To frame just how depraved the infamous Roman Emperor Caligula had become, the
historian, Seneca, tells the story of how the emperor had invited the father of a young
man that he had just executed that afternoon to dinner the same evening.
Without the fear of hyperbole, that brings me to the question: how remote is to think that that very same mindset could apply to a man who would make jokes about how people should run from hungry alligators if they try to escape from the new maximum security prison located in the Florida Everglades that he created and dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz?” The facility is President Trump’s latest effort to hold and process migrants snapped up in the Administration’s massive ICE deportation raids.
This latest statement of arrogant bravado by the President is another in a long list of
tactless boasts that not only NEVER seem to negatively affect his base, but actually
turn them on. They connect at the same base level; screw these people. They are
hardened, vicious criminals and deserve a terrible fate. The problem is that both the
President and his supporters, as evidenced by HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS of
cases, know that many people currently incarcerated in the ICE raids are actually
innocent of any violent crimes. Most have no criminal record at all. But they don’t seem to care. They all just gotta’ go.
And who would have thought this was just the tip of a huge iceberg of cruelty? Next
came THE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL.
Under President Trump’s relentless pressure, the GOP controlled Congress passed a
bill that without going into mind-numbing statistics, simply screws millions of the most vulnerable Americans. Despite being hailed by Republicans as a “return to greatness”,most of the independent, non-politically motivated experts in economics and other related fields that I have encountered have strongly stated that in the end, this bill will aid a select few while devastating millions of others. Food for hungry families will disappear. Medicaid will be greatly reduced. The National Dept will balloon, saddling future generations with a crippled economy. The sad AND ironic thing about this bill is that it’s most likely to affect rural communities the most. Of course, we know that those areas are firmly controlled by MAGA and Trump. So, let’s see if they shift their loyalty when they get The Big Beautiful Bill’s bill! Based on recent history, I seriously doubt they will. I’ll never understand that level of ignorance.
Still, Republicans were downright gleeful after its passage, praying and celebrating
together. House Speaker Mike Johnson, beaming from his podium, lauded his
colleagues and of course the President most of all for his vision and leadership. Hearing them gloat over the pain that is sure to be inflicted on SO many people, innocent people, made me viscerally ill.
Writing this article on the 4 h of July, Independence Day, got me thinking: Could THIS possibly be the future those revolutionary men who signed that declaration had
envisioned for this Country? They were not perfect men. The Declaration of
Independence is not a perfect document. However, both ARE an ATTEMPT to form a
more perfect Union, where ALL men are created equal, no one is above the law, and
the government’s only purpose is to serve the people – ALL of the people. Now it’s up to us to make it a reality. Vote for change!
Editor’s note: The views expressed in this article are those of this independent writer and not the Nyack News & Views editorial staff. We welcome submissions from anybody who is interested in publishing their thoughts, ideas and perspectives about issues facing our community, both large and small. Please send to info@nyacknewsandviews.com with detailed contact information.
Photo credit: Frank LoBuono
