What Fools We Have Been!

Despite popular disapproval, and with his seizure of the fundamental pillars of American democracy, Trump now has us on a skewer whose hot coals assure that only he, and his ilk, can prosper.

Not long ago, as Donald Trump began his first campaign for the American presidency, I was deep into a study of how Adolf Hitler arose in Germany a hundred years before. I saw the parallels between Trump's rhetoric and Hitler's, but took comfort that the vast differences between Germany's economic and political circumstances then, and America's now, would make it impossible for Trump's oily messages of benevolent authoritarianism to take root in the land of my life and my love.

In the decade after the Great War of 1914-1918, Germany was enduring the crippling consequences of punishing reparations that were imposed on the nation by the victors who saw the German people as the criminal perpetrators of the war, while life in America in the early decades of the 21st century was full of creature comforts. We had our share of democracy's perpetual difficulties but by any measure at least 90% of our people were living lives that weren't half bad, and half of them were living their dreams

In the self-hypnosis of shallow naiveté I was wrong about the people of America. I didn't allow for the appeal of fairy tales in emotional partnership with the power of self pity. The reason that it is so easy for me now to think of this as widespread stupidity is because that is exactly what it is.

I leave you now with the wise words of Jamelle Bouie, whose odd name, black skin, and determination to speak his mind have him in a state of actual danger for his safety.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/17/opinion/trump-economy-deportation-inflation.html?unlocked_article_code=1.m08.SR-p.sP5wBlV0uBnX&smid=url-share