How Can We Stop Him?

Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can. Arthur Ashe

Chaos emanates from the White House.  It’s hard to tell if Trump laying the ground for a coup, throwing red meat at his supporters, or creating diversions to distract from the real destruction he’s wreaking on our federal government, disadvantaged people, and all of us.  He’s replacing democracy with autocracy in America.  We won’t ever have to vote again.

What’s going to happen?  This is just the beginning.  He’ll incessantly destroy the institutions that have really made America great. Those institutions will become weaker and weaker with every passing day.  They need a bit of tune up, not destruction.

Who’s going to stop him?  Trump is staffing administration agencies with sycophants.  He controls the Department of Justice which enforces (or not) laws through the FBI, DEA, ATF and the U.S. Marshals.  Then there’s Homeland Security, with policing agencies including U.S. Customs and Border Control, ICE, the U.S. Secret Service, and TSA.  Interior has the National Park Service Rangers and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  Oh, and there’s the CIA, NSA, and a few more.  He has 137,000 armed employees legally able to arrest people, not counting the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard and Space Force.

Theoretically congress and the court system could rein him in, but it’s not likely.  Congress is dominated by Republicans and leadership and spineless Democrats.  Lots of lawsuits will be filed, but conservatives also dominate the Supreme Court.  And even if the Supreme Court rules against Trump, there’s more than a good chance he’ll violate the ruling. 

We have some massive issues that need adult attention, including income stratification in America, global conflicts and tensions, and climate change.  But the fundamental challenge here is preserving democracy.  If we can’t do that, the billionaires will become trillionaires, plundering the American public, the economy and nature.

So, what are you going to do?  Many people are terrorized, frozen in place by all the mendacity and destruction.  Others feel helpless and hopeless.  But each of us can and needs to make a difference now.  First thing, act now.  Join and support community and social organizations that are working for justice, equity, diversity and inclusion.  Don’t go alone, be part of and help build a critical mass for good. 

More specific ideas in my next blog post, but for now do as Arthur Ashe suggests… Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can.