Blast #342

                                        BLAST from the PAST

              The Blast has not been "publishing" during this Holiday Season (thank god that "War on Christmas" is over, right?) as I have been trying to put together a book of Year One.  Nonetheless, it's hard to ignore what's going on in the world and not make a comment.  In this case, as I was organizing last November's  Blasts for the book, I ran across one that seemed particularly relevant to today's tax bill vote.  Written last November 12th it was titled "The Morning After" and listed items I believed Trump voters would feel "buyer's remorse" about.  That Blast is presented here with the addition of comments (in BOLD) to update the essay.

            Happy Holidays!

                                                                                                Blast #72
                                                                                       November 12, 2016
 
                                                                                            The Morning After
                                                                                   for Trump Voters
 
            What is the reaction going to be from those wearing the “Make America Great Again” caps when, during the next year, the following happens (or fails to happen):

• Taxes are cut for the rich and corporations/businesses, but not for the working class in any significant way.
• The Current Tax Bill is EXACTLY this!

 

• When jobs do not “come back,” because The Trump Organization and other businesses continue to make more profit with foreign labor, what will the excuse be?
• This remains to be seen.

 

• When our economy drops precipitously because of all the immigrants who are deported --- leaving behind jobs “real Americans” will not do --- will there be a workable alternative plan?

            While the current markets are hot, let’s see where they are in November of 2018.

• What happens when the “Wall” isn’t built and Mexico doesn’t pay for anything.

             This isn’t on the horizon and pretty clearly won’t happen.

• When Health Care premiums go through the roof as Obamacare is gutted and private insurers are in charge again; and those 20 million who now have Health Care are back without coverage --- skyrocketing all health costs  --- how will that be spun to make America look “great?”

              So, the Tax Bill will not leave 13 million w/out care & premiums  shooting up by this time next year.

• And what about how the national debt will climb --- if Trump actually does fund the military as he promised and really tries to enact his promise to repair our infrastructure,; what then?

           Former deficit “hawks” (like Corker?) don’t care about the $1.5 TRILLION the current tax package                will add for their grandchildren to pay.

• And what if the Veterans Administration continues to languish and not serve our troops properly?

              This is one area that there does seem to have been some progress.  Score one for the Trump team.

• And what about fracking,  creating more earthquakes and poisoning more drinking water?

               Scott Pruitt’s  EPA is guaranteeing all this and more environmental disasters as the years go on.

• And what if his proposed 32% tax on imports starts a trade war that causes U.S. consumer prices to go through the roof?

              This is probably never going to happen.
 
             The list could go on and on, of course, from the ridiculous (every Wofford College student would get a job at graduation) to the sublime (?) (allowing concealed carry in all 50 states while declaring no schools or military bases would be gun-free zones)  (CONCEEALED CARRY HAS PASSED!)  The point is simple and obvious --- Trump made a million promises that will be impossible to keep and, if some of them are enacted, they may well  bankrupt America like one of his Atlantic City casinos.

        There are also the frightening promises: deporting undocumented immigrants, including children;  (The DACA “citizens” are hanging by a thread) banning Muslims (and even deporting some, while instituting surveillance of mosques nationwide);  (This remains a rallying cry, of course)  creating libel laws that would destroy first amendment protections for the press; (The press remains a daily target for Trump, as Fox News has become Trump TV) violating international law to interrogate suspected terrorist, while killing their families.  There is a red-meat faction among Trump’s supporters who love these ideas but is there widespread endorsement of this across the Republican Party? (The republican Party has revealed itself to be a gutless party with no principles and no real patriotism)  Or is it truly the Trump Party now, with no turning back? (YES!)

               During the closing week of the campaign Trump tried to get early voters to change their ballot, if they had “buyer’s remorse” because they voted for Hillary.  I’m wondering if Trump voters, like many of the Brexit supporters, will wake up one morning and say, “Oh, shit, is this what I voted for?”  Buyer’s remorse.

             I hope I’m wrong but I see no reason to believe otherwise.  Trump is a shallow, ignorant, narcissistic misogynist at his core and, at 70 years old, there’s no reason to believe this leopard will change his spots.  Progressives and fair-minded people across the political spectrum have to begin organizing now to meet the challenges we will face in the coming four years.  “Mr. Unpredictable” should prove to be a true wild card in all the worst possible ways, wreaking havoc with both the left and the right.  Preparing for the unimaginable is the challenge ahead and we need to be clear-eyed and well-rested for the battles we will undoubtedly begin waging on January 20th.