Month: May 2025

The Greatest Steal: American Liberty

“Sell not liberty to purchase power.” ~ Benjamin Franklin

Freedom loving Americans feel the crumbling foundation of what generations of Americans strove to create and preserve: a republic founded on principles of freedom and fairness. A governance structure that protects the rights of everyone and works for the betterment of its people and people everywhere.

We are not a naive people yet even the most politically active citizen and public servant is in a state of shock as we watch the brazen violation of our laws to achieve another kind of society with autocratic governance. A nation not conceived in liberty but rather for control of the individual by the powerful.

There are no words to describe how I feel at this moment. It is like watching someone you love being drawn and quartered. Our collective screams and sobs are everywhere now as the full impact of destruction becomes apparent.

To listen to Donald Trump rant and rave, burble and goo, to witness his making a travesty of our seats of government, throw off and denigrate our allies and alliances bought with the blood of Americans, is simply a horror.

Behind him are the men and women doing the hacking and imprisoning: Steven Miller, Kristy Noem, Pam Bondi, and the king of it all, Russell Vought. Like automatons with weapons they bow and scrape in front of the menace while checking off their list of targets. Vought is the man behind the Project 2025, their Playbook of Terribles. Developed with the Heritage Foundation, Project 2025 intends to create what it believes was the true America. But it has been corrupted with Christian Nationalism and white male supremacy and turns its blade to people it perceives as enemies and to the “other”.

There is only this now: rise and go forth and join the growing throngs of Americans willing to lay down their lives and livelihoods for Liberty. Rise and never rest until the whole lot of the MAGAs are removed. Then we must rebuild all that has been destroyed and with greater energy and purpose.

The price of freedom is eternal vigilance. We know that now.

History and Justice

Settling in for the Long Haul

M. Scott Momaday

I am reposting a tribute I wrote upon the passing of N. Scott Momaday. His writing and wisdom have long inspired me. In his memoir A Man Made of Words, and in the Pulitzer- winning novel, House Made of Dawn, Momaday reflects on how his writing evolved and about living on Earth at this time in history. The post includes videos of Momaday reading his work to students. This time in American history I believe he gives us sound wisdom to follow. Listen in to an iconic American writer and long-seer by clicking on the post above. See if you agree with me that is wisdom is the antidote for an age of destruction.

In America the Law is King

Quote by Thomas Paine in Common Sense

Numerous laws have been broken or called into question by the current people play-acting as administration. It might be comical if not so detrimental to so many Americans and families abroad who were receiving medical and educational assistance from the real government of the U.S.A. Never has there been assembled a less capable cabinet.

But, the main distraction in the Oval Office, pulls attention away from the real danger in our midst: Project 2025, carried out at the direction of Russell Vought and Steven Miller. A third force is the Heritage Foundation which describes the assault on the U.S. government as the “Golden Age” (Kevin Roberts, President of said foundation, on Meet the Press last week.)

Project 2025 is the Trojan Horse for ideological imposition on the citizens of this country. That ideology is Christian Nationalism. I cannot describe how much of America’s lifeblood is pouring into this battle in thousands of communities across our nation where citizens are fighting back.

Through Executive Orders and in the One Big Beautiful Bill moving now through the House of Representatives, our democracy is being replaced with an autocratic regime which seeks to impose its values and prejudices on all the rest of us. White male dominance is at its core.

Cuts to Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, loss of funding to farmers, veterans, disabled individuals, and heinous deportations of lawful immigrants are just part of the sludge choking the veins of America.

I recommend reading The Project by David Graham to understand the blueprint of the MAGA Republican plan.

Pronouncements are not laws. Still …

Trump’s gusher of executive decrees cannot conceal that he has been spectacularly inept in effectuating many of his objectives, nor can they mask Congress’s fecklessness. It has passed only 5 bills this year, several of which merely express disapproval of regulations.

We have a do-nothing Congress, a president claiming bizarre, unlimited powers to pursue revenge, but—thank goodness—judges across the country who appear determined to protect our constitutional system from Trump’s predations. If it rediscovers its constitutional responsibilities, Congress might tip the balance in favor of the rule of law. ~ The Contrarian, May 5, 2025

At the same time, this fact should not relieve us of the citizen imperative that is before everyone of us. In my own city and region, DEI policies in public schools are on the block with many school boards already voting to end this policy; citizens are losing jobs and food security is rising as USDA and USAID have weakened food programs such as SNAP and farmers’ markets that they depend on to stay in business. Veterans have lost jobs and services; healthcare is being withdrawn or removed altogether.

Disinformation abounds. Public education and higher education are threatened with loss of funding if they do not comply with executive orders coming down in a steady stream, day to day. A chill has fallen over press staffs in our local media for fear of retribution or loss of income. It is all illegal yet, overwhelmed and generally underfunded even in a democratic space, these key institution for a strong democracy are failing. Some are forming alliances to resist the threats from a rogue leader and administration, but we need more and better coordinated mass action.

The Weekend Show: Project 2025 Discussed with David Graham, Author of The Project.