What happens if we ignore our Constitution?

What will hold us together if we've divided ourselves into "us" and "them?"

Yes, I’m worried … disheartened … and confused. In the flood of news and opinions, one question keeps repeating: Why this? Why now? (I guess that’s two, huh?)

Is this just one of those perfect storms of ...
     - growing income inequality,
     - too much money in our political system,
     - accepting lying as a form of free speech,
     - not understanding what it would be like to live under a dictatorial regime,
     - a self-inflated, rudderless man (or men and women) hungry for money and power,
     - not recognizing how interdependent we are with each other, other countries, and            our planet,
     - existential loneliness and a feeling of powerlessness,
     - widespread disinformation and lies,
     - broken trust with church, state, the media and so on,
     - not having lived with war on our shores.

                                          Are we really at a point where we are willing 
                                                  to break everything and start over? 
                                                          Are we willing to risk war?

We live in a rich country blessed with beautiful land, incredible natural resources, hard working people, and peace. Why are we willing to risk all of that and to be so unfeeling toward each other?

What scares you most in these strange times? Or … if possible … what gives you hope?

One thing that is giving me hope and comfort: SUBSTACK WRITERS

There is an amazing variety of expertise and experience here and I’m sharing just some of the insights from yesterday’s free posts:

“Although the actual size of the federal workforce has shrunk slightly in the last fifty years even while the U.S. population has grown by about 68%, the Republican Party insisted that the government was wasting tax dollars, usually on racial, religious, or gender minorities.” — Heather Cox Richardson

“In the last few days, four polls came out showing Trump’s approval rating dropping into the mid-40s — where it was for much of his first term. Here are the numbers:” — Dan Pfeiffer

‘Importantly, the polls also show majorities rejecting Trump’s authoritarian governance. And Elon Musk, who’s carrying out Trump’s most autocratic designs, fares even worse.’ — The New Republic by the Daily Blast with Greg Sargent

“I have spent over 50 years of my life voting—marching, believing—maybe not always optimistically, but stubbornly, relentlessly—that democracy was a thing worth protecting. I have seen the worst of this country, and I have survived it. But this is different. This is a storm so violent, so calculated, that I do not know if survival is enough anymore. Maybe survival itself has become a form of compliance.” — Gloria Horton-Young

If you fear missing out on the DOGE “memecoin” billions, PLEASE read the following by someone who can not only spell economics but actually understands it. Pay special attention to the lower left arrow of the image below … and remember the bank in Elkhart, Kansas talked about in Krugman’s post.

“But now the Trump administration wants to cut the Fed out of the loop.”— Paul Krugman

Minsky Moment

If you’re curious about whether or not the autocratic leadership-virus has escaped to other parts of the world, read this post from Jules Evans. (short answer: yes, but moderately so far.)

“Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, however, has offered a more productive and inspiring approach. Earlier this month, she posted an almost hour-long webinar titled “Know Your Rights With ICE.” — Noah Berlatsky

(Of course, no good deed should go unpunished: Homan is now trying to get the DOJ to investigate AOC. Weren’t they the one claiming the DOJ was being weaponized?- JW)

Andy’s titles usually make me smile.

DOGE Math Error Results in Claim That Musk has 13 Billion Children Instead of 13

The greatest fear I have in these troubling times is that we might be led into war.

Here’s John Denver:

John Denver: “We could call it Peace.”