The (Dis)United States of America is racing towards autocracy, a stunning turn of events when you see that the White House, Senate and House are all under Republican control. Historians will be working around the clock trying to understand how the Republican Party, in a few short years, got to the point where their loyalty is to one person and not the constitution.
Trump in his first Presidency had, in his cabinet, a number of qualified people, people who could actually do their jobs.
They were prepared to tug the forelock and bow down to the greatness of Trump. However when Trump found out that they still had some morals and didn’t do exactly what he wanted he fired them.
They quickly went from being the very best to the very worst in Trump’s view.
Unswerving loyalty
When he returned to the White House he decided that the only thing that matters is unswerving loyalty to the all-powerful leader, (a mischievous person may use the German translation).
Trump welcomed into his cabinet people who were comfortable with ‘kissing the ring’ and shouting from the rooftops how great, super, fantastic, intelligent, athletic etc Trump is.
Competence, ability and qualifications are totally unimportant as long as you keep lauding Donald Trump’.
Now, thanks to the universe (well Trump’s) aligning, he has sychophants and yes people in the Senate, House and also on the Supreme Court. As a result he has pretty much free rein to become an emperor/dictator or possibly supreme leader.
The Trump administration is publicly undermining courts, not believing that district courts should be able to stop them doing whatever they want.
Secrecy and fear
Masked Federal Officers (only find out later that they are officials, as they wear zero identification), can grab people off the street and disappear them. They don’t seem to feel the need to have warrants or even evidence of criminal activity.
When an administration is willing to arrest judges, and detain mayors and senators, you can only imagine how they will treat everyone else.
Foreign students are wary of having any opinions that do not align with Trump for fear of deportation.
There have been Green Card holders and even citizens detained at airports for spurious reasons.
The ‘thought’ Police seem to be working at breakneck speed to control the populace.
The interference in education is a scary thing, Trump doesn’t want any doctrine apart from MAGA on college campuses.
Green Card holders are getting concerned that they will be next in the firing line for Trump.
California
As a regular visitor to the US over the last thirty years and just back from the States I am getting a definite feeling that something is brewing.
I was in California when the riots started and I mused whether Trump was after a fight, a way to flex his muscles and see how far he could go before his sycophants pushed back.
Waking up the following morning and seeing he was sending armed forces, both National Guard and the Marines against the wishes of the Governor sent chills down my spine.
He will have been emboldened by the reaction of his supporters…they applauded him.
No dissent!
Trump now wants to vet all visitors social media accounts from the last five years.
No dissent is allowed!
I’m sure we have all heard/read the poem…
First they came for, etc.
Well that’s where America is right now.
LGBTQ, Immigrants, black and brown people, media, law firms, judges, mayors, senators, educational establishments and even the world famous Kennedy Centre have been targeted.
Who is next in the firing line?
Will the Republican Party step up and rein him in?
Is there going to be a tipping point?
Will Trump push and push until the ordinary person on the street says enough is enough?
Trump is already confident enough in his sycophants to send Marines into Los Angeles, and martial law has even been mentioned.
Where does this go next?
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