In physics class one learns that for every action, there is a reaction. The action of 36% of eligible voters neglecting to cast a ballot resulted in the election of Donald Trump to a second term. That is if he didn’t get help “rigging” the election as he claims (yes, he actually admitted that and it’s on video tape in the oval office). But absent rigging, it’s likely that a slight majority of voters who were either unaware, racist or misogynist, or concerned over the price of eggs ushered in the cruelty, chaos and corruption we are experiencing on a daily basis. However, reactions to Trump’s tyrannical actions have been swift.
In a few short months, Trump has nearly crashed the world economy with ill-conceived tariffs, dismantled government agencies and fired government workers, revoked student visas without legal cause, intimidated media outlets, ended corporate DEI efforts, extorted law firms and Universities, and threaten the sovereignty of Canada, Greenland, and Panama. He has kidnapped immigrant Venezuelan men off the streets, ignoring court orders and sending them to a prison (concentration camp) in El Salvador without any due process and then refused to bring them back. Immigrant children are literally being arrested at school and forced to represent themselves in deportation court hearings because this Administration is denying them representation. This week, his FBI agents arrested a judge, accusing her of attempting to thwart ICE’s arrest of an illegal immigrant in her courtroom. It’s true that sometimes morality (doing the right thing) has a cost attached to it.
This is where we are. We are saddled with an Administration that we know is sloppy, vengeful, corrupt, lawless, cruel, and incompetent. But they are also short-sighted. Turning this judge into a martyr will only embolden and encourage others to take the moral high ground. And I pray that many of us do. Saving our freedoms, preserving the environment, and defending others from ruin is worth getting into “good trouble”. But we also see their short-sightedness through their constant mistakes and backtracking. Notice how they fired some folks only to realize their mistake and then scrambled to rehire them. The tariff announcement crashed the market, imperiled businesses, and emboldened China to retaliate in ways that will harm farmers and empty our shelves in a matter of weeks. And with all the pain caused by DOSE, they haven’t uncovered the waste, fraud and abuse that was supposedly so rampant. In fact, thus far they have spent more money than they have saved. We see the real waste and abuse in the amount we are spending on golf trips, UFC fights, and an upcoming military parade.
The reality is that Trump cannot see past his ego and greed. His emotional insecurity demands that he be worshipped and obeyed no matter how ridiculous his commands. Musk can’t see past his insecurities and need to dominate. JD Vance can’t see past his ambition. And Speaker Mike Johnson can’t see past his desire for Taliban-like rulership. Not one of them can see past their racism and misogyny.
It may be our saving grace that Trump has filled his Administration with drug or alcohol-addicted nut cases who not only have weird ideas based on disproven conspiracy theories, but who are also incompetent. His second-class lawyers look to skirt the law or hide from it, showing up to court lacking information or legitimate arguments only to find themselves on the verge of disbarment and criminal contempt charges. Trump appointed ruthless loyalists to head law enforcement agencies because cruelty without due process can only be accomplished by people without a conscience. It is clear that the DOJ under Pam Bondi and the FBI under Kash Patel are not interested in justice but in shielding the Administration’s lawless behavior from prosecution while investigating Trump’s enemies for revenge.
In service to this tyrannical ego-driven agenda, this Administration has expelled the actual experts on constitutional law and government ethics along with the experts in science, economics, public health, climate, military strategy, and environmental protections. Not surprisingly, they have replaced actual experts with Trump loyalist who lack basic subject knowledge. Without thoughtful consideration they simply roll back regulations and fire public servants at agencies designed to protect our health, national security, and the environment. It’s as though they don’t believe we need clean air and water to survive or that climate driven natural disasters are real. Just last week, the Administration refused Arkansas FEMA funding for a devasting tornado, and they removed fishing restrictions designed to preserve fish species for future generations. Our national security has become a joke under Pete Hegseth, and our reputation around the world is ruined. And on top of all that, the Administration acts as though education is not important but is an impediment to their power. It is.
The short-sighted decisions to sideline experts, defund Universities, and revoke thousands of international student visas will lead to a brain drain. The most brilliant international minds will soon leave, and new international students and scholars will no longer come to the United States to study, teach, and conduct research. U.S. professors and researchers will find opportunities to continue their important and innovative research in other countries. Offers are already coming in. The most academically talented American students will follow the best professors outside the country to pursue their education. The United States will soon become known for its xenophobia and grossly inferior educational system. We are already becoming broadly viewed as those backward thinking, crude and dumb Americans. Without the most talented human minds to teach and mentor the next generation of teachers, scholars, doctors, scientists, and researchers, it will not be long before our children grow up sickly and illiterate.
Thankfully, the reaction to the attacks on education and student visa cancellations was swift. Campus protests and numerous lawsuits over cancelled student visas forced the Administration to reverse course on the matter. They restored the student visas a few days ago. But I contend that it is too late. The damage to the U.S. reputation as a preferred destination for international students has been done. Our government is seen as hostile to higher education, teachers, and to science. This has opened the door for China, Europe, Canada, and Australia to become the beneficiaries of the world’s most intellectually talented. This is how we benefitted from the likes of Eistein and other scientists who fled Nazi Germany.
Despite all the negativity, I have great hope because the short-sighted actions of this ridiculous Administration are sparking fierce reactions everywhere. April 19th was another day of protest across the country and a weekend boycott of big business. The Target and Tesla boycotts are having a real effect on profits with Target meeting with Al Sharpton and Tesla profits down 71%. Additionally, the lawsuits are piling up and the Administration has lost about 95% of them so far. People are speaking up at Republican town halls to let Republicans (and Democrats) know what is expected of them. Republican offices are being bombarded by emails and letters and phone calls with complaints. Tourism to the United States is dramatically down as countries issue travel warnings and Canadians are pissed off. Even in my social media feed, I can see that China isn’t backing down in the trade war and is actively trolling the Administration and exposing luxury brand retailers who have their items mostly made in China.
Each of us has a part to play. I write, boycott, post on social media, and donate to civil rights organizations and candidates. For those willing to take to the streets, there are big protests scheduled for May 1st and another one that begins on May 1st in Washington DC at Freedom Plaza where people plan to set up camp to provide consistent and persistent protest until Trump is removed from office. It is called the Mayday Movement. My point is that every harmful action by this Administration must continue to be met by an equal or more forceful reaction. We can’t let up until our united actions lead to the outcome we really seek: an end to the Trump Administration and its lawlessness.