Preparing in Advance for Trump 2.0
A preview of the horrors to come in the first 100 days of the new regime. Part of Digital Drumbeat’s Trump 2.0: Even More Scary & Corrupt.
Preparing in Advance
We all know the first 100 days is going to be a shitshow, the kind that might even induce normal folks to want to throw ketchup at the walls. As much as we fantasize about burying our heads in the sand or moving to another country, we’re here for the fight. But January 20 is fast approaching, so it’s time to put on our big boy pants and reckon with our collective future.
A Preview of the First Hundred Days
Here’s a reminder of five terrible things Trump vowed he would do.
Launch mass deportations. On day one, Trump will kick off the “largest deportation operation in American history” by sending the military to help round up huge numbers of immigrants. Trump’s plans are utterly inhumane and will destroy families and lives but that’s unlikely to matter to Trump voters. They may pay attention, however, when they see how these deportations crash our economy.
Impose tariffs. Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on Mexico and Canada to force them to seal the border. But placing taxes on goods coming into the US will have an even bigger impact on us. We use a lot of imported items and the prices will only increase. Trump’s plans even have CEOs a bit anxious. Might be time to stock up on appliances, toilet paper and beer….
Cut taxes. Here’s a quick exercise to find out how you might be impacted by Trump’s proposal: Find your income percentile on the chart. Then check out the size of the corresponding blue bar. Unless you’re earning more than $837,800, you probably won’t see much more money in your paycheck. And certainly not enough to offset the higher prices resulting from Trump’s mass deportations and tariffs.
Curtail health insurance programs. Right now, to be fair, we don’t know the specifics of Trump’s plans (to be fair, he doesn’t either - he only has “concepts of a plan”). We do know ideas that have been floated include putting all seniors in one giant HMO, making cuts to Medicaid, and even repealing the ACA. You know who won’t be limited to a short list of doctors, denied coverage for life-saving procedures, or lose access to health care? Trump, Musk, and the other two handfuls of billionaires Trump wants in his brain trust.
Fleece the American government while enriching himself, his fellow billionaires and MAGA loyalists. Okay, Trump didn’t actually say that but his position could not be clearer.
Trump is going to sell out our health and safety to the highest bidder. When Elon and his pals pony up to the White House with their truck loads of cash, ask yourself: Where is that money going? Right into Trump’s pocket.
What Can You Do?
As we endure the first 100 days, remember that every “policy” Trump favors traces back to the money he wants to take from you and funnel to himself and the entire class of uber wealthy Americans - kind of like trickle-up economics.
Let’s not let him turn his shitshow into a clusterfuck. Here are a few things you can do right now, before he takes office.
Read the work of reliable journalists who are willing to speak truth to power, or follow them on social media. Good sources of news and information include the Atlantic, the Guardian, the BBC, ProPublica, Democracy Docket, The Dworkin Report and Popular Information.
Join DemCast. We are the largest digital amplification network on the left! We will help you use your social media accounts strategically to fight Trump’s disinformation machine. CLICK TO JOIN!
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Excellent post!
He just said maybe he'll cut FEMA! Cutting Environmental Regulations! Freezes CDC with bird flu pending! Chooses not to believe in Climate Change! Social Security. WHY? A Love of Tax Break Money for the Morbid Rich Evil!