Can America step back from the ledge of oligarchy?
By Thom Hartmann A...
In an oligarchy, loyalty is more important than science or even reality. And, with the Trump administration, it appears that America has finally slipped into full-blown oligarchy. The question is whether we will recover from it and return to democracy, or whether the Trump oligarchy will cause America to descend into tyranny.
The latest example of Trump's oligarchic governance is his firing the man responsible for developing a coronavirus vaccine here in the United States because he wouldn't help Trump and Fox News promote chloroquine as a phony cure for COVID-19. Trump fired Dr. Bright at the same time that Germany is starting clinical trials on their own vaccine.
Meanwhile, Betsy DeVos is pushing "micro grants" for education, which is the new word for "vouchers." The EPA continues to loosen regulations that protect us from cancer-causing chemicals, the Interior Department continues to sell off American land for pennies on the dollar to big mining and drillingoperations, and the Fed, in violation of the law, is continuing to buy corporate bonds and stocks, artificially supporting the stock market. At almost every level of the federal government now we are seeing grifters and hustlers doing everything they can to support the Trump oligarchy, while physicians like Dr. Birx and Dr. Fauci are having to humiliate themselves in public by bowing and scraping before Trump.
Will this national nightmare continue for another 4 1/2 years? Have we passed the point of no return? Or can America recover from the Trump oligarchy?
-Thom
Comments
#2
What's up with Donald? A month ago he wanted nothing more than to put this virus behind us and get the country up and running. Now, he's critical of any Governor trying to do just that. And then, he compliments the people protesting the shutdown. What's the end game?
#3
I think Trump got confused about how you use disinfectant. How often have you seen a scene like that in the USA? Trump needs to read the direcions on the label first, not after.
#4
The end game is to get Mr. Yellow reelected so that he doesn't go to prison like his former employees (thugs) who did his bidding. To that end, The Don of the Trump Crime Family is also the on-again-off-again boss (in his twisted mind) of the governors, who will take the blame if Trump's really dumb idea of "reopening" the economy too soon without proper testing supplies and procedures leads to the infamous "second wave" (it will) and even more unneeded and unacceptable suffering and death among his most vulnerable Republican constituents. And naturally, he'll take the credit if the economy magically reopens without his worker-pawns (voters) tripping over too many cadavers of fellow death-cult members on the way to the offices, factories, restaurants, and bars.
All the ways that aka Josef Mengele reincarnated is playing crass politics with medical supplies, testing, and people's lives in the blue states illustrate his ruthless attitude toward the majority of voters -- Democrats, the number-one target on his very long enemies list. "Yah, Herr Doktor, brillant! Das ist eine gute idee to inject human test-subjects (liberals) with disinfectants -- what the hell, they'll hopefully die anyway from the 'Trump pandemic.'"
WTF is next? Does he plan on human farms to harvest blood from evil Democrats who have survived the carnage and built up enough antibodies to fight off SARS-CoV-2, which he will then inject into those who swear fealty? This will, of course, be involuntary under martial law. Constitutional rights for Democrats? A November election? Ha, das macht nichts!
#5
The new hotspots, New York is way down the list.
#6
One of my filters, Trend Micro, blocked the link, saying it was a known site for malicious computer stuff. Haha, that sounds pretty scary, but it might be just an overreactive immune thing with the filter.
#7
Putting it politely... this trump cat is barking mad
He really thinks he is immune... from all sorts of things
Criminal prosecution... genocide?
#8
Latest from the dull bugger
Inject disinfectant and bleach to defeat cov19 (??????)
Sincerely hoping that no-one takes that seriously
#9
#6, You can try the home page https://coronaworld.info/
#10
Hi Thom,
This are the policy changes I see as necessary to institute real and lasting change. Thank you for your work.
Get active, The Shock Doctrine clearly shows us that times of great upheaval are the only time permanent systemic change occurs. We need to be all hands on deck working daily to create progressive change that builds the future we know should exist. If we allow the reactionary right to steal this opportunity we deserve the fate they give us. Now is the time to work harder than you ever have for change.
Nationally:
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Universal Basic Income/Freedom Dividend (Same thing but when you call it a Freedom Dividend conservatives support it.) of $30,000 per year given to every adult over 18 in monthly installment beginning the month after they turn 18.
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National universal single payer not for profit healthcare hereafter known as Healthcare.
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Universal no cost child care/education from birth to the most advanced level of education a person is capable of attaining.
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Collaborative processes that allows for workers to share equally in the power and profits of the companies where they work.
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Equality of all humans under the law.
For Teachers:
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Statewide pay equity with comparable professionals (taking into account level of education, responsibility, and time commitment.).
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Portability of all years of service from one district to another.
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An absolute end to standardized testing in schools.
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Reasonable workload with a maximum of 40 hours of work each week.
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All of the national demands.
The ultimate goal is economic, environmental, racial and social justice.
All of these are necessary in concert to create a better world. We just need someone with the guts to implement it.
Peaceman
#11
#9: Got it on my cell ok. Thanks, Legend. A lot of good graphs and charts. This one is cool too. A quick glance at the cold numbers and you can take in the magnitude of Trump's stripped-to-the-bone stupidity progress through the nation's window of missed opportunity.
If this was a real war (it is) and if Trump was a real war president (he's not), then we would lose badly (we are).
#12
#10, Peaceman: You are imbued with the spirit of the Constitution. There is hope for America!
Defeating our founding documents' main enemy within -- the Trump cult -- must be the People's first objective in taking our country back from the money-mongers, warmongers, and planet-destroyers.
There is the Preamble: "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
...And then there is Republican subservience to Wall Street and the Masters of the Universe.
A stark choice come November.
#13
Deepspace, are you posting the Viagra commercials on the side?
#14
Haha ...it's a side gig. Need all the "help" I can get in these tough times.
#15
Don't knock the Viagra posts. They are the most intelligent posts on this site.:))
#16
The Viagra is now toast. :)
#17
I prefer my Viagra uncooked, not toasted.
#18
It is relatively clear that djt's pet Amazon fulfillment monopoly project is going to be one of the largest obstacles to re-opening many businesses. Internet purchases have been weakening the retail environment for years and Corona is cleaning the swamp (if we could ever get clarity of djt's target audience in his vision of THE SWAMP) since the lockdown forces us to Amazon wherever businesses are closed and it's being treated like a good thing. If Amazon were shut down as an emergency economic measure, we would have to return to the stores. It's about time to level the playing field for small business in the US.
#19
You often comment that we should call our representative and voice our opinion about this or that issue. Unfortunately, in red states such as Nebraska, when we call that number and the switchboard refers us to our representative, we get a message stating: "I'm sorry but your representative has not set up a voicemail box. Goodbye."
These are the same representatives who hold town meetings that are invitation only when and if they ever decide to hold one. I guess that's one way to guarantee you don't hear from anyone but devoted followers.
I am so ready for November to get here so I can vote for ANYONE else but a Republican. I hope every single one gets tossed out on their ear.
#20
My Congressmen, Ken Buck (R-CO), holds teleconferences (instead of town halls) and has shills asking all of the canned questions.
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Wearing a mask is very effective. They do it in most countries in Asia. Months into this pandemic and maybe 50% are wearing one in my town and that is only recently. Germany just required them.