From a Letter to a friend
. . .
I am looking to see where and how we might overlap enough about values and insight. If we don’t, so be it. Thinking that political views constitute a decent thumbnail measure of how we treat others, I come at this discussion from that point.
Martin Luther King Day is auspicious for this discussion to begin because, despite his human flaws, he was a soldier for justice. It is also a day of dark irony for the president-elect to be sworn in—about a half hour from now. I am interested in your politics because they bear on how we have seen life and how we hold it going forward.
At the very least, I write today, specifically, because by understanding the state of the country and culture at the beginning of Trump 2.0, we can compare it with whatever will be the end of his time. That is, if we have any reason to communicate in the coming years.
As a basis, I accept that Trump won the 2024 election. On what else do we agree? I will feel good if we are on completely different choices here, but that you see and can accept the failings I enumerate, or some of them. I will feel compassion later on if you accept responsibility for making choices you regret. If you never regret what may be coming down the pike, so be it.
I divide the next sections into the current state of the country (the goalposts), the president-elect, his party apparatus, public policy, and the commandeering of Christian faith as a political tool,
CURRENT STATE OF THE COUNTRY
According to the functioning apparatus of government:
The US economy has recovered the best in the world after COVID
COVID policy worked. Vaccines proved quite effective
Inflation in the US has been brought to near-optimum levels, currently 2.9%, without a (broadly expected) crash/recession
Wage growth has outgained inflation—important regarding the above
Job creation has never been better than in the last four years. Investment in infrastructure will help the country in coming decades
Unemployment is in a strong position and has been for many months
The border infiltration is slightly better than when Trump left office.
Crime is at its lowest point in 50 years (I think it is without digging for it at this moment.)
The last two elections were fairly decided
The US has workable relationships with allies, particularly NATO and ASEAN
The US is respected by our allies and many of the world’s nations.
Biden’s policies have shown investing in the country pays great dividends, crushing all administrations that pushed trickle-down economics.
Financial inequality is at an all-time high
Voter suppression is alive and well in states run by Republicans
Executive branch departments have functioned as they were designed to, within the scope of being chosen by the elected president
The environment is in great trouble due to the burning of fossil fuels
Oil and gas production is at an all-time high
The stock market has performed extremely well these past four years for those with enough money to invest.
Black employment is near an all-time high
There are many more goalpost categories, but this is enough to begin.
If you believe Biden’s government is a deep swamp and these statements are lies, then it will be hard to find a starting point. I will accept your view on this.
THE PRESIDENT-ELECT
I’m interested in how your views of Trump show how you think, how you get your information, and how they determine your values… about what is good for the country, its constitution, democracy, community, and the Rule of Law
We can make this a short exchange IF, for example, you think that the 2020 election was stolen.
Yes? Highlight here.
(Please submit your evidence. I will pass it on to the Justice Department.)
No? Highlight here.
(Please carry on by adding Y or N after each conditional presentation)
If you think FOX NEWS is a dedicated source of true journalism
If Trump was blameless for trying to overturn the 2020 election.
If Trump has never broken (state or federal) laws and his being hauled into court is all the fault of evil prosecutors and people who hate his success.
If Trump is a beacon showing respect for the rule of law and he is truly innocent and a victim
If Trump has an unshakeable instinct to care for the Constitution
If Trump’s pardoning of J-6 convicts is a good idea
If Trump does not demand loyalty and subservience to him as the basis of whom he chooses to implement his policies.
If Trump doesn’t attack others who disagree with him.
If Trump is guided by caring for others and the fair administration of justice.
If Trump treats other points of view with respect and tries to build bridges for the good of the country.
If Trump demonstrates integrity by using his position to sell ’stuff’ that memorializes him to his followers .
If Trump is not a 1) Toxic narcissist, 2) Bully. 3) ——
If Trump’s demeaning anyone who corrects him is a strength
If some of Trump’s choices for cabinet members do not pose a danger to our democracy. You can be specific.
Patel.
Hegseth
Bondi.
Kennedy.
Gabbard.
Extra credit… name your own.
