McKnights- A closed Nursing Home
Trump is doing things that will ultimately hurt and even kill many Americans. A large number of Americans, however, seem impervious to the dangers he poses to them and their families. As Trump destroys our democracy, a large number of Americans seem transfixed, unable to move, or even to focus on what this means to them. Trump has taken many legal, military, and social welfare actions that will harm Americans, even if they are paralyzed.
Trump’s Goons
Trump says putting masked men on the street is needed to remove undocumented immigrants from the country without endangering law enforcement personnel. However, it is we, not law enforcement personnel, who are endangered. As evil as removing immigrants without due process is, it is even more heinous to arrest U.S. citizens without due process. We want to see the faces and badges of people who can take our freedom away, so we can question their right to do so. The rebuttal that law-abiding individuals do not have to worry is, on its face, ridiculous and cruel. It is precisely because there are innocent and law-abiding citizens who may be wronged that we need to see who is threatening us so that we can protest. We even need to know if the people threatening us are even government agents. With no identification, thugs pretending to be government agents can attack us. Trump’s use of masked law enforcement officers instills fear. His agents of fear are not always masked law enforcement agents; sometimes, they are his followers who take his words as permission to threaten and kill.
Trump’s Courts
Beyond the dangers to individual liberty, there is a ripple effect posed by this dictatorial undermining of the rule of law. The normalization of bypassing legal safeguards—through executive actions, dubious legal interpretations, and politicized appointments—has fostered an environment where rights once thought inviolable now seem alarmingly reversible. The judiciary, traditionally a bulwark against executive overreach and corruption, has become increasingly polarized, with appointments made more for ideological loyalty than for impartial jurisprudence. This erosion of legal norms undermines public faith in core democratic institutions, making it easier for future leaders to test and transgress boundaries with little resistance. Additionally, Trump and his followers have demonstrated a tolerance for corrupt practices like those associated with Russia, Hungary, and other authoritarian countries. So far, he has fired 17 Inspectors General whose primary job was to root out waste, fraud, and abuse. This type of public corruption has hindered economic growth in authoritarian countries and is likely to do the same in this country.
The camouflage for the assault on the rule of law and the accompanying corruption is a relentless campaign of disinformation, amplification of fringe conspiracies, and the discrediting of experts and journalists. Trump and his supporters have cultivated a landscape where verified information is perpetually in doubt. This has not only fractured public discourse but also made collective action in the face of crises—be they public health emergencies, environmental disasters, or threats to social stability—profoundly more difficult. When reality itself becomes a matter of partisan allegiance, democracy’s foundation is dangerously weakened.
Trump’s Peace Through Bombs
Trump has endangered millions of Americans by taking military actions against Iran. Nowhere is this clearer than in Trump’s reckless decision to bomb Iran’s nuclear facilities. Urged on by Israel, any benefit from Trump’s decision rests on the premise that a show of American military might stops Iran from enriching uranium. If that premise is incorrect, then demonstrating American military will likely cause Iran to develop nuclear weapons as quickly as possible, perhaps even exceeding the expert’s prediction of one to three years for development. More troubling, other countries in the region may also be encouraged by the U.S. bombs to develop atomic weapons to defend themselves against Israel and the U.S. arsenal. A nuclear-armed Middle East is a powder keg waiting to blow.
Of course, Iran may continue to launch missile attacks against Israel. Regardless of whether Iran wages a war of attrition against Israel within the next few weeks or the next few years, it seems likely that Iran will retaliate against the U.S. If Iran reacts sooner rather than later, we may very well expect terror attacks directed at Americans anywhere in the world. If Iran responds within the next few years, it may be with nuclear weapons.
