Landmarks on the road to autocracy

 Here are some landmarks on the road to autocracy.  See whether the US is starting to exhibit some of this in the executive branch:

Reward compliance

Suppress dissent

Weaken or ignore the separation of powers in the Constitution (judicial, legislative, executive), granting more and more powers to the Executive

fire those seen as opposing the president, hire sychophants rather than more qualified people  in their place

discredit and weaken OR control the press

Cause chaos instead of stability

lie to the public

spend more time maintaining power rather than the important issues of the time

attempt to circumvent the law

Declare the need for Emergency Powers even when there is no such situation

attempt to sideline rivals to power – use government resources to attack those against or perceived against the presidency

Scapegoat vulnerable communities

Use violence or threats against opponents

manipulate voting procedures

The US has a new description: "unreliable"

 

The United States is no longer a stable, reliable country. Because we are switching from siding with our military allies to siding with Russia, NATO and other countries are deciding to wean off US military equipment. This is $238 billion per year of sales, now in jeopardy. These countries will just switch to their own production instead.

Because we have started to punish instead of embrace our economic trading partners, they have begun boycotting and putting tariffs on our products.

Because we no longer treat foreigners in our country with respect and stable rules, tourists and potential immigrants have started to go elsewhere.

Because federal employees are being fired without notice and without cause, it will be much more difficult to find qualified, experienced individuals to fill important positions in our government.

Because our current economic planning is so haphazard and opaque, businesses and corporations cannot plan ahead with proper information, because that information no longer exists.

Because US citizens have no way of knowing what may be cut by DOGE next – Medicaid? Medicare? Social Security? - there is real fear for the immediate future by many over whether they will even be able to afford food and rent.

The US Constitution explains in its own words what the purpose of our government is: “in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.” The Trump Administration is taking us into Opposite Land, turning us against each other, demolishing Justice, causing domestic turmoil, endangering our defense, dismantling the general Welfare, and tossing away any hope for the Blessings of Liberty, for ourselves and our children.

The Constitution split power in the federal government into Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches. The Executive is actively attempting to curtail the powers of the Legislative and Judicial. Congress, at least for now, has Constitutional powers to limit this power grab and limit the damage that DOGE's “move fast and break things” actions are doing to us.The Judicial branch has oversight that could limit this carnage as well.  Now we wait to see how wise our Founding Fathers were.

China discovers solar panels help reverse desertification

 https://glassalmanac.com/china-confirms-that-installing-solar-panels-in-deserts-irreversibly-transforms-the-ecosystem/

 

"What’s causing this shift? The solar panels create consistent shade, which helps retain moisture, lower soil temperatures, and reduce evaporation. In arid environments where water is scarce, these subtle changes can make a huge difference—allowing vegetation to flourish and supporting the growth of microorganisms essential for soil health."

 * * * * *

So, not only do you get green energy, you help green the direct environment!  Win Win!

USA 2024 is gone. USA 2025 is a nightmare

 

My view of the United States up to 2025 was that we are a reliable, peaceful, democratic country. Let's take each of those separately to see what has changed.

RELIABILITY

The United States was seen as a reliable trading partner by most countries. Canada, our largest trading partner, is now starting a boycott of our products. Trump's 25% on-again, off-again tariff threat has forced Canada to look elsewhere for trading partners, and retaliate against US tariffs. This is not how reliable trading partners act.

The United States was seen as an ally against foreign threats by many countries. Now, WE are the threat against Canada, Panama, Greenland, and Gaza. Trump has threatened to literally take over each of those countries, and has not ruled out military force to do it. Ukraine felt secure in it's relationship with the United States after it was invaded by Russia. Now the United States is switching sides in that war.

PEACEFUL

President Trump has threatened to take over Canada, Panama, Greenland, and Gaza. He has not ruled out military methods to achieve this. Each rationalization for these takeovers is ridiculous. How are we a peace-loving country when we threaten to go to war with our close allies?

There is a thing called “soft power” that Trump does not even seem to know about. This is where a country's actions and reputation show it to be a helpful, peaceful partner. Countries react to soft power by becoming faithful partners. Trump's only method of communication with other countries seems to be threatening either monetary or military actions.

DEMOCRATIC

Our Constitution splits federal power into Judicial, Legislative, and Executive branches, where each has its own sphere of authority. Each can also serve as a check on the power of the other branches. Trump has completely obliterated this Constitutional system by ramrodding through his own plans and ignoring any idea of shared power. His apparent goal is to dismantle or at least severely damage the agencies that Congress has set up to deal with national problems and issues. Congress, meanwhile, has acquiesced to Trump's destructive actions and ignored it's role in deciding what our tax dollars are spent on.

So now, after just a few short weeks, the United States government is no longer reliable, peaceful, nor democratic, to other countries AND to its own citizens. The citizens are taking to the streets to protest this. But Congress, the branch of government with actual checking powers over the Executive branch, sits submissively as its own creations are dismantled. Why? What strange magic keeps Congress asleep at the wheel? What will this mean for the future of Legislative power? Will we have a king again? I worry.

The New Style of American Foreign Policy

 Donald Trump has made his decision on Ukraine:  "Hey, there's a guy getting beaten up! Let's offer to help him if he promises to give us all the money in his wallet!"  Everything with Trump has to be transactional, where he (or us) comes out on top.  There is no humanity in this.  Russia attacked Ukraine in order to take it over. Ukrainians are literally fighting for their lives.  Trump rushes in and wants to take over their natural resources or he will stop helping them. Welcome to the new Dystopia.

Some useful reading for the coup

Here are some books that will help you work your way through the coup going on in the USA.

Wealth and Democracy, by Kevin Phillips

America in the Gilded Age, by Sean Dennis Cashman

The Power of the Powerless, by Vaclav Havel

How Fascism Works, by Jason Stanley

Soft Power, by Joseph S. Nye, Jr.

Hiding in Plain Sight, by Sarah Kendzior

How to Lose a Country, by Ece Temelkuran

Do the poor need less money? Do the rich need more?

 https://www.huffpost.com/entry/house-republican-budget-tax-cut-medicaid_n_67acd43be4b0239406dec54e

 

"Republicans have openly acknowledged that despite their furious opposition to big budget deficits, they themselves are making no effort to fully offset the cost of their tax cuts. Instead, they have said their proposed changes would boost the economy so much that tax receipts from increased business activity will make up the difference."

 So it's screw the poor, give tax cuts to the rich, and explode the deficit.  And this makes sense how?