If Trump respects the military, its generals, and the men and women who serve.
If Trump never pulls his truth out of thin air, truth that always supports his perfection and insight into all affairs
If Trump’s behavior is close to Jesus
If Trump shows no tendency toward blatant racism.
If Trump’s affection for dictators in no way indicates his longing for such a position for himself
If Trump has no skill or interest in creating a cult.
If Trump has not created his following with profuse lying and dividing the country, characteristics of fascists-in-training
If Trump truly cares about his followers
If oligarchy is not attractive to him
If stating that those who bring 1 billion dollars to the US is not selling access to power
If Trump will not attack the press that does not flatter him.
I wrote an article for HuffPost regarding his attacks in 2017. You can read it here:
If Trump has no interest in implementing the Insurrection Act
If Trump’s tax cuts paid for themselves
If Blacks and Latinos love Trump
If Trump 1.0 didn’t separate families at the border.
If Trump’s administration shows all the signs of being transparent
If you think this is an exhaustive–as opposed to an exhausting–list
If you don’t understand why any of these being in question is horrifying to many Americans
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY
This political party seems intent on destroying several rights and amendments in the Constitution. I am not a professor but here are a few things that stand out
Separation of church and state
Freedom of speech is contorted to mean free to express ITS views
14th amendment,
Birthright citizenship
One man. one vote
This political party has a strategy of voter suppression renamed (in Orwellian fashion) to mean voting integrity
This political party has a strategy of radical gerrymandering as a means to subvert the will of the electorate
The democratic machine of the 1920s did this. Republicans are looking for workarounds for the laws that followed that illegality
This political party uses science denial when it suits its intent to seize power.
This political party is marinated in hypocrisy regarding the courts
This political party has imbalanced and politicized the courts, the Supreme Court in particular
The Supreme Court has lost much of its credibility
(Do you think this is worth the judicial overreach and its results EG. Is overturning Roe an issue that is worth losing justice?
My opinion? People have a right to be aghast at abortion. In a secular society, a church-founded view that suppresses the right of women to control their destinies has no place in the law)
This political party has—almost to a man and woman—surrendered its vows to the Constitution and now bows down to help create a tyrant.
GOALPOST: At the end of Trump 2.0, we’ll see if there is any affection for justice and the rule of law.
PUBLIC POLICY – a short list of many examples. Which do you believe are good for the US?
Treating immigrants as criminals
Allowing moneyed interests to influence or even run policy
America first isolationism
Abandoning allies and treaties
Letting Russia take Ukraine (and threaten European solidarity)
Letting China take Taiwan
And using those seizures to justify the US threatening independent states in our hemisphere
Removing or emasculating departments that serve the US safety net
Destroying healthcare for millions with no replacement
Balancing tax cuts for the wealthy (oligarchy in process) on the backs of the poor
Attacking “Blue states” when they suffer natural disasters
Ruining departments that serve the public good. EG: EPA, FDA, FBI, the Justice Department, Education,
Abandoning science as a measure of political sanity
Cleaning out career professionals that run the government and replacing them with loyalists regardless of their qualifications
Politicing the Justice Department: If Trump truly was innocent, then Democrats are evil.
If he got caught with his hands, ego, and penis in criminal places, then allow the department to right to investigate
Blocking legislation that would require oversight of corruption at the Supreme Court
Power is the goal. Governance is a lucky by-product
EXTREME ELEMENTS OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
have taken over the Supreme Court, led through the political machinations of several very wealthy Catholics
are pushing to change the Constitution to abandon the separation of church and state
are scheming to make education in the US centered on the Bible
If you can see that many of these points—even hints of them in government of, for, and by the people—are distasteful, then maybe when you say the sky is blue, I will look up and see that it’s true.
If this is all just ugly to you, please say so. If there are no points we can agree on, you will let me know. If you agree with some and say so, you will be a true warrior.
If we don’t carry on, if we can’t communicate about the relative values of this or that, I hope this simple list formed without looking at a note inspires you to reflect now or later about how differently humans can see the world and this blessing of life.
Best to you. Maybe we can be friends in 2028.
Tom