Category Archives: Causes of the Revolution

Discussion of what might have contributed to the revolution. Includes information about current events and some historical events.

#530: End of Trump Regime. Not If but When?

10 Sunday Aug 2025

Posted by in Causes of the Revolution, Lessons of Revolution, SCOTUS, Trump 47, Uncategorized

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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 #519. Yes, we are currently embroiled in the “Revenge Revolution.”

BEGIN ENTRY #530: Trump has proved the observation from Lord Acton, a British historian and moralist, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”  

Thanks to SCOTUS’ decision, led by brain-dead Chief Justice Roberts, the president is immune from essentially any action taken while in office. SCOTUS has allowed Trump free reign in his effort to become a dictator.  

And you might ask, where is the 3rd branch of government, which according to the US Constitution is responsible for many actions being taken by Trump – minor issues like funding of the government, tariffs, international trade, declarations of war before invading foreign countries? The leadership of the House and Senate are bowing to the wannabe King of Orange and abdicating their sworn oath to uphold the Constitution, let alone their responsibility to protect the democracy.  Apparently Republicans all caught bird flu and turned into spineless chickens.

Alas, in all this insanity, there is hope.  History has shown that virtually all dictatorships end with the death of the dictator and/or a revolution by the people. So why should the end of the Trump regime be any different? It probably won’t.

So now the question becomes not how the Trump regime will end but when?

My initial prediction was the wannabe King of Orange would be assisinated within six months of the  inauguration. We’re not too far past the six months so that initial prediction might still be reasonably accurate, especially given all the people and groups that the regime has dumped on, including many who voted for him.

However, there’s a bigger issue in my view.  The issue is how does the US repair the damage caused by Trump’s destructive, revenge-driven mandates. Pick almost any action by Trump, look at the damage done by his mandates and then think about how much, time, effort and money will be required to repair the damage done.

Ruining something is always easier than rebuilding it or repairing it. Imagine that for just 30 minutes someone took a sledgehammer to the walls, fixture and furniture in your house. How long and how much money do you think it would require restoring your house? That analogy is a reasonable reference when considering the damage done to agencies of the Federal government – EPA, Education, HHS, FEMA, State Dep’t, and many more.

Power-hungry people, and Trump in particular, have an insatiable appetite for more power. No matter how much people bow down and try to appease the wannabe King of Orange, it will not be enough. History is very good at repeating itself because we the people fail to learn from the past. Dictators stop only when dead or overthrown.  END ENTRY #530

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#529 House Votes to Impeach Trump, Again.

27 Sunday Jul 2025

Posted by in Causes of the Revolution, Trump 47, Uncategorized

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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 #519. Yes, we are currently embroiled in the “Revenge Revolution.”

BEGIN #529: On the first day back from the summer 2025 recess, MAGA Republicans forced House Speaker Mike Johnson to hold a vote to begin impeachment proceedings against Trump. MAGA Republicans apparently told speaker Johnson his choices were to begin impeachment proceedings, or be replaced as MAGA Republicans would join Democrats and elect Hakeem Jefferies as Speaker of the House.

The impeachment vote haD a surprising number of Republican supporters. Members indicated that over the summer recess constituents were livid with many actions of the administration, and especially with Trump’s effort to bury the Epstein information.

One prominent Republican noted, “I never have seen constituent so upset. They want to know if Trump is a pedophile. The only way to get that information is through impeachment proceedings.“

When informed of the demand for an impeachment vote, the White House said Obama and Democrats were behind it. Most Republicans scoffed at the White House’s response and reminded the Trump administration to look at the poll numbers and talk to people on the street.

What’s the likelihood of an impeachment? Probably higher than most of us think. The drip, drip, drip of information about Trump’s actions with Epstein and under-age women seem to be even too much for the MAGAts.  More seamy facts are not likely to be revealed by Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s co-conspirator currently serving a 20-year sentence and who apparently has cut a deal with DOJ that would claim Trump had no involvement with under-age women.

The facts are more likely to be revealed by the former SDNY federal attorney who prosecuted Maxwell, and who Trump fired recently, Maureen Comey.  Comey has the facts, having been the lead attorney on the Epstein investigation and then the prosecution of Maxwell.

One has to wonder if anyone in the Trump administration thinks about potential consequences before taking action? Obviously, not. Comey has the facts, and Maxwell was charged with two counts of perjury in 2020 for allegedly lying under oath during a 2016 deposition.