Trump’s Disregard for Americans and the Economy
Trump may cause harm to Americans is in social welfare and thus threatens all Americans. Social welfare encompasses the country’s economic well-being, health, and safety. A key duty of governments is to create and maintain a social welfare environment that allows their citizens to thrive. Trump is not only failing to maintain a viable social welfare but has also implemented social welfare policies that imperil the country. Trump, for example, has ordered congressional Republicans to pass a budget bill that will increase the deficit by $3 trillion and cut funding for nursing homes by 67 percent and rural hospitals by 21 percent. These decreases in Medicaid funding will lead to an increase in uncompensated hospital care and a reduction in the number of people who sign up for Affordable Care insurance exchanges. This will not only harm low-income Americans, but it will also raise medical costs for middle-income Americans. Rural hospital closure will cause more crowding or urban hospitals as well and increase costs. Private insurers will likely raise the premiums they charge for private insurance to offset the shortfall. The purpose of these decreases in the quality of health care is primarily to reduce taxes for the wealthiest one percent.
Additionally, Trump has increased tariffs on all countries, although some countries like Canada and Mexico received a carve out on some products. The ripple effect of these increased tariffs will be to encourage manufacturers in the U.S. to also raise their prices. Thus, these increased tariffs will almost certainly be inflationary. Trump has also begun to deport immigrants, resulting in a reduce in the agricultural labor force. One effect of this will be to raise food costs in the U.S., not only raising costs for consumers but also decreasing the competitiveness of U.S. farmers. Trump’s policies have also antagonized foreign populations to such an extent that spending by foreign travelers has dropped by 7 percent, severely hurting the nearly $1 trillion tourism industry. Trump has also raised concerns about the possibility of future pandemics and health problems because of his appointment of a Secretary of Health who does not believe in vaccinations or public health.
Countering Ambivalence
Considering the damage Trump and his followers have done, it is surprising that any Americans are undisturbed by their actions. Some of these Americans may be paralyzed by ambivalence. Other Americans they may want to protest Trump’s actions, but they dread the repercussions of opposing him. Relying on elections and the political process to restore the democracy that Trump dismantled is a way to resolve the discomfort of this ambivalence and avoid confronting the fear of possible repercussions.
Hoping that elections will undo Trump’s damage without resorting to direct action in the street is soothing. Elections and the political process, however, will not be sufficient to overcome the fascism that has infected our country. Unfortunately, we are in for a protracted struggle.
Trump’s Goons
Trump says putting masked men on the street is needed to remove undocumented immigrants from the country without endangering law enforcement personnel. However, it is we, not law enforcement personnel, who are endangered. As evil as removing immigrants without due process is, it is even more heinous to arrest U.S. citizens without due process. We want to see the faces and badges of people who can take our freedom away, so we can question their right to do so. The rebuttal that law-abiding individuals do not have to worry is, on its face, ridiculous and cruel. It is precisely because there are innocent and law-abiding citizens who may be wronged that we need to see who is threatening us so that we can protest. We even need to know if the people threatening us are even government agents. With no identification, thugs pretending to be government agents can attack us. Trump’s use of masked law enforcement officers instills fear. His agents of fear are not always masked law enforcement agents; sometimes, they are his followers who take his words as permission to threaten and kill.
Trump’s Courts
Beyond the dangers to individual liberty, there is a ripple effect posed by this dictatorial undermining of the rule of law. The normalization of bypassing legal safeguards—through executive actions, dubious legal interpretations, and politicized appointments—has fostered an environment where rights once thought inviolable now seem alarmingly reversible. The judiciary, traditionally a bulwark against executive overreach and corruption, has become increasingly polarized, with appointments made more for ideological loyalty than for impartial jurisprudence. This erosion of legal norms undermines public faith in core democratic institutions, making it easier for future leaders to test and transgress boundaries with little resistance. Additionally, Trump and his followers have demonstrated a tolerance for corrupt practices like those associated with Russia, Hungary, and other authoritarian countries. So far, he has fired 17 Inspectors General whose primary job was to root out waste, fraud, and abuse. This type of public corruption has hindered economic growth in authoritarian countries and is likely to do the same in this country.
