In Trump's America, Who Is in Charge?

Donald J. Trump is the President of the United States. He is also the main subject of every American newscast or news analysis, 24-7-365, as if the Trump Presidency were a reality TV show that, like most such programming, bears little resemblance to the real world most of us see around us every day. His show is both a fantasy and a horror show, depending upon where you stand politically, morally, and ethically. Here I am, back in the blog business after a hiatis of a year and a half, and so far every one of my blogs has been about him—I am as guilty as everybody else of being obsessed with understanding Donald Trump's America. Part of that comes from learning that my family in Holland tell me they no longer recognize America. They used to think of American idealism and American generosity and American leadership as things to be admired. They used to dream of wonderful visits to our country. All that is gone now and they do not know if it will ever come back. They do know it will go farther away as long as Trump remains President, and they fear that outcome on November 3. Because Donald John Trump is an anarchist in the worst sense of the word. He wants to break the post office. He wants to break the health care system, break Social Security, break MediCare. He has already broken the Iran nuclear proliferation treaty and pulled us out of the Paris Climate Accords, effectively crippling both. He gave a temporary tax break to everyone but a permanent tax break to the rich. He outsources his own companies to foreign lands using foreign workers. He encouraged separating young children from their parents at the United States border and tried his best to keep Muslim visitors and potential new citizens from coming to America. In less than four years in office, he has built five new miles of his fabled Wall, part of which is in danger of crumbling due to shoddy workmanship by one of his cronies. He sends federal law enforcement to cities that do not want his “help” to patrol the streets uninvited. He was impeached (granted, all three presidential impeachment trials ended in partisan acquittal). At the very least, he encouraged foreign intervention in our elections—twice. He inherited a robust economy from his democratic predecessor, but now faces an economic crisis due to Covid-19 that has cost six million jobs, yet he campaigns on how good things were in February. Speaking of Covid, on his watch 187,000 plus Amerricans have perished from the disease, a disproportionate total among the world's nations—in fact, with 4% of the world's population we have 24% of the known cases and 22% of the deaths. Meanwhile, he wants to cut down on testing for the disease because increased testing means higher numbers still, which looks bad for him. He touts miracles and promises a vaccine before the end of the year, echoing past presidents and their empty promises. Re-elect me, and I will do this. Worse, Trump tells us that what is happening on our streets and in our homes right now is what is going to happen under a Biden administration, as if he were not president at all but the man running for the job fresh and without a track record we can readily see. Mr. President, it's bad now. You thrive on devisiveness, and we have it in bucket loads. It feels as though you want our streets to become battlegrounds, to further your agenda and give you legal cause to entrench your power. Your presidency is a disaster. You are like the new frat boy who will do anything to get in with the wealthy and popular kids. They let you play in their league because they think they can control you, but that is a terrible mistake. Reader, if you think I am overstating my case, lets see what America looks like on November 4.