Central Committee of the Party" - which in the American case would be MAGA - which started to target segments of society and its cultural apparatus with resolutions to purge them of any ideology not consistent with the Marxian concept of the state.
Everything had to be purged of any ideological neutrality, political neutrality or individual expression.
So we have:
- Fox News (purge of intellectualism and purge of truth);
- Kennedy Center take-over (purge of music and choice of programs);
- purge of education and unbiased information (no Dept. of Education plus Columbia University trusteeship and cancellation of funding for others);
- purge of science(NIH, FDA, NOAA, etc); and last but most fearsome:
- purge of justice and its neutral scales of justice stance (DOJ partisan ship and law firms targeting perceived enemies).
Then there is DOGE and the purge of the state apparatus of loyalists.
The current tariff program to shake down industries for political contributions only to MAGA- see latest backtrack on iPhones and computers.
I don't think I am being dramatic that we in Canada will be living next to a totalitarian machine if Americans don't start to get a "steel spine" - but not the Trumpian kind described by Karoline Leavitt.
So many people who knew him predicted this and he still got elected. The conventional media didn't emphasise it enough but even if they had nobody listens or reads anymore. This is self inflicted by the lazy, poorly informed electorate. The consequences are horrendous suffering, loss of rights and an economy in the toilet.
We are moving closer to Blue state secession or civil war. If he thinks all Americans will submit without a fight he's sadly mistaken.
Trump is a madman. He is surrounded by madmen and madwomen. I wish there were a Blue State Secession movement. I come from a Trifecta Blue State that has a Red section where our farmland is. Still, I do not see non-violent protest movement as powerful, but it is not enough. We need to see where the military is. Trump is waiting on that. He may not have fired enough people yet. Once he does, we shall see.
I recommend all foreign students leave. That would help Trump cut off his nose to spite his face. There are other countries in which they could go to university. Even with a PhD, you could go elsewhere. People would understand.
https://lindaweide.substack.com/p/foreign-students-at-a-us-university?r=f0qfn
Everyone should be considering whether they need to move to another state or leave the country. When people say they cannot afford to leave I wonder if that is true. Most people could go to Mexico. Plenty of Americans retired there, but I don't know about getting a job. Teaching English is cliche, but can be a possibility. Most countries south of the border are cheaper than the US. Here is piece I wrote in November, but it seems relevant still.
https://lindaweide.substack.com/p/a-plan-b-for-catastrophe?r=f0qfn
Trump is a madman. Like in any abusive relationship it might be a good idea to leave until he is gone.
The DoJ is now his personal law firm. We can expect little or no help from them in protecting our rights as Americans. WE also should not depend on SCOTUS. We must protest in overwhelming numbers
Thanks for keeping us informed. I have some concern referring to Trump and his administration's actions as insane, implying, in medical terms, a "thought disorder". Although Trump is clearly a mentally damaged person, his actions and directions are thought out and purposeful. As has been pointed out, he is following the step by step plan to fascism that has been carried out too many times in the past. Although subjective, I would say, not insane, but evil.
I don't believe the "CRAZY OR INSANITY" hypothesis.
I believe that the true intent of the regime is more simple than that.
I believe that they are not unlike any other predator. They are creating diversions to come up with this brilliant plan to generate billions of $$$$$$ value by stoking world markets up and down to the tune of Trump's extreme undulating uncertainties. (intentionally flipping the sentiment every time things settle a bit) and trading the binary swings that his lies create.
As the American people gradually begin to realize the losing path they have chosen, and the burden that is being created FOR THEM by the lost trust in their country, they will eventually become assertive and autonomous and take back their freedom.
I agree that it could be with civil war, or perhaps their democracy will respond through the consciences of their representatives. By all accounts, the shift could happen in a heart beat.
I don't hold out much hope for their democracy, because of the corruption in the Republican representation, which is visible for all to see. It isn't just the billionaires that are benefitting from the pillaging of the markets by the billionaires, but the corruption is bolstered by the "chosen ones" (the followers that are embracing the Trump message that he will REWARD anyone that is loyal to him and PUNISH those who resist him).
There is little hope for the Trump prophecy to succeed and profit by isolating the rest of the world, while demanding that the people of the world pay homage the the USA. ( the population of the USA is only 4% of the world population--- not exactly a majority).
I believe that the hope for humanity rests in INTER-BEING. I recognize that before trump, a long term positive trend (hundreds of years) in the reduction of wars and an increase in prosperity has been developing. There is reason to have hope regarding a peaceful solution.
The American public will need to rise up from their perilous position to take their democracy back; since, sadly they trusted the false hopes that were promised and surrendered their destiny to a large group of their political leaders who prefer money over leading the people to peace and prosperity.
I personally am hoping that the shift back to "balance" comes without violence.
A tall order.
H
Regarding the media, of late it has been disclosed the "social media" may have been the culprit; One person can make tens of thousands of social media testimonieals that look like tens of thousands reviews, using AI, all looking like they were created by tens of thousands people.
One of the main factors of elections is that the psycology of people is to band together to choose the winner----and if one person can present tens of thousands of opinions, then the impression is that tens of thousands of people thing that Trump is the best thing since sliced bread. People want to be on the side of the winner, even if they are a FAKE winner.
Trump has his followers believing that he will protect them because they continue to honor his identity. Truth is he won't protect anyone because he wants all of the spoils for himself.
H
“Over 200 Americans are doing hard time in El Salvador’s Mega Prison/Concentration camp as I type this.”
Proof, please, Dean…you can’t just drop a fucking bomb like that without backing it up.
I agree with the premise that there is no insanity in the approach taken but rather that it is the continuing effort at creating a unique type of American totalitarian state.
Whether Trump is in charge of all this or working with an informal cadre from Project 2025 is still not clear.
A student of the history of totalitarian states only has to look at the late 1940's work of Stalin's "Central Committee of the Party" - which in the American case would be MAGA - which started to target segments of society and its cultural apparatus with resolutions to purge them of any ideology not consistent with the Marxian concept of the state.
Everything had to be purged of any ideological neutrality, political neutrality or individual expression.
So we have:
- Fox News (purge of intellectualism and purge of truth);
- Kennedy Center take-over (purge of music and choice of programs);
- purge of education and unbiased information (no Dept. of Education plus Columbia University trusteeship and cancellation of funding for others);
- purge of science(NIH, FDA, NOAA, etc); and last but most fearsome:
- purge of justice and its neutral scales of justice stance (DOJ partisan ship and law firms targeting perceived enemies).
Then there is DOGE and the purge of the state apparatus of loyalists.
The current tariff program to shake down industries for political contributions only to MAGA- see latest backtrack on iPhones and computers.
I don't think I am being dramatic that we in Canada will be living next to a totalitarian machine if Americans don't start to get a "steel spine" - but not the Trumpian kind described by Karoline Leavitt.
Suppose there are adjoining tunnels connecting Trump's bunker with Putin's ?