Burning down the house

It’s really a strange feeling to have friends ask, “So, how are you dealing with things?” in reference to the ongoing barrage of Trump attacks on our government and his enemies.

I usually take a deep breath and say I first focus on what I’m grateful for, like still having free speech and the ability to vote, and a great community and environment in which to live.  That keeps me on the happy and somewhat optimistic side of thinking.

But of course there are those attacks I mentioned and the need to not let what one’s grateful for slip away by avoiding it (the news), or feeling helpless (consider being a Venezuelan or Russian citizen). We can still voice our concerns to our elected officials by calling them, trying to stay informed and staying healthy so as to have energy for this fight.

Currently, I’m focusing on the Trump/Musk alliance. Both men have managed to maneuver into a spot where they can control the one thing that could control them, the government. Once you are in Trump’s position and have an ally with a similar problem set (being investigated) and similar skills, AND you have billions, you can then maneuver into a competitive authoritarian type of position.

Meaning this is where you can compete in elections, but as a billionaire incumbent with the richest man in the world as a partner, your abuses of power (pick any of Trump’s latest) then tilts the playing field to your advantage. I think that’s why we see Trump broadly attacking science, diversity, reporters and civil service/rights – the base of our democracy. 

Specifically, in the areas of transportation, interior, justice, agricultural, labor, equal employment, securities and exchange, defense, elections and government ethics. Not ironically, these are the agencies that are investigating Musk and his companies and have been a thorn in Trump’s side. 

So how to get rid of a thorn? Pull it out, like exempting Musk’s DOGE agency from FOIA requests, controlling the Justice Department with loyalists and de-funding Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.  This is about “efficiency” as Musk and Trump have said – efficiency in making the government serve the needs of you and your loyalists.

Pay attention, act and be grateful that even if the house is on fire, together we can try to save it from burning to the ground.

– Tim Thomas, Durango