It simply boggles the mind to imagine that enough ill-informed, disinformed, mis-informed, delusional, willfully ignorant, cruel and overtly racist people in America decided to trade in FDR's vision of economic security at home and the shared-with-Churchill Four Freedoms abroad after World War II for THIS.
Those of us in our sixth, seventh decades and more studied history -- we know what the world used to look like and be like. We never thought there would ever come a day when our own allies literally cannot stand the sight of us, when *Canada* would gird itself for god-knows-what or Denmark prepares for a Navy invasion of Greenland. A cabal of 19-year-old brats named 'Big Balls' and other charming epithets of ignorance and arrogance have access to the most private, personal data Americans have, while USAID, the Forest Service, the Consumer Protection Financial Bureau and Department of Education are dissolved illegally with the stroke of a tyrant's pen. A supine Republican Congress crawls on its belly, hoping for the dictator's tidbits or fearing his wrath.
Wake up, America. Once you overcame monstrous demons in Germany, Italy and France. Today, you bring them into the White House through the front door. The spirits of hundreds of thousands of US GIs who died at Normandy, liberating Dachau, Anzio, Iwo Jima, Guadalcanal and Pearl Harbor will not rest at peace until we rid ourselves of this fascist cult of stupid.
Never in my wildest nightmare did I imagine that Canada would ever have to fear invasion by the USA...but here it is. Is Canada now going to have to prepare for war or simply be taken over by the US? Trump and his cohorts get what they want and they seem to want Canada.
I cannot tell you how much I despise Trump/Musk. I cannot tell you how angry, betrayed and demeaned I feel that the American people have placed these two mendacious, greedy, ignorant predators in power. That there seems to be so little outcry from the American people and their representatives in government. That Trump has publicly declared that if Canada does not grovel, capitulate and give him all that he wants, he will take it by force.
What were you thinking America? You saw and suffered Trump's greed and dishonesty- even his criminal convictions- the last time around. You knew who he was. But now he and Musk have had 4 years to plot out all that they are currently putting into place and enacting. This didn't happen overnight. This has been long-planned and prepared and with Trump's election is now being put into action.
Either Trump's election win is a well thought out, planned and executed fraud led by Musk or this is truly what the American people wanted. Maybe both. You could have had Kamala Harris but you chose Trump. Shame on you. Shame.
Brutus' actions actually ENDED the Roman republic he thought he would save. Shakespeare's Julius Caesar is clear on that point. It opened a power vacuum into which stepped Marc Antony, Octavius, and two different disposable third members. Eventually Octavius won, and Rome became ruled by Emperors with a rubberstamping senate of the elites.
FDR lived through the Russia revolution, and, the rise of Hitler and Stalin. Because America's leaders are beholding to the American oligarchs and because the six Christian Nationalists on the Supreme Court have placed their religious beliefs above the Constitution, America is destined to become an authoritarian theocracy. Just like Putin's Russia, the military will follow orders as long as they are paid so the rich will become richer, the middle class will become smaller and the poor will become larger.
True that FDR lived through those times -though I think what made the New Deal possible, was that the people lived through the crashes wrought by runaway capitalism and were desperate for improvement and willing to embrace the New Deal. I fear we may face a period of extended suffering before enough people are willing to turn their backs on the lies of Trumpism.
America is basically caught between an unscrupulous dictator (Trump) and the inaction of the Republican Party to do anything at all to reign him. The constitution is being destroyed and our democracy decimated on a daily basis. As a Democrat I feel rage and helplessness at the inability of the Democratic Party to do anything to counter all of this. The courts fights are necessary but we all know that Trump is not heeding any of the judicial decisions that are being handed down. So now what do we do about all of this? I don't think we will have an election in two years and that Trump is planning on abolishing Congress if a shutdown ensues this month. He will use this as an excuse to do so and that will be the end. He has his loyalists in charge of our military, CIA, and FBI and has literally no brakes in sight if he wants to do this. Unless by some miracle a few Republicans grow a spine and we could get Trump impeached and out of office now, I don't see a different scenario for the future of our democracy.