The camouflage for the assault on the rule of law and the accompanying corruption is a relentless campaign of disinformation, amplification of fringe conspiracies, and the discrediting of experts and journalists. Trump and his supporters have cultivated a landscape where verified information is perpetually in doubt. This has not only fractured public discourse but also made collective action in the face of crises—be they public health emergencies, environmental disasters, or threats to social stability—profoundly more difficult. When reality itself becomes a matter of partisan allegiance, democracy’s foundation is dangerously weakened.
Trump’s Peace Through Bombs
Trump has endangered millions of Americans by taking military actions against Iran. Nowhere is this clearer than in Trump’s reckless decision to bomb Iran’s nuclear facilities. Urged on by Israel, any benefit from Trump’s decision rests on the premise that a show of American military might stops Iran from enriching uranium. If that premise is incorrect, then demonstrating American military will likely cause Iran to develop nuclear weapons as quickly as possible, perhaps even exceeding the expert’s prediction of one to three years for development. More troubling, other countries in the region may also be encouraged by the U.S. bombs to develop atomic weapons to defend themselves against Israel and the U.S. arsenal. A nuclear-armed Middle East is a powder keg waiting to blow.
Of course, Iran may continue to launch missile attacks against Israel. Regardless of whether Iran wages a war of attrition against Israel within the next few weeks or the next few years, it seems likely that Iran will retaliate against the U.S. If Iran reacts sooner rather than later, we may very well expect terror attacks directed at Americans anywhere in the world. If Iran responds within the next few years, it may be with nuclear weapons.
Trump’s Disregard for Americans and the Economy
Trump may cause harm to Americans is in social welfare and thus threatens all Americans. Social welfare encompasses the country’s economic well-being, health, and safety. A key duty of governments is to create and maintain a social welfare environment that allows their citizens to thrive. Trump is not only failing to maintain a viable social welfare but has also implemented social welfare policies that imperil the country. Trump, for example, has ordered congressional Republicans to pass a budget bill that will increase the deficit by $3 trillion and cut funding for nursing homes by 67 percent and rural hospitals by 21 percent. These decreases in Medicaid funding will lead to an increase in uncompensated hospital care and a reduction in the number of people who sign up for Affordable Care insurance exchanges. This will not only harm low-income Americans, but it will also raise medical costs for middle-income Americans. Rural hospital closure will cause more crowding or urban hospitals as well and increase costs. Private insurers will likely raise the premiums they charge for private insurance to offset the shortfall. The purpose of these decreases in the quality of health care is primarily to reduce taxes for the wealthiest one percent.
Additionally, Trump has increased tariffs on all countries, although some countries like Canada and Mexico received a carve out on some products. The ripple effect of these increased tariffs will be to encourage manufacturers in the U.S. to also raise their prices. Thus, these increased tariffs will almost certainly be inflationary. Trump has also begun to deport immigrants, resulting in a reduce in the agricultural labor force. One effect of this will be to raise food costs in the U.S., not only raising costs for consumers but also decreasing the competitiveness of U.S. farmers. Trump’s policies have also antagonized foreign populations to such an extent that spending by foreign travelers has dropped by 7 percent, severely hurting the nearly $1 trillion tourism industry. Trump has also raised concerns about the possibility of future pandemics and health problems because of his appointment of a Secretary of Health who does not believe in vaccinations or public health.
Countering Ambivalence
Considering the damage Trump and his followers have done, it is surprising that any Americans are undisturbed by their actions. Some of these Americans may be paralyzed by ambivalence. Other Americans they may want to protest Trump’s actions, but they dread the repercussions of opposing him. Relying on elections and the political process to restore the democracy that Trump dismantled is a way to resolve the discomfort of this ambivalence and avoid confronting the fear of possible repercussions.
Hoping that elections will undo Trump’s damage without resorting to direct action in the street is soothing. Elections and the political process, however, will not be sufficient to overcome the fascism that has infected our country. Unfortunately, we are in for a protracted struggle.