Whether an impeachment comes to fruition, we shall see. What is apparent, however, is an ever-expanding percentage of the population demanding that members of Congress, SCOTUS  justices, academic institutions and media organizations (CBS, ABC) stop abdicating their responsibilities and start standing up to Trump.  END #529

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#528. SCOTUS – Squirt Toothpaste. We’ll Put Back in Tube Later.

13 Sunday Jul 2025

Posted by in Causes of the Revolution, SCOTUS, Trump 47, Uncategorized

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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 #519. Yes, we are currently embroiled in the “Revenge Revolution.”

BEGIN #528. At the end of June 2025, the term of the SCOTUS officially ended. But from the perspective of conservative justices, the end of the term should not get in the way of helping Donnie. Even though out of session, the conservatives circumvent the system and use the shadow docket for key decisions. (Shadow docket so named because there are no briefings, no oral arguments, and no real records of how justices voted. So much for transparency.)

While the tRump administration has likely set a record seeking “emergency rulings” from SCOTUS, the case at hand centered on whether the tRump administration had the right to terminate without cause untold numbers of people at federal agencies. While the US Constitution spells out that Congress shall establish the budget, the scope of the agencies, etc., and that the Executive Branch shall execute what Congress approved, one might stretch the argument and claim that the Executive Branch has a right to ignore Congress’ budget and modify agencies as it sees fit.

A number of previous administrations have taken this stand, although the scope was far more limited, and all previous efforts were overruled by the courts. But, unfortunately for the country,  when did this SCOTUS let precedent get in the way? Roberts et al might as well have said, “We understand Donnie needs help and we’re here to help him.” 

“Let’s overturn an injunction issued by the appellate court prohibiting the administration from terminating people without cause. Rather than waiting until the fall term and hearing arguments by both sides and then deciding the case, as Donnie‘s Dunces, we’re afraid to offend the Orange Man. We must let our beloved dictator go forward, even though all lower courts had decided against letting the tRump administration fire these people.”

Continuing, Roberts stated, “As far as all those people who are fired without cause, not our problem. If those who are terminated don’t like it, they can go to court and attempt to seek redress. We, the highest court in the land must let those cases wind their way through the courts, and in 2-3 years, maybe we’ll just take up a case or two and see if the tRump administration‘s actions were unconstitutional. If they were unconstitutional, then Congress can begin to put the agencies back together. Not our job.” 

In the real world, what is the effect of the allegedly procedural decision by SCOTUS?  The decision is like squirting toothpaste, and then trying to put the toothpaste back in the tube.  It doesn’t work. As far as redress and undoing the damage, by the time the case gets to the Supreme Court, the damage will so extensive that repairs will take years and likely decades.

In addition, tRump will be at the end of the term, so Donnie‘s Dunces who also ruled tRump immune from virtually every action, might look at the case and declare it moot, therefore never having to rule.

What about the people who got fired? According to Donnie’s Dunces, “Oh, that’s not our real job to worry about such mundane items. They’re just, you know, ‘those people.’ We, SCOTUS, consider only the law and not how people are affected.”

“We always consider the law, well, except for a case useful to overturn precedent. Even if the plaintiffs don’t have standing, we will take the case. You know like the Dobbs and taking away abortion rights.”

Think about what this means for the country. Even if you are a MAGA Republican, is this the kind of behavior you want from SCOTUS? If you’re smiling and chuckling about how tRump has been able to manipulate SCOTUS, what tRump has done is establish the framework for a lawless society. You can keep chuckling and thinking it’s funny until the shoe is on the other foot and then you might wake up.

In the meantime, there are a lot of people who might follow a suggestion from a Broadway play, “Annie Get Your Gun.” END #528.

Other Topics. Interested in more info about climate change, what’s required to electrify a fleet of cars/trucks, and an array of other topics, visit another page of this website, https://usrevolution5.com/jrd-thought-comments/

#527. Justice Roberts Issues Proclamation Thanking Larry, Moe, and Curly

28 Saturday Jun 2025

Posted by in Causes of the Revolution, Stupid Is as Stupid Does, Trump 47, Uncategorized

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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 #519. Yes, we are currently embroiled in the “Revenge Revolution.”

BEGIN #527: Immediately following the release that the final decision of SCOTUS this term (2024-2025), Chief Justice John Roberts issued a proclamation thanking Larry, Moe, and Curly for their guidance to SCOTUS.