You do not need to solely count on the Democratic party, you can count on yourself standing side by side with the rest of the U.S. citizens who share your concerns and outrage.
Do not underestimate your power. You, along with the rest of us, have the power to bring the economy to a grinding halt through sustained boycotts, targeted sustained "sick" days, etc. -- in other words, participating in national strikes.
Below is some information about activities and movements that others have shared with me. I'm sure there are gobs more, and hopefully people will share additional info:
Also, pay attention for local activities. I don't know if you're near your state's capital, but often times that's a hub for activity.
If you have mobility issues or are concerned about being out on the streets, you can still participate in boycotts or "sick" days at home.
Additionally, it's VERY important to spread the word (don't assume others know about any given strike/boycott) and ask others to spread the word as well.
One last thing. When reading about the long-term or far-reaching goals of some of these groups, don't obsess on what you might not agree with. I think it's pretty safe to say we're all sort of focused on the same priorities for the immediate future, and THAT'S what's important.
Thank you for this clear and thoughtful article . ONE of the questions so frequently on my mind, is how can SO MANY ( all, virtually) of the Republicans in Congress continue to go along, and not challenge these actions of Trump and Musk, when so many of the orders and actions coming from the oval office care illegal and unconstitutional. This has to be more than a fear of "being primaried"?? How do we have so many elected officials that have no regard for the rule of law and the US Constitution?
(Hello, Cousin James!) (FDR was my mother Laura Delano's second cousin)
Your piece is true, and interesting -- however, it leaves me still feeling deeply uneasy and frightened.
HOW DO WE STOP THIS CONSTITUTIONAL COUP? Are you working with the ACLU? (contact their Executive Director if you have not done so already. The ACLU is lobbing hundreds of lawsuits at the criminals; I hope it will be effective, but fear the law may be ignored by the lawless bunch of crooks running things).
WE CITIZENS NEED AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO PREVENT THE END OF OUR GOVERNMENT. NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TO DO OR HOW TO DO IT.
Do you have any insights on this? Please reply. Kate Delano-Condax Decker
interesting comments...now, would we be committing a coup on the current government or would we be committing a coup on a coup? I know this question sounds silly but it's bugged me for some time because I don't want to be accused of breaking the law.
Thanks for your reply --At this moment, I do not see how this horrifying situation can be resolved. I only know it must be done legally, using the tools of our Democracy and Constitution:
1. Equal Protection under the Law, and no one above the law.
2. Free and fair Vote for every citizen, and no impeded Elections.
The Executive Director of the ACLU, ANTHONY ROMERO, spoke in a great interview on Sunday, interviewed by David Remnick -- on podcasts now and worth hearing in my view.
I fear that free and fair elections are no longer. I also fear that our legal system is breaking down. Watch how scotus handles Trump's request re the TRO case
lower court issued a restraining order on firing of doj whistle blower/ethics attorney....then appeals court denied Trump's request to override the TRO...so Trump's asking scotus to intervene
The only way to get right-wing Congress critters to act responsibly for their constituents is for those constituents to complain about how the implementation of Project 2025 is negatively affecting them.
Of course, that means they must have access to accurate news that they will believe, and if they start demonstrating, the military is not used to put down the pro-democracy movement.
Citizens are now beginning to feel the adverse effects of the senseless destruction of the institutions that are meant to safeguard public safety, public health, and national economic strength.
A new agenda of Renewal & Reform can be informed by George Lakey's book, "Viking Economics". Like the U.S. today, Norway a century ago suffered from an extreme wealth gap, and widespread dissatisfaction with the status quo. Organized Labor led a nonviolent movement that brought about the "Nordic Model" of an economy that supports fairness and freedom. Scandinavian countries now consistently top the lists of countries that are happiest, most prosperous, most family-friendly... I've heard Lakey talk about how difficult times (like these) serve as a "forge" from which great change can be created. But it's up to us to -- as Simon Rosenberg says -- PROpose the change we envision, not just Oppose the change that's being imposed. This post about FDR's Economic Bill of Rights makes me think we need exactly that, again. An Economic Bill of Rights that amplifies the American values of Fairness and Freedom.
