Welcome to a discussion about the 5th Revolution in the US, which I’ve titled the “Revenge Revolution.” For more about the Revenge Revolution and the author, click “About the Author” tab. 

Periodically I write a “sense check” about the status of the Revolution. The previous “sense check” was ENTRY #500. Much has happened since Entry #500 to reinforce my belief we are currently embroiled in the “Revenge Revolution.”

BEGIN ENTRY #519: Over the 10+ years of this blog, I have suggested a “Revenge Revolution“ would begin in the US sometime about 2020-2025. The prediction was based on historical patterns of “revolutions” occurring in the US about every 50 years.  

A quick summary of what I’ve designated as revolutions:

1. American Revolution, which ended with the War of 1812 when the British were finally defeated
2. Civil War, 1861-1865
3. 1910–1920 – mass migration to the US, primarily from Europe
4. 1960s, early 1970s – cultural revolution led by Baby Boomers
5. 2020ish – Revenge Revolution.

As you think about timing of the revolutions, don’t get too hung up on exact dates, since key factors precipitating the revolution often occur before the revolution begins. The reasons for the Civil War, for example, did not just occur in 1861 but evolved over several decades. The dates of the revolutions were based on the “tipping point” and when actions associated with the revolution began to have a major impact on society.

Back to Revolution V.  The label “Revenge Revolution” was added to Revolution V before Trump entered politics.  I do not remember exactly why I so labeled it, but the naming was fortuitous.

What has surprised me more than anything else about the Revenge Revolution is how people voted in the 2024 election. Clearly, there has been a growing frustration among the populous over some government policies. However, determining the areas of frustration and the causes of the frustration proved difficult to predict using normal metrics.   

The current economy includes a host of positive indicators.  Examples include high employment/low unemployment rate, increased real wages, expanded individual rights, and no real wars involving American troops. Using normal metrics, what more could the populous want?

Yet, like most revolutions, when viewing in hindsight, traditional metrics no longer seem to apply. What are the new metrics that we should be considering?

At this point, I’m not sure, and I’m not sure anyone knows. What is clear, however, is a near majority of Americans voted to elect as president who has no demonstrated record of solving any complex problem, whether a societal business related; is a serial liar; refuses to accept any responsibility for a problem or error; and a convicted felon. So, what metrics should we use to gauge if the US is on the right track and to elect a president?

Candidate Trump was strongly supported by the religious right.  Yet, Trump’s repeated behavior is contrary to the basic tenets of Christianity.  Others are chastised for behavior that is far less egregious, but Trump is praised and his behavior ignored by a high percentage of Christians. 

Trump was also supported by surprising percentage of blacks and Hispanics, despite having denigrated both groups consistently overtime.  Although this blog entry was drafted before the inauguration, Trump has already initiated programs for mass deportation of undocumented immigrants, mostly Hispanic.

Here we are about a week into Trump‘s second term. What do we have?  Problem solving?  Credible solutions?  Coherent policies?  Credible staff?  No.  What we have is chaos and lots of bullying.

Who do we have as nominees for the cabinet?  A group of people with little or no experience in the area of responsibility.   If you want to fix a problem inside an organization, get some people who understand the dynamics of organizational systems, not a weekend tv host. You don’t go to the local auto mechanic to fix a broken arm.   

The marginally qualified cabinet nominees combined with a complicit Republican Senate and a SCOTUS that cannot seem to think about consequences of decisions – Citizens’ United and Trump immunity, e.g. – seem to me to be a tipping point for the Revenge Revolution.  

The first week of term two has been pure textbook Project 2025.  Here, Little Donnie, sign this Executive Order with your Sharpie and we’ll let you eat another Big Mac. Don’t bother to read the Executive order because you won’t understand it.  You know, like the meaning of 14^th Amendment. 

Granted, Executive Orders are just for the executive branch and can be challenged, but they have created anxiety within the society and a lot of confusion.  In addition, Trump has vowed to weaponized DOJ.  In Trump world, you should interpret everything as if looking in a mirror – all meanings of words and phrases are backwards. 

Trump is the one weaponizing DOJ.  Trump is going after people who don’t agree with him. If you’re a big Trump supporter, try criticizing him sometime on an issue on a public platform and see what kind of reaction you get.  Actions by the Trump administration have all the characteristics of a dictatorship.

Can we check the box that we are in the “Revenge Revolution”?  Yes!

On the positive side, I’m not sure Trump realizes that people can revolt, and bureaucrats can slow down a lot of what he is trying to do. In addition, he faces another problem.  In his first term, I wrote a blog entry titled, “Who took out the Donald?“

More than ever, I think the title of that blog entry seems appropriate given what has occurred so far. There are some really pissed off people out there, including members of the military, law enforcement – especially after pardoning/commuting sentences for the Jan 6 insurrectionists – and numerous groups.  The environment is beginning to feel like the mid-1960’s and all the turmoil.  We shall see. END ENTRY #519

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