As an elder, I’ve lived through many political crises in this country—but I have never seen an attack on our democracy like this. In the past, there was bipartisan opposition to lawlessness. Today, the guardrails are being dismantled before our eyes, and we must sound the alarm.
The damage this administration has done to our communities and our democracy, not to mention the damage to future generations globally, in just the first 30 days is too long to even capture at this point. Very few guardrails seem left with the exception of the people expressing their concerns and outrage widely in the streets, in our local news organizations, with our pocketbooks, and on our social media at every opportunity!
America deserves better. It is our time to demand our government work for all the people, not just for the rich few.
Marilyn Farmer
San Luis Obispo
This article appears in Mar 27 – Apr 6, 2025.
“In the past, there was bipartisan opposition to lawlessness.” You sure about that?
“In 2001, the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation awarded the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award to Ford for his PARDON OF NIXON. In presenting the award to Ford, Senator TED KENNEDY said that he had initially been opposed to the PARDON OF NIXON, but later stated that history had proven Ford to have made the correct decision.”
Marilyn Farmer – thank you for speaking out. America does deserve better!
If anyone is waiting for an official announcement that we are in (another) Depression or our government is fascist, it’s not going to happen. In fact, the opposite will happen. Like the Soviet Union, up to its last days, its ministry of information continued to post propaganda in its newspapers, subway bills, radio, and tv, announcing that its grain harvests were at record levels and industrial output was at record highs. Our legacy media is doing the same thing. We are also told that we have the most free and most open government in the world. But do we? Really?
There are people being snatched off the street and shoved into vans by public officials on American streets and families are starving. I guess it won’t seem official to you or I until we too are shoved into vans.
I, for one, will take my pen and critique with me until the last spade of dirt is tossed onto my unmarked grave.
J’Accuse!
Well Fly, you’ve been predicting a capitalist economic collapse for a while now, as both Fly_m_o and SH. To compare us to the Soviet Union, however, is simplistic thinking and doesn’t pass serious scrutiny. The GDP of the Soviet Union when it collapsed like a house of cards was about 1% of the U.S.’s current GDP and at that time its expenditures on defense were about 15% of that GDP. The U.S. currently only spends about 3.5% on defense.
Marx, Sombart and Mandel have predicted a collapse for years, as has current Marxist economist Richard Wolff and whoever else you seem to listen to.
What those naysayers failed to realize was the power of regulation and a pragmatic overseer (such as the federal reserve in the U.S.). Capitalism survives with a worthy umpire. Now that the umpire has been rendered blind (CFPB and other institutions, with Powell obviously fearing for his future) the U.S. will certainly experience turbulence. We are already seeing protests, but the pitch fork type of uprising you seem to be predicting is very far away. Fully 40% of Americans still love Trump.
His antics will leave a mark, but I doubt he can collapse this economy, even as the Dow plummets. A recession is forthcoming (the last five Republican administrations have seen recessions), similar to the downturn witnessed under Reagan in the early 1980’s (10% unemployment) when he attempted a radical switch in federal policies as Trump is doing today—in his case, it was destroying unions and drastically cutting taxes (from about 70% to 30%).
Of course, if Trump isn’t checked next year by the election of a Democratic House, all bets are off, and the U.S. as we know it is probably doomed.
But, carry on sir, you obviously seem to have plenty to say. I just wish you wouldn’t shout down other individuals on this board who also have legitimate opinions. Maybe soften your tone a bit. It would be welcome on an otherwise friendly board where most of us tend to accept, and maybe politely disagree, with other’s opinions.
MS:
I’m at work (my second job), I’ll respond tonight and after I can control my gales of laughter from ideas like this one, “…a pragmatic overseer (such as the federal reserve in the U.S.).” The Fed got us into this whole mess. As a matter of fact, and as Ron Paul would concur, let’s eliminating Nate the Fed altogether. Prof. Wolf is actually boring, I enjoy Prof. Michael Hudson more. His parents were old school commies. Here, get some Michael Hudson: https://youtu.be/1bCqxWDbSvw?si=BdHKzJYz58…
And Michael, you aren’t the gatekeeper here nor do I (or anyone else) need your permission to post. I have never cussed and if my “tone” is offensive, simply RETURN TO THE NATIONAL REVIEW where you might find a sympathetic audience and though WILLIAM BUCKLEY IS DEAD, you can still have your viewpoint reenforced. I’ll just stay here in the sewer with MY MOUNTAINS OF BOOKS. And I mean… MOUNTAINS OF BOOKS.