MAGA are dishonest and do not care

All Donald Trump MAGA supporters, individually and collectively, at the Republican convention are dishonest people who know they are perpetuating lies. They lack the moral honesty or integrity to be considered in any way “Christian” or even “decent human beings”. They are not. They have the ethical values of concentration camp guards. They know very well what they support, and while they do not care, strangely, they actually have enough vestigial shame to try to hide their moral bankruptcy behind blatant lies. 

 

Donald Trump told an audience that he would fight for the average worker in Amerika. The audience cheered. This is more proof that they know he lies, and they do not care. According to Huffington Post (https://www.huffpost.com/entry/donald-trump-populism-agenda_n_669acc7ae4b07f2755f47891): 

 

“Donald Trump and his allies spent a lot of time at the Republican National Convention this week proclaiming that they are on the side of everyday Americans in an ongoing, existential struggle against a wealthy, corporate elite.” 

There was not a sanitary-ear-pad wearing person in that auditorium who didn’t know he was lying. How do I know this? Easy. Each and every one of them would be hurt financially if Trump and the Republicans actually did anything to help the working class and “everyday Americans”.  

Any legislation or regulation designed to improve working conditions is rejected by Republicans, including mandatory breaks in hot working conditions. Project 2025 calls for scrapping the 40-hour work week and, in its place, instituting a 160-hour work month. To do that will allow employers to demand two 75-hour weeks from an employee, and then give them no additional shift work for the other two week of the month, so no overtime is paid.  

“Right to Work” (the refusal to accept unions and ability to fire at will, especially anyone who wants to form or join a union) is a violation of the UN Convention on Human Rights to which the US of Amerika is a signatory. Republicans love “Right to Work”. Why? Because organized workers lower their profits. 

They love undocumented migrants these people will work for less, cost them less, and ensure that they, the owners of the businesses, will continue to profit. They know it is a lie that millions of illegals will be rounded up and deported. But it is a lie that they will use to continue to exploit illegals through the threat that if they get out of line in any way, they will be reported and deported.

Every single one of them knows that they would get their daughter or granddaughter an abortion if she was raped, or pay for the abortion of their son’s girlfriend or victim. Every one of the men in that auditorium will pay for their mistress’s abortion, and most of the wives there will agree to pay for that abortion. Every one of them. Yet they oppose abortion not for the “unborn child” but to subjugate women and remove women’s rights. Women scare them, so women must have their rights removed. 

Every single person in that auditorium knows perfectly well that Project 2025 is all about wealth generation and protection for them, suppression and oppression of others, and not in any way to “stand up for” the average worker in Amerika.  

Everyone in that auditorium knows that Donald Trump will put Putin before Amerika, but as long as they keep making money, they don't care. They know that Trump will continue to impoverish workers and their families and degrade the environment, but as long as they can live in their protected gated communities, they don't care.

To Secure the White House, Promise to Leave

I’m gyrating in my thinking about November and who will win. I expect the Democrats to win, and Biden to be re-elected. But, it is looking more and more like both parties are populated with geriatrics who refuse to give up power even when they know they are past their prime, well past their prime, and that it is time for a new generation. To the point of endangering all of us.  

  

But I will vote for Biden, because the alternative is so horrifying.  

  

We saw this with Ruth Bader Ginsberg. The Great Saint RBG blessed be her name. The great jurist. The champion of women's rights and equality. Knowing that she had terminal cancer, instead of stepping down while Obama had time to select a liberal successor, she stayed well into the Trump rule, dying just in time to ensure he could keep packing the bench with ultra-conservatives.  

 

Biden is doing the same. I’m not suggesting that he has terminal cancer or any other malady. I am suggesting that he is making the same mistake; holding on and not trusting that there is a strong bench to support and follow him. It is not like the Democratic Party has a single figurehead cult leader. There is no need for Biden to demand that his supporters come and protest outside the courthouse, or bleat platitudes and attack judges, their families, or jurors hearing cases.  

 

There is a huge bench of highly capable people. Would all of them win against a Republican contender? Maybe not. But many, if not most, would. And almost all of them would make great leaders of the nation.   

 

Not because of their personalities or cults, but for their energy and the policies that they support.   

 

And yet here we are, six months out from one of the most consequential elections in US history, and there is a real chance that the Party of MAGA, the Cult of Trump, might win. The party that openly says they want to control the bodies and choices of 50% of the population. The party that openly works to reduce civil liberties and the right of minorities to vote. They actually have a chance.  

 

How is this even possible.  

 

How is it possible that the media ignores the ravings of a madman while highlighting every gaff of a person with a lifelong speech impediment but decades of service to the country?  

 

The answer is simple.  

 

Trump supporters view an establishment that is out of touch with them, their issues and challenges, and their fears. And like all good cults, MAGA thrives on fear. And it thrives on reminding people that their representatives are not representative of them. And it is difficult sometimes not to wonder if Washington actually does represent or understand the needs and concerns of the rest of the US.  

 

For decades, unfettered globalisation stripped America of its manufacturing jobs while mega-conglomo-corp companies pushed any and almost all competition to the side and into the ditch of history. Add to that “Citizen's United” allowing companies to effectively buy elections, and it is little wonder that there was (and is) such dissatisfaction.   

 

Add to the misery the perception that the Old Guard will not relinquish power, and we come to today. The Constitution of the United States says that a person must be 40 years old to be eligible to hold the office of President. Sadly, it is looking like the unofficial age has risen to 70+. This is not healthy for society. In 2020, both candidates were over 70 years old. This year, one is over 80, and the other is up way past his jail time (oops, he is well over 75). 

 

We’ve seen this maniacal clinging to power at all costs from both sides of the aisle. Mitch McConnell wouldn’t consider stepping down until he had his frozen moment. Speaker Pelosi refused to give up power until she lost her majority. Did she not trust any other member of the Democratic Party to be a great Speaker?  

 

The average age of Congressional Representatives and Senators has been increasing steadily over the past four Congresses. Today, the average representative is 58.4 years old, while the average Senator is 64.3 Years old. The AVERAGE member of Congress should be preparing to retire, not preparing for the second half of their congressional career.  

 

One of the principal responsibilities of leadership is to ensure there is a cadre of high-quality talent right behind you, ready to step into the role. Heaven help the team if you are the only talent or potential leader. How foolish that looks in business and equally foolish in politics.  

Of course I will vote to save the US from dictatorship. But I’m not happy about it, and many like me will vote to save the country. There had better be a clear demonstration of intent to then hand off the country to a new generation.