That has been shocking to me. I truly believed our institutions would stand, that people I saw as nutcases were the fringe and therefore few. I have been shaken to my core, even though there were warning voices out there that I heard but didn't think could actually be right. Man, was I wrong.
Back in November 2024, after the election, I had a sudden, horrifying realization: We had no guardrails anymore. The SCOTUS belonged to Trump. The Republican Senate and House belonged to Trump. Many governors belonged to Trump. Large segments of law enforcement would belong to Trump once he took office. Major media outlets were bowing to him and afraid of him. It was the kind of realization that at first is hard to wrap your arms around. What was worse was the fact that I said "The guardrails are gone" to people I know who are pretty smart. And they all said, "Nah. We have the Constitution". Insert sardonic laugh here.
I will never forget hearing the phrase “the guard rails will be off and the focus will be retribution.” That was Liz Cheney before the election. She was 100% right. I am struggling with the capitulation of very powerful people in the government and private sector. Have these people lost their morality? Are they really scared of retribution? What is motivating them? I just don’t understand many republicans in congress and business leaders like Tim Cook. Are they insulated from the reality of their decisions because they are wealthy? And they can buy or bribe their way into/out of anything?
I thought that about the Constitution today when I read Dr Richardson's piece. She mentioned that something the major doofus was doing or planning wouldn't be "easy" because The Constitution said this wasn't under a president's control, but congress. Me: WTAF!
That has been shocking to me. I truly believed our institutions would stand, that people I saw as nutcases were the fringe and therefore few. I have been shaken to my core, even though there were warning voices out there that I heard but didn't think could actually be right. Man, was I wrong.
Back in November 2024, after the election, I had a sudden, horrifying realization: We had no guardrails anymore. The SCOTUS belonged to Trump. The Republican Senate and House belonged to Trump. Many governors belonged to Trump. Large segments of law enforcement would belong to Trump once he took office. Major media outlets were bowing to him and afraid of him. It was the kind of realization that at first is hard to wrap your arms around. What was worse was the fact that I said "The guardrails are gone" to people I know who are pretty smart. And they all said, "Nah. We have the Constitution". Insert sardonic laugh here.
I will never forget hearing the phrase “the guard rails will be off and the focus will be retribution.” That was Liz Cheney before the election. She was 100% right. I am struggling with the capitulation of very powerful people in the government and private sector. Have these people lost their morality? Are they really scared of retribution? What is motivating them? I just don’t understand many republicans in congress and business leaders like Tim Cook. Are they insulated from the reality of their decisions because they are wealthy? And they can buy or bribe their way into/out of anything?
They seriously don’t get it. It’s weird.
I thought that about the Constitution today when I read Dr Richardson's piece. She mentioned that something the major doofus was doing or planning wouldn't be "easy" because The Constitution said this wasn't under a president's control, but congress. Me: WTAF!
It *is* horrifying. Well said.