During the press conference, Roberts indicated that for a number of key decisions, he and his conservative colleagues had struggled to come up with reasonable rationale for a decision that would support tRump’s behavior and immunity from prosecution.

Roberts stated, “Clearly tRump was violating the constitution on multiple fronts, and we needed to find a way around existing laws. Larry, Moe and Curly to the rescue! They saved the day for the commitment by conservatives to destroy democracy.”

tRump, standing next to Roberts, held up an executive order he had just signed, declaring the Three Stooges to be national heroes for fascism. tRump noted the executive order mandated that henceforth a portrait of the Three Stooges would hang prominently in the Supreme Court building as a reminder of their guidance.

In an attempt to ensure continued guidance from the Three Stooges on key decisions before the court, tRump indicated a new division of the Department of Justice would be established, called the Stooges Council of tRump’s United States, or SCOTUS.

When asked why the honorees were not in attendance, Roberts replied, “We wanted to surprise them.”

Later in the day when the honorees we’re located on a movie set, surprised they were.  “We’re completely unaware of the proclamations by Roberts and tRump.”  When asked how they felt about this honor, they all laughed.  Moe responded, “Surely you can’t be serious. We weren’t serious when talking to the conservative members of the court. In fact, we went out of our way to be outrageous with our ideas. You mean they thought we were serious? Actually, we’re more than a bit offended by any association with this band of know-nothings.”

Well, there you have a summary of how the Supreme Court under John Roberts makes decisions. Little Johnny Roberts and his conservative band of know-nothings seek counsel from three guys who mock the justices. But the conservative justices are too brainwashed to notice.  Conservatives must do whatever the idiot tRump wants. And the country and the world suffer as a result.

The mantra of the conservative justices — Let’s not worry about amendments to the Constitution that we don’t like; let’s not worry about rights of people that we don’t like. In fact, we don’t care what you think. You either like what we do, or we come after you.

Another indication, unfortunately, that the Revenge Revolution has started in earnest. Next phase is the shooting. Republicans would do well to study history and think about what happened on Bastille Day.

Other Topics. Interested in more info about climate change, what’s required to electrify a fleet of cars/trucks, and an array of other topics, visit another page of this website, https://usrevolution5.com/jrd-thought-comments/

#525: SCOTUS Hocus-Pocus

14 Wednesday May 2025

Posted by in Back Asswards Thinking, Causes of the Revolution, Societal Issues, Trump 47, Uncategorized

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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 #519. Yes, we are currently embroiled in the “Revenge Revolution.”

BEGIN ENTRY #525: Some decisions by SCOTUS make you wonder if a few justices need to visit a proctologist to have their head relocated to the correct part of their anatomy. Several examples of their legal trickery over the last decade or so.

  1. Citizens’ United (2010) ruled that restricting the amount of campaign donations by corporations and other organizations violated First Amendment rights. The result has been considerable amounts of “dark money” flowing into elections. The consequences of the decision were not hard to imagine, yet SCOTUS ruled so anyway.
  2. Dobbs decision, which essentially banned Federal law allowing abortions. Dobbs decision stated abortion laws should be enacted by individual states. What has emerged? An obvious byzantine set of state laws. As if the SCOTUS illogic were not enough, the case was taken by SCOTUS even though the plaintiffs had no standing. The justification for the suit was based on a hypothetical situation rather than actual events. More SCOTUS trickery.
  3. Trump vs United States (2024) where SCOTUS ruled presidents have absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for actions within their exclusive constitutional authority and presumptive immunity for all official acts. However, the ruling does not grant immunity for unofficial acts. Gee, justices, really hard to understand what the consequences of that decision might be.

The most recent SCOTUS hocus-pocus, or “where is your head?” decision, was a ruling made without any oral arguments, and no evidence presented by the Trump administration supporting their claims.

As the Trump administration is prone to do, they filed an emergency appeal to overturn a lower court’s ruling prohibiting implementation of the administration’s proposed actions.  How did SCOTUS respond? Ever mindful of how the Trump administration has strictly adhered to all laws, SCOTUS bowed to the self-proclaimed orange king and issued a ruling that effectively allows Trump, as commander-in-chief, to ban transgender people from military service.

The ruling deferred to Trump‘s authority as commander-in-chief to ban transgender personnel in the military, