Tag: <span>trump</span>

Published September 9, 2025 by

Sympathy for the Farmers?

Farmer riding a tractor. Trump supporting family farmers are losing their farms, but no sympathy for them. Photo by Mark Stebnicki on Pexels.com
Our American Farmers

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

I recently answered another Quora question that has received pretty strong positive response. This question related to farmers who are now facing foreclosures and loss of their farms due to Trumpian policies. The kicker, of course, is that Trump swept most rural communities in his 2024 election victory.

My answer is pretty harsh against a community of professionals I once had great respect for. Such is the life in Trump’s America.

Continue…Sympathy for the Farmers?

Opinions & Commentary Quora Re-Posts

Family Farmers quora trump

Published August 4, 2025 by

New Profiles in Courage

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, official photo
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, official photo

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

“To be in public office right now is to constantly ask yourself, how do I make sure that we’re standing on the right side of history? There’s a simple answer. The wrong side of history will always tell you to be afraid. The right side of history will always expect you to be courageous. Expect courage from people around you, and it will show up. Expect fear, and fear will rule the day. “

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker

Today we have new profiles in courage in opposing the Trump regime.

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Opinions & Commentary

Courage democrats Republicans trump

Published June 14, 2025 by

Have You Seen The Stars Tonight?

The James Webb Space Telescope reveals details of the structure and composition of the Tarantula Nebula, as well as dozens of background galaxies. Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Webb ERO Production Team Image. Wikimedia Commons, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?search=File%3AMilky+Way+Galaxy+%28black+background%29.png&title=Special%3ASearch&profile=advanced&fulltext=1&ns0=1&ns6=1&ns12=1&ns14=1&ns100=1&ns106=1#/media/File:Tarantula_Nebula_(MIRI_Image).png
The Tarantula Nebula, In A Place Far Far Away

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Today is officially “No Kings Day.” This is the day we – again – protest against the monster in the White House. Now with music to fit the occasion.

I started writing this post as an angry screed against our wanna-be king trump. The music I looked for was angry music, filled with defiance and rage against the would-be two-bit penny-ante dictator and his sycophants currently running our nation. Music that would fit the mood of a national protest against Trumpism and the hate-filled monsters who’s life goals are seemingly built around destroying the lives of other people who just want to live free and build a better life for their children.

But, then, I realized I was taking the wrong road.

Continue…Have You Seen The Stars Tonight?

Opinions & Commentary

Jefferson Starship No Kings trump

Published June 5, 2025 by

The Lack of Empathy

Graphic representation of Empathy. Source: https://pixabay.com/illustrations/transformation-emoji-mystery-spirit-857734/
Showing Empathy

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

I’ve been struggling these past months to cope with the ever-swelling horrors of the Trump administration. It’s increasingly difficult to wrap my head around the staggering levels of corruption, viciousness, and pure evil practiced by apparent human beings leading our government. Not to mention, the convivial corruption, viciousness, and pure evil practiced by people seemingly enraptured by the cult of trump.

How in the fuck did we get here?

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Opinions & Commentary

Evil Nazis trump

Published December 17, 2024 by

Living in Fear: Authoritarianism vs Democracy

Fear by Hugo Steiner Prag, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, licensed under CC-CC0 1.0
Fear by Hugo Steiner Prag
Licensed under CC-CC0 1.0

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Until now, I’ve never had any direct experience with living under authoritarianism. However, through both my first and present wife I’ve learned what that life is. Although I grew up in a democracy, I now recognize the key difference between authoritarianism and democracy.

It’s all about living in fear.

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Opinions & Commentary

America Dictatorships trump

Published November 25, 2024 by

An Open Letter To My Senators on Trump’s Nominees

Train wreck at Montparnasse 1895, a metaphor for trump's cabinet nominations.
Trump’s Cabinet Nominations

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

I have been horrified by the train wreck of trump’s nominations for leadership positions in his future administration. While I did not expect much integrity or competence from anyone willing to work for trump, these cabinet posts nominees already exceed my expectations.

Both of my North Carolina senators are Republicans. So, I guess I shouldn’t expect too much of them. But in the fleeting hope that they have some integrity, I decided to write them a letter expressing my feelings. So, here is my open letter to my senators on trump’s nominees.

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Opinions & Commentary

Senate Letter trump

Published November 8, 2024 by

So What Will It Take?

beating my head against a wall, Photo by Ba Tik from Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-punching-gray-wall-3754243/
Beating My Head Against A Wall

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

Just like clockwork, I’m hearing Democrats mouthing the tired old tropes of “if Trump and the Republicans screw up badly enough, people will start electing Democrats.”

Oh, Really? So, what will it take?

Continue…So What Will It Take?

Opinions & Commentary

democrats trump Wishful Thinking

Published October 29, 2024 by

Your Institutions Will Not Save You

Crumbled democratic institutions. Photo by Uğurcan Özmen: https://www.pexels.com/photo/ancient-stone-monuments-in-historical-site-29055855/
Our Democratic Institutions

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Way back in 2016, after Trump “won” the presidential election through minority vote, there were a number of experts on authoritarianism speaking out on the results. One particular writer, Masha Gessen[1], summarized three principles:

  1. Believe the autocrat.
  2. Don’t be taken in by small signs of normality.
  3. Your institutions will not save you.

Gessen was absolutely correct, and his predictions are still playing out eight years later. Especially, “Your institutions will not save you.”

Continue…Your Institutions Will Not Save You
  1. Gessen, M. (2020). Surviving Autocracy. Riverhead Books. [↩]

Opinions & Commentary

American Institutions Democracy trump

Published June 2, 2024 by

The Party of Law and Order

Man in Jail. Photo by Donald Tong: https://www.pexels.com/photo/rear-view-of-a-silhouette-man-in-window-143580/
Looking Out of His Jail Cell

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Last Thursday a jury of twelve New Yorkers decided Donald J. Trump was guilty of 34 felonies. After a lifetime of cheating, stealing, lying, manipulating, and generally being a wretched, reprehensible excuse of a human being, Trump was finally held accountable for his actions.

Since then we have been treated to wall-to-wall nonstop wails of outrage from Trump over the unfairness of being treated like any other American citizen. Even more amazing are the wails of outrage from Republicans. Amazing, because I’m so old I can remember when Republicans claimed to be the party of Law and Order.

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Opinions & Commentary

Republicans trump

Published February 17, 2021 by

Republicans in Flames

Republicans in Flames
Republicans in Flames

From the pages of current news comes several examples of Republicans going up (down) in flames. I keep thinking this is like watching a movie of disaster in slow motion while cute puppy dogs run around yipping at everything and providing comic relief. It’s funny in the sense that the typical Republican official has become so wacked out they don’t even realize how crazy they sound to normal people.

Also too; how mean-spirited, cruel, and just completely out-of-touch with the norms of civilized society these folks seem. So, I feel no remorse in laughing at their self-inflicted immolation.

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Opinions & Commentary

Mitch McConnell Republicans Ted Cruz trump