Venture capitalist Nick Hanauer's TED talk tells the dirty little secret of neoliberal economics. It should be required listening (or reading; there's a transcript) for every Democrat who wants to win back the working class.
"Rising inequality and growing political instability are the direct result of decades of bad economic theory, says entrepreneur Nick Hanauer. In a visionary talk, he dismantles the mantra that "greed is good" -- an idea he describes as not only morally corrosive, but also scientifically wrong -- and lays out a new theory of economics powered by reciprocity and cooperation."
We Democrats have to do more than just slow and stop Trump/Musk implementing Project 2025; we must have a Project 2027 and Project 2029. Learn from them. They not only won, they had a plan of what to do if they won. LBJ knew when he became president he had only about six months to get the Civil Rights Bill passed. After six months the opposition has organized and are ready to obstruct. We have to not only win, but have in place a plan of what we hope to accomplish. FDR taught us that you must plan and that if one plan fails to pass you don't sit and whine, you immediately start trying to pass other plans..The value of history is that it is not only interesting and entertaining, but more important--history teaches if you will let it. Gary E. Trawick-Burgaw NC; Email: burgawcreek@icloud.com
I just finished reading Jean Edward Smith's biography, FDR, and I marvel at the kindness and courage your grandparents exhibited in creating the New Deal that left an amazing legacy and lesson for all of us. What intrigues me most is why Franklin, when personally witnessing people during the Depression starving and digging through garbage cans for food or who lost life savings in banks foreclosed, he had the empathy and intelligence to recognize the problem and make legislative decisions that would adversely affect his own wealth in the interest of the downtrodden public. Why is it that Donald Trump makes the opposite conclusion that his own position in life was of his own doing and that the rest are 'losers' and deserve nothing. Hearing your own concerns makes me think that this trait is genetic but I suspect more likely it is due to your amazing grandparents and parents examples and life lessons taught that impacted you most. Thank you for your writing.
Nice History lesson on FDR. And actually written by his descendants!
But we also need to keep in mind that a (New) New Deal needs to come with stories of real people's impacts of Project 2025, and how this new version of the "Economic Bill of Rights" can be implemented
Every Trump accusation is to be understood as an admission: "people with ‘severe intellectual’ and ‘psychiatric’ disabilities” is about as clear of an admission as one could find.
And of course these men have left out the actual architect of the New Deal: Francis Perkins. Where are her children and grandchildren in your paean to your dads and grandfathers? Misogyny much?? Entitled male jerks.
The subhead on this article includes the statement "Here's what must replace it", but like most summary analyses this article recounts the current state of affairs and how a past leader addressed inequities, but offers readers no actionable way to deal with the situation we're in now. At this point, anyone who follows mainstream media has a pretty good idea why Trump was elected and the havoc he has been wreaking during the past month with little regard for his base.
Other than politicians requesting donations to get more Democrats elected and a few demonstrations I have not seen much in the way of suggestions about how citizens can take positive action.
Right. I am donating to multiple candidates and organizations (noting that each donation brings requests from additional candidates and organizations), but what seems lacking in the appeals and articles is what actions individuals like us can take other than sending money.
It simply boggles the mind to imagine that enough ill-informed, disinformed, mis-informed, delusional, willfully ignorant, cruel and overtly racist people in America decided to trade in FDR's vision of economic security at home and the shared-with-Churchill Four Freedoms abroad after World War II for THIS.
Those of us in our sixth, seventh decades and more studied history -- we know what the world used to look like and be like. We never thought there would ever come a day when our own allies literally cannot stand the sight of us, when *Canada* would gird itself for god-knows-what or Denmark prepares for a Navy invasion of Greenland. A cabal of 19-year-old brats named 'Big Balls' and other charming epithets of ignorance and arrogance have access to the most private, personal data Americans have, while USAID, the Forest Service, the Consumer Protection Financial Bureau and Department of Education are dissolved illegally with the stroke of a tyrant's pen. A supine Republican Congress crawls on its belly, hoping for the dictator's tidbits or fearing his wrath.
