Was This Our Last Fourth of July?
“But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.” from The Declaration of Independence
7/4/2025
Friends, family, friends of family, colleagues:
This is something I don't typically do, but am doing today because it feels like a moment in our country’s history worth reflecting on.
For many of us, who were once proud to call ourselves Americans, this is a dark day. It is not a day for celebrating, nor is it a day for mourning — that is a luxury we cannot afford. Though many of us are tired, stressed, and exasperated by the political upheaval taking place, we cannot be complacent when our country is being ripped apart at the seams by an autocrat who aspires to be a dictator. We are rapidly heading in this direction.
The three branches of our federal government, which were intended to prevent any single branch from becoming too powerful, are now blurred into one, with a legislative and judicial branch that rubber-stamps everything dictated by the executive branch. This is tyranny, plain and simple. We are experiencing a historical abuse of power that will soon topple our democracy.
If you care about this country, take the time to read the monumental and meticulously documented New York Times piece on Trump’s finances: “Trump’s Finances Were Shaky. Then He Began To Capitalize On His Comeback.” I’ve gifted the article to all of you. For those of you who voted for Trump, you need to get real. This is an authentic, lifelike portrait of the man you elected, not an AI-enhanced one. Nothing Trump does is for you. Behind every decision is a payout for him and for his family.
But worse than this even, is Trump’s and the entire GOP’s espousal and promotion of beliefs and policies that are identical to those that put Hitler in power in Nazi Germany, something Germans themselves have been quick to point out. Hitler’s ascension started with the cutting off of free speech and his stifling of the press. Here are the most glaring parallels:
Censorship and suppression of independent media
Making it illegal to criticize the U.S. government
Dictating how information is reported
Suppressing freedom of assembly
Eliminating organized opposition
Depriving people of their right to due process
Abolishing protection against raids where there are no warrants
Making arrests without charges
Imprisoning individuals without trial
Abolishing the right to property (ex: retraction of social security #s)
Breeding of xenophobia
Trump's stoking hatred toward marginalized groups (brown and black-skinned people, LGBTQ, Muslims, etc.) and then "rescuing" us from them has a singular purpose: to convince us that he is our savior. Many of you who are conditioned to think in religious terms have fallen right into his trap.
What can we do? Well, quite a bit actually. To start with, prioritize your own physical and mental well-being. Eat well, exercise, and make time for people who share your beliefs. Continue to enjoy your favorite pastimes while you can.
Do kind things and help those in your community who are being targeted by MAGA neighbors, relatives, public officials, and the like. It will mean everything to them. Boycott businesses, churches, and community organizations that promote the MAGA agenda. And do not give your money to companies that turn a blind eye to Trump's oppressive policies or cave to pressure from the GOP.
Show support for politicians and journalists who are doing the hard work of fighting the growing oppression and who continue to shed light on the corruption that has taken hold, even when they are threatened with being sent to El Salvador.
You have considerable power. Use it.
And eliminate those in your sphere who do not have your best interests or the interests of your family at heart. You do not need to spend time with these people. Regroup.
At this point, it seems clear that many in the MAGA camp need to experience some hard knocks before they will understand, if indeed they are capable of understanding what they have unleashed.
Keep your power. Use it for those who deserve it.
I hope you'll take time to enjoy some humor, while also getting up-to-speed on what lies ahead, with Lorinda Birdwhistle's "Regarding My Father And His Friends." We could all use a good laugh about now.
Best wishes,
Chris
Chris Andrews: I still remember this NYT article from 2016:
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/04/nyregion/donald-trump-taxes-debt.html
The story of the Taj Mahal in Atlantic City alone is worth reading for very dark humor about financial corruption.
Years ago, I thought Donald Trump was funny, until he assaulted Mexicans and Asians, and he used Joseph-Goebbels-like labels, "The immigrants poison our blood."
So, long ago, Trump's true colors showed.
What astounds me, just astounds me, as a jurist, is that a very gifted jurist with a fine mind, namely, Chief Justice John Roberts, has come to the Crossroads and sold his soul to the Devil.
How on earth could someone of the stature, learning and gifts of CJ John Roberts so deeply betray our Country.
As one who loves The Federalist, I absolutely believe that, in his most centralistic moments, Alexander Hamilton would have decried and prevented the brutality and arbitrary cruelty of this Administration.
I believe that Alexander Hamilton, the one who argued most ardently for Central Government, would be appalled at the plenary powers in crime afforded by CJ John Roberts.
I think that Alexander Hamilton fully anticipated arbitrary power and did his utmost to prevent it.
And this is from the most Centrist of our Founding Fathers.
I think all should re-read the wondrous Federalist Papers.
Now, the only party that represents the values of The Federalist is the Democratic Party.
We need a responsible, middle-right, conservative Party.
We need a responsible, Wall-Street Republican Party back.
The loss of one of two major parties to tyranny is an unacceptable, precipitous danger to our Republic.
I would not fight with a traditional, Conservative Republican who shared hatred of tyranny and who shared core values of The Federalist.
I would work with her, learn from her, compromise with her, dialogue in civility with her, so we both could resolve needs in society consistent with scarce resources.
This is the traditional dialogue of Bob Doyle and Patrick Moynihan.
This dialogue with common values is where safety in our American Republic lies.
We cannot have this while one major Party is of the Aryan-ideology:
"Immigrants poison our blood."
"Haitian immigrants steal your pets and eat the kitties and puppies in blood voodoo rituals."*
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* In the Middle Ages, the trope was, "Jews steal your children and eat the little boys and girls in blood rituals." This trope fanned the flames of racial hatred and ignited deadly pogroms.
We can be proud to be Americans. In the tradition of The Federalist Papers. In the tradition of the Transcendentalists -- Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson. In the tradition of the Abolitionists and heroes: Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass. In the tradition of W.E.B. Du Bois. In the tradition of Dr. Martin Luther King and our dearly missed John Lewis.
John Lewis practiced already as a little boy. Mother Nature created in this dear boy the goodness of the future man. The little four, five-year-old boy preached to the farm chickens. There is a picture of the little tyke preaching to the hens. What a huggable, innocent, happy little boy.
The boy who grew into the man, crossing the bridge for Justice in Selma, and being battered in the head by ignorant, brutal police.
The young man who spoke at the March on Washington so memorably.
The Congressman who wants us, even today, to "create good trouble."
What a dear, dear Man, John Lewis, and how dearly we miss him. May God rest the good soul of John Lewis in well-earned peace. We love you!
Thank you for helping keep me sane in our insane world!