Our nation is at that point in a marriage ceremony when the officiant asks, “If anyone has an objection to this union, speak now or forever hold your piece”. I have many objections to the lawlessness, the corruption, the recklessness, the incompetence, the deregulations, the revengeful attacks, the scapegoating, and the cruel policies that are beginning to destroy lives. But I feel like a voice crying in the wilderness. The silence is crazy! The fact is that corporate media outlets have been bullied into submission so few will report on the pain and suffering many are starting to endure. And just as disturbing is the reality that Republican lawmakers are either complicit or too terrified to oppose anything Trump and Musk decree no matter how horrific. And since Democrats are the minority party in both Houses, they are effectively powerless.
With the exception of a few courageous independent media voices (who are also being threatened), we hear very little about the government employees losing their jobs or the women dying in pregnancy, or the growing number of newborn deaths. We don’t hear much about infectious diseases (like Measles & TB) that are on the rise. We don’t hear the outcries of children being separated from their deported parents or the worries of farmers who can’t harvest their crops without migrant labor. We hear very few complaints about the rising cost of everything as inflation leaps upward as tariffs (and threats of tariffs) take effect. We hear nothing about the deaths of children who relied on food and healthcare from USAID nor the parents who mourn them. We see minimal coverage of the protests in the streets around the country. No corporate news outlet is talking about the Target boycott nor the board of director’s lawsuit against Target for mismanaging its rollback of DEI programs except through independent and social media.
Every day, we are inundated with executive order policy announcements accompanied by lies and exaggerated claims necessitating them, but we rarely hear the aftermath of the chaos, confusion and destruction they cause, nor do we learn the actual truth behind the cruelty at work. We know things are bad, but those whom we once trusted to represent us in Congress (House and Senate) are silent and helpless because we gave the Republicans, (who either serve or fear Trump), the majority. Their complicity or cowardness is allowing the spread of corruption and governmental destruction to feed the ego, pockets, and thirst for unchecked power among a few rich white men. Democrats can only complain and delay. The corporate media that we once trusted to inform us and hold people in power accountable have been bullied into silence.
The only branch of government that is holding on by a thread is the judicial branch. However, even federal judges are under threat by these thugs who have taken over our executive branch. Vance and Musk have advised Trump to simply ignore federal court rulings. They are waiting to see our reaction or lack thereof. And we all know that the Supreme Court has been compromised with stolen seats and ongoing corruption.
Another beacon on light are democratic governors. So far, they are resisting. However, the Trump Administration is threatening to withhold federal funding for disaster relief, public health, education, healthcare, research, and other vital needs if they refuse to fall in line. We will see how the struggle between the Constitutional guarantee of states’ rights and federal authority plays out. Blue states are donor states to the much poorer red states. There is definitely an argument to be made that we are now being taxed without representation because no one elected Elon Musk.
I’m painting a dire picture because the situation is dire. Trump is enjoying a 53% approval rating because ordinary citizens have no idea what is happening to our economic and social foundation because the corporate news media and social media algorithms have sidelined the alarms detailing the bad decisions, the lies, the corruption, the lawlessness and the human suffering. However, lived experiences like lost jobs, soaring food prices, loss of consumer protections, natural disasters without relief, the lack of access to healthcare, and inadequate public services can’t be hidden for long even if the media doesn’t report it. And this past week, no news outlet could hide the resignation of seven federal prosecutors who refused to follow a Department of Justice unethical order to dismiss legitimate corruption charges against mayor Eric Adams in exchange for Adam’s loyalty to Trump.
We are heading toward a crisis I never imagined possible in my lifetime. People are starting to suffer real pain in the name of “Making America Great Again” and their cries are largely going unreported and unheard. But it is not sustainable. History tells us that when the pain becomes too great, and the cries of the masses are met by callous disregard, the people with revolt. And, sadly, but predictably, the bloodshed of those responsible for their hardship will be welcomed.
We have a small window at this moment in time to object. I just hope enough of us are brave enough to do it.