Wake up, America. Once you overcame monstrous demons in Germany, Italy and France. Today, you bring them into the White House through the front door. The spirits of hundreds of thousands of US GIs who died at Normandy, liberating Dachau, Anzio, Iwo Jima, Guadalcanal and Pearl Harbor will not rest at peace until we rid ourselves of this fascist cult of stupid.
Never in my wildest nightmare did I imagine that Canada would ever have to fear invasion by the USA...but here it is. Is Canada now going to have to prepare for war or simply be taken over by the US? Trump and his cohorts get what they want and they seem to want Canada.
I cannot tell you how much I despise Trump/Musk. I cannot tell you how angry, betrayed and demeaned I feel that the American people have placed these two mendacious, greedy, ignorant predators in power. That there seems to be so little outcry from the American people and their representatives in government. That Trump has publicly declared that if Canada does not grovel, capitulate and give him all that he wants, he will take it by force.
What were you thinking America? You saw and suffered Trump's greed and dishonesty- even his criminal convictions- the last time around. You knew who he was. But now he and Musk have had 4 years to plot out all that they are currently putting into place and enacting. This didn't happen overnight. This has been long-planned and prepared and with Trump's election is now being put into action.
Either Trump's election win is a well thought out, planned and executed fraud led by Musk or this is truly what the American people wanted. Maybe both. You could have had Kamala Harris but you chose Trump. Shame on you. Shame.
OMG. Slam dunk!
Stop asking where are the democrats and start blaming republicans. They can fix this. They don't.
They have the power, but the chaos is what they wanted.
From Shakesphere, a quote, "et tu Brute". Where is our Brutus?
Brutus' actions actually ENDED the Roman republic he thought he would save. Shakespeare's Julius Caesar is clear on that point. It opened a power vacuum into which stepped Marc Antony, Octavius, and two different disposable third members. Eventually Octavius won, and Rome became ruled by Emperors with a rubberstamping senate of the elites.
Thank you for that clarification....I stand expertly corrected.
FDR lived through the Russia revolution, and, the rise of Hitler and Stalin. Because America's leaders are beholding to the American oligarchs and because the six Christian Nationalists on the Supreme Court have placed their religious beliefs above the Constitution, America is destined to become an authoritarian theocracy. Just like Putin's Russia, the military will follow orders as long as they are paid so the rich will become richer, the middle class will become smaller and the poor will become larger.
True that FDR lived through those times -though I think what made the New Deal possible, was that the people lived through the crashes wrought by runaway capitalism and were desperate for improvement and willing to embrace the New Deal. I fear we may face a period of extended suffering before enough people are willing to turn their backs on the lies of Trumpism.
I think the choice is between a Dark Tech Oligarchy or an authoritarian theocracy....take your pick... which is worse?
Most of this is pure bull.
America is basically caught between an unscrupulous dictator (Trump) and the inaction of the Republican Party to do anything at all to reign him. The constitution is being destroyed and our democracy decimated on a daily basis. As a Democrat I feel rage and helplessness at the inability of the Democratic Party to do anything to counter all of this. The courts fights are necessary but we all know that Trump is not heeding any of the judicial decisions that are being handed down. So now what do we do about all of this? I don't think we will have an election in two years and that Trump is planning on abolishing Congress if a shutdown ensues this month. He will use this as an excuse to do so and that will be the end. He has his loyalists in charge of our military, CIA, and FBI and has literally no brakes in sight if he wants to do this. Unless by some miracle a few Republicans grow a spine and we could get Trump impeached and out of office now, I don't see a different scenario for the future of our democracy.
Zelda,
You do not need to solely count on the Democratic party, you can count on yourself standing side by side with the rest of the U.S. citizens who share your concerns and outrage.
