By Michael Randall
(The following is “Part One” of a three-part series about (1) the emerging Trump dictatorship; (2) Trump’s determination to stay in power at all cost; and (3) what people can do peacefully and non-violently to stop our country’s descent into tyranny.)
In 2024’s election, thirty-one percent (31%) of Americans voters elected Donald Trump to be president, and thirty percent (30%) voted for Kamala Harris. Thirty-six (36%) percent of Americans who were legally eligible to vote did not bother to register, so did not vote. They stayed home and sat on their hands.
Our democratic republic is a big yawn, boring, and with too many rules. It seems of little value to millions of Americans, most of whom have not experienced the fear or fist of living under an authoritarian government. Many of them think they support the idea of a Trump dictatorship, for they find the messy processes of a democratic republic to be infuriating. But do they really want to be the obedient servants of one man?
Recently, an acquaintance of mine challenged my published criticisms of Trump, calling them “pathetic drivel.” He reminded me, “Trump was fairly elected, wasn’t he?” I answered that he was, but that he has stolen powers beyond any president’s right to possess. Clearly, Trump rapidly is tightening a dictatorial grip on the country, wreaking vengeance on his opponents, and spreading fear for the purpose of creating a nation obedient only to him.
He has cut off virtually all of America’s food and medical aid to millions of the world’s most suffering people. He has ignored court orders that would limit his mass deportation plans. He has usurped Congress’ legal role to regulate tariffs and allocate spending, causing more inflation and increases in the cost of living.
He has cut 2026 health insurance subsidies to poor families which are causing them to go without insurance or face 100 to 300 percent increases in premium payments. He arbitrarily cut off research funding and other federal supports to colleges and universities that refuse his demand to control those institutions’ key policies. He has made major law firms cower and promise to provide him with free legal representation. He has sued and made major media companies settle with him, make financial payments to him, and then take a knee to kiss his ring.
I asked my acquaintance if it is OK with him that Trump’s ICE agents (masked, abusive, and illegal in many of their actions, but virtually impossible to identify and hold accountable) are dragging people off the streets, often without probable cause or arrest warrants. He responded, “Well, true. That’s not good.” How can he and other Trump supporters discount that widespread, brutal criminality and still unshakably support their “great leader?”
What do Trump and his zealous cabinet appointees offer that is hopeful, useful, and humane to improve our nation? They hope to cleanse the nation of “bad people” and “bad” influences: such as foreigners; such as laws and rules that support our current racial diversity and promote equality among us. They don’t want independent courts. They want to ban “wicked” books (a long and growing list). They hate the “deep state’s” overreaching regulations that are “woke” (buzz words which flood impassioned hearts with outrage). Given past Democratic administrations’ excesses and civil servants’ extensive rule making, quite a bit of that outrage is understandable.
What is not understandable (yet is indefensible), is Trump’s mass destruction of the country’s constitutional system of shared powers. He is doing what Hitler did in 1933 and 34. Trump’s MAGA followers should remember that, historically, those who incite a revolution are frequently destroyed by it later when it gets out of hand. The wolf may devour your enemies, but once they are digested, the wolf will grow hungry once more. Its gaze may fall upon you and yours.
Trump instigated an attempt to overthrow the results of a legal election in 2020 so he could retain power. This year he has fired specific Justice Department attorneys who tried to hold him accountable back then. He demands control of the congressionally created, independent Federal Reserve Bank so he can control it for political purposes and not as the Fed works now, on the basis of independent analytical decisions. He has cut financial support for solar and wind energy innovation; promotes widening use of dirty coal and natural gas; and illegally tries to force our citizenry to accept the military’s presence in their cities.
His policies have inflicted pain on many people. American farmers’ crop export sales have plummeted because of Trump’s tariffs, and small businesses and major companies also have been wounded by them. Workers in the auto industry, aerospace companies, energy sector, home builders, machinery producers, and other supporting sub-industries and companies have been damaged to the extent that some of their employees have been laid off. Many communities and families have been hurt.
Amazingly, as I write this, Trump just claimed against all reality that consumer prices have gone down since he took office. Of course, the opposite is true and can be seen by anyone whose family has to buy food and other goods. His tariffs have caused higher prices in food, fuel, and other consumer goods and commodities. In the last three or four weeks the stock market has started to gyrate wildly, threatening to take a dramatic fall, all of which may contribute to a Trump-generated economic recession.
“Team Trump” has trampled our laws and weakened our country, betrayed our international allies and friends, spread fear and outrage among us, and given strength to the tyrants who hate us. “Part Two” of this series will discuss Trump’s plans to stay in power at any and all cost to the nation and its people.