We ARE Going Back!

Most voted to.

We need to pen letters to those in Congress to block the coming economic and social debacle. We need to explain WHAT and WHY to our senators. That explanation is also what will draw our coalition together to a common beneficial purpose. We did a poor job of explaining WHAT and WHY in the election run up. We lost many to Trump’s fear mongering.

‘Not going back’ was our slogan with neither a “to what”, nor a “why”. Trumps slogan was “They are criminals and rapists”. Not the same, are they? Which would you rather have?

Fear is the most frightening and powerful of human emotions. It can frighten people into a freeze, or into a life-crushing mob. Non voters were “frozen” into inaction. We must mitigate their fears. We didn’t work on that. We blew it off as just plain ridiculous. It isn’t ridiculous for many without education. We must change our ways! How? Education. Repeat: education. Wash. Repeat. Wash repeat.

We must say/repeat this every time:

“They are not criminals and rapists. Way less crime among them than you. Their taxes, paid in, are from previously unfilled jobs. We need our crops harvested not rotting in fields and grocery shelves must be stocked not empty, people.”

A similar elevator speech is needed for every fear proffered. We must also work on every senator!

The Constitution says:

“He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.

The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session.”

The Senate has already blocked Trump-requested “recess appointments”. The Senate will not cede their advice and consent role, i.e., they are not crazy. This is an important role and responsibility assigned to the Legislative branch. The role and responsibility is a critically important check and balance on the Executive, without which the Executive might abandon reason and abuse nominations. Trump would not do that, would he? We need to protect and insist on this Constitutional check and balance framework.

Civil War II is where this could all end.

A narcissist and egomaniac would like nothing better than a civil war over himself. The center of attention is the objective, which is often at the center of the chaos and outrage Trump has created. There is a chill descending over America’s corporate newsrooms, driven by fear and Donald Trump’s promises of retribution, harassment and targeting of journalists, opponents and critics. Journalists are capitulating into disgusting sycophancy.

Short of a civil war, the gap between red and blue America might continue to widen slowly. Ours are not the existential differences from when our nation was smaller with a binary economy of Northern manufacturing and slave-enabled agriculture. Things are quite different in the lay of the land compared to our world in 1860.

Hence, a civil war is not inevitable. Expect bluster from a windbag. Today, one side must do what it can to protect those who are most vulnerable. The other side is drifting into fascism and feeding the rich and powerful from our Treasury.

Trump will not be able to goad us into civil war, and he has the Legislative behind him for only 2 years before we take back control. During his 2 years we will try to block most of his actions and we will be successful much of the time. Delay, deny, depose works for the healthcare insurance companies. It will also support Democrats if we organize and get to work.

Further, Trump’s plans will upend our economy. Immigrants are the foundation block of agriculture, construction, and landscaping. The Inflation Reduction Act and the Chips Act are key to $ billions in state construction and manufacturing soon to be repealed by Trump. Or so he says. Truth is, state Congressional representatives and senators stand in his way.

A draft letter to your senators is included here. Download the letter. Edit there at home.

In this draft letter, you will only need to add:

• your name and address

• your senator’s name

• your signature (not required for an email).

Each senator’s address is already in the one-page letter. (It is the same DC address for all senators.) Find your senators here.

I have done this letter for you to be a highly professional and a well-supported piece of correspondence. (You will not be able to relate to that statement without taking a look at the letter.)

I see a tremendous improvement in community interaction by my doing and sharing this draft letter. If you have seen the letter, you know it is something you will be proud to send out.

I will do much more of this in the future. My gesture has led to this community growing markedly. I get it, feel appreciated because of that response, and will do more. Please subscribe to avail yourself of future offerings (with no paywall).

I know I need to say this:

Friend, I’m both delighted and astounded that you are here with me. It does my heart good that you care this much to have found my voice in this wilderness. Welcome! Thank you!

I have dedicated myself to making this country a better place not just for all of us, but also for future generations. The children are my first thought.

Please consider becoming a paid subscriber; it helps more than you know. But regardless – I’m truly glad to see a fellow traveler, and look forward to our conversations. Comments are turned on for everyone as I want to hear your thoughts. Solidarity, friendship, and a common cause say “Let’s work together.”

HOT BUTTONS is read across 40 US states and 9 countries.