Do not underestimate your power. You, along with the rest of us, have the power to bring the economy to a grinding halt through sustained boycotts, targeted sustained "sick" days, etc. -- in other words, participating in national strikes.
Below is some information about activities and movements that others have shared with me. I'm sure there are gobs more, and hopefully people will share additional info:
https://events.pol-rev.com/
https://theonecalledjai.com/
https://generalstrikeus.com/
Also, pay attention for local activities. I don't know if you're near your state's capital, but often times that's a hub for activity.
If you have mobility issues or are concerned about being out on the streets, you can still participate in boycotts or "sick" days at home.
Additionally, it's VERY important to spread the word (don't assume others know about any given strike/boycott) and ask others to spread the word as well.
One last thing. When reading about the long-term or far-reaching goals of some of these groups, don't obsess on what you might not agree with. I think it's pretty safe to say we're all sort of focused on the same priorities for the immediate future, and THAT'S what's important.
sometimes it needs to get much worse... such is life
Thank you for this clear and thoughtful article . ONE of the questions so frequently on my mind, is how can SO MANY ( all, virtually) of the Republicans in Congress continue to go along, and not challenge these actions of Trump and Musk, when so many of the orders and actions coming from the oval office care illegal and unconstitutional. This has to be more than a fear of "being primaried"?? How do we have so many elected officials that have no regard for the rule of law and the US Constitution?
Read Dana Milbank’s book “The Destructionists: The Twenty-Five Year Crack-Up of the Republican Party.”
(Hello, Cousin James!) (FDR was my mother Laura Delano's second cousin)
Your piece is true, and interesting -- however, it leaves me still feeling deeply uneasy and frightened.
HOW DO WE STOP THIS CONSTITUTIONAL COUP? Are you working with the ACLU? (contact their Executive Director if you have not done so already. The ACLU is lobbing hundreds of lawsuits at the criminals; I hope it will be effective, but fear the law may be ignored by the lawless bunch of crooks running things).
WE CITIZENS NEED AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO PREVENT THE END OF OUR GOVERNMENT. NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TO DO OR HOW TO DO IT.
Do you have any insights on this? Please reply. Kate Delano-Condax Decker
interesting comments...now, would we be committing a coup on the current government or would we be committing a coup on a coup? I know this question sounds silly but it's bugged me for some time because I don't want to be accused of breaking the law.
Thanks for your reply --At this moment, I do not see how this horrifying situation can be resolved. I only know it must be done legally, using the tools of our Democracy and Constitution:
1. Equal Protection under the Law, and no one above the law.
2. Free and fair Vote for every citizen, and no impeded Elections.
The Executive Director of the ACLU, ANTHONY ROMERO, spoke in a great interview on Sunday, interviewed by David Remnick -- on podcasts now and worth hearing in my view.
What are your thoughts?
I fear that free and fair elections are no longer. I also fear that our legal system is breaking down. Watch how scotus handles Trump's request re the TRO case
I am ignorant of the TRO case -- ?
lower court issued a restraining order on firing of doj whistle blower/ethics attorney....then appeals court denied Trump's request to override the TRO...so Trump's asking scotus to intervene
Thank you for this. I didn't know about it. (If packing the SC is legal, I wonder why no one has ever done it?)
The only way to get right-wing Congress critters to act responsibly for their constituents is for those constituents to complain about how the implementation of Project 2025 is negatively affecting them.
Of course, that means they must have access to accurate news that they will believe, and if they start demonstrating, the military is not used to put down the pro-democracy movement.
Citizens are now beginning to feel the adverse effects of the senseless destruction of the institutions that are meant to safeguard public safety, public health, and national economic strength.
