Family, friends, nature, books, writing, a good pen and journal, freedom of thought, culture, and peaceful co-relations - these are the things that occupy my mind, my heart, my time...
Back Bay Wildlife Refuge, Virginia Beach, VA – photo by Susan Feathers 2022
Another steal from the American Public is the legislation in a massive reconciliation bill currently being debated in a Republican led Congress. Because it is a “reconciliation bill” it can pass with a simple majority which the MAGA Republicans currently enjoy. No Democrats are part of the discussion by design. Yesterday, it came to light that over the next decade, 258M acres (40% of all public lands) will be sold to the highest bidders in another twisted method (aka putting 14M people at risk of losing medical care) to save a buck. Why? All to give the richest Americans tax relief.
What are public lands? When the U.S. became a union, there were vast stretches of land and waters in each state or region that states agreed to give to the new government to manage. Few if any Euro-Americans knew much about these habitats and bioregions. Native American tribes lived on what became public lands, which their descendants stewarded over millennia on this continent.
Now these lands are not only at risk of being sold, some of them carry mandates for extraction of minerals and logging quotas.
The Constitution of the United States of America was written and approved by a body of men representing people whose life experience had been lived in the shadow of monarchies and despots of Europe who had ruled for millennia.
These men created a form of government, a republic, that is democratic and representational. It’s organizing principle is the “separation of powers.”
The separation of powers distributes legal authority among three core function of governance: 1) legislative; 3) executive; 4) judicial. This is the backbone of our form of democracy that specifically addresses the experience and fear of our Founders that the executive could become vested with too much power.
In June of 2025 the American government has rested power from the legislature and challenges the Supreme Court for ever greater executive power under Donald J. Trump. He openly defies the laws set forth in the Constitution.
The MAGA movement, MAGA Republicans (a right-wing Christian Nationalism movement) masquerading as the Grand Old Republican Party, bows to Trump and follows his every wish. These then are enemies of democracy in power in Washington and across Republican states.
Since taking office in January of 2025, and through hundreds of Executive Orders, Trump and his administration are openly defying the Constitution. The American public, including many people who voted for this president, are waking up to the daily assaults on our freedoms and exercise of justice under the law. Our rights as citizens are being eroded by this steady chipping away at the principles of justice and fairness that have been the bulwark of our constitutional form of governance.
On top of this is a president who does not know history, law, or the long held democratic norms of behavior established through 250 years of democratic governance and public life. Democratic values are under assault under his autocratic behavior and intent.
So tomorrow on Flag Day, a celebration of the establishment of the U.S. Army and the hallowed flag of America, a massive military parade with tanks and guns will fill the streets of our capitol with the self- appointed king in tow.
Join millions of freedom loving Americans turning out across our nation to celebrate No Kings Day – a peaceful demonstration by Americans who love democracy and will stand strong to prevent its demise at the hands of a would-be emperor. Maybe then you’ll notice, his intent is naked before us.
“In the final analysis, a democratic government represents the sum total of the courage and the integrity of its individuals. It cannot be better than they are.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
I love this quote by Eleanor Roosevelt for its wisdom and emphasis that our government, our democracy, is no better and no worse than each of us.
My parents, born during the Depression, taught their daughters that being in a democracy requires us to do our part in exercising the rights of citizens. They were always engaged in voting, reading history and political analysis. Wherever we lived (we moved frequently as a military family), my parents joined a church community, showed up at PTA and school functions, and loved engaging with neighbors. Of course there was a web of relationships because TV was just three major channels, and Americans on the whole shared similar beliefs about democracy no matter their declared political party.
True Story: My great grandfather on my Dad’s side of the family tree was Andrew Jackson Feathers. He was a small farmer in East Tennessee and, according to Dad, a real raconteur of his village (Watauga). My Dad as a young boy accompanied Andy Jackson on his horse drawn wagon filled with fresh produce from his farm. They would stop at small markets in the hollers and hills in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. At each stop, there would be an ongoing discussion among locals about politics, economics and news of the day. Dad was an active listener and adopted the habit of engagement in his time and government.
Gatherings were common in my family. We entertained ourselves with lively discussions.
We need to think clearly about the elements of our current social structure on the family to federal levels. What was working in a time when we shared the basic beliefs about democratic governance sans party considerations?
It’s easy to grow sentimental about the “good old days” which of course were not good for many Americans. But, I think there was something very wholesome about America when we actually all agreed that democracy was a precious thing worthy of protection and the exercise of its basic principles.
“Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, With conquering limbs astride from land to land; Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame. “Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” – Emma Lazarus, 1883
Abraham Verghese, Physician and world renowned author, gave a brilliant and timely graduation address at Harvard which will long ring with clarity about what the American people and government intended to create and preserve.
The gentle quiet voice of truth and wisdom reminds his audience what America is about and how immigrants are central to America’s strength and social compact for the betterment of all who come to these shores to make a life.
“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.
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.
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.
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.
Susan Feathers 