A new agenda of Renewal & Reform can be informed by George Lakey's book, "Viking Economics". Like the U.S. today, Norway a century ago suffered from an extreme wealth gap, and widespread dissatisfaction with the status quo. Organized Labor led a nonviolent movement that brought about the "Nordic Model" of an economy that supports fairness and freedom. Scandinavian countries now consistently top the lists of countries that are happiest, most prosperous, most family-friendly... I've heard Lakey talk about how difficult times (like these) serve as a "forge" from which great change can be created. But it's up to us to -- as Simon Rosenberg says -- PROpose the change we envision, not just Oppose the change that's being imposed. This post about FDR's Economic Bill of Rights makes me think we need exactly that, again. An Economic Bill of Rights that amplifies the American values of Fairness and Freedom.
Venture capitalist Nick Hanauer's TED talk tells the dirty little secret of neoliberal economics. It should be required listening (or reading; there's a transcript) for every Democrat who wants to win back the working class.
"Rising inequality and growing political instability are the direct result of decades of bad economic theory, says entrepreneur Nick Hanauer. In a visionary talk, he dismantles the mantra that "greed is good" -- an idea he describes as not only morally corrosive, but also scientifically wrong -- and lays out a new theory of economics powered by reciprocity and cooperation."
https://www.ted.com/talks/nick_hanauer_beware_fellow_plutocrats_the_pitchforks_are_coming
We Democrats have to do more than just slow and stop Trump/Musk implementing Project 2025; we must have a Project 2027 and Project 2029. Learn from them. They not only won, they had a plan of what to do if they won. LBJ knew when he became president he had only about six months to get the Civil Rights Bill passed. After six months the opposition has organized and are ready to obstruct. We have to not only win, but have in place a plan of what we hope to accomplish. FDR taught us that you must plan and that if one plan fails to pass you don't sit and whine, you immediately start trying to pass other plans..The value of history is that it is not only interesting and entertaining, but more important--history teaches if you will let it. Gary E. Trawick-Burgaw NC; Email: burgawcreek@icloud.com
I just finished reading Jean Edward Smith's biography, FDR, and I marvel at the kindness and courage your grandparents exhibited in creating the New Deal that left an amazing legacy and lesson for all of us. What intrigues me most is why Franklin, when personally witnessing people during the Depression starving and digging through garbage cans for food or who lost life savings in banks foreclosed, he had the empathy and intelligence to recognize the problem and make legislative decisions that would adversely affect his own wealth in the interest of the downtrodden public. Why is it that Donald Trump makes the opposite conclusion that his own position in life was of his own doing and that the rest are 'losers' and deserve nothing. Hearing your own concerns makes me think that this trait is genetic but I suspect more likely it is due to your amazing grandparents and parents examples and life lessons taught that impacted you most. Thank you for your writing.
I had hoped that the authors would have given some details or concrete ideas on how to apply their suggestion into practical applications.
Nice History lesson on FDR. And actually written by his descendants!
But we also need to keep in mind that a (New) New Deal needs to come with stories of real people's impacts of Project 2025, and how this new version of the "Economic Bill of Rights" can be implemented
Every Trump accusation is to be understood as an admission: "people with ‘severe intellectual’ and ‘psychiatric’ disabilities” is about as clear of an admission as one could find.
And of course these men have left out the actual architect of the New Deal: Francis Perkins. Where are her children and grandchildren in your paean to your dads and grandfathers? Misogyny much?? Entitled male jerks.
https://francesperkinscenter.org/learn/her-life/
The subhead on this article includes the statement "Here's what must replace it", but like most summary analyses this article recounts the current state of affairs and how a past leader addressed inequities, but offers readers no actionable way to deal with the situation we're in now. At this point, anyone who follows mainstream media has a pretty good idea why Trump was elected and the havoc he has been wreaking during the past month with little regard for his base.
Other than politicians requesting donations to get more Democrats elected and a few demonstrations I have not seen much in the way of suggestions about how citizens can take positive action.
I donated to Democracy Forward, which is bringing cases in the courts
I donated (became a member) at Democracy Docket, which is fighting in the courts for voting rights.
I will do more as I discern where my actions and my money can be effective.
Right. I am donating to multiple candidates and organizations (noting that each donation brings requests from additional candidates and organizations), but what seems lacking in the appeals and articles is what actions individuals like us can take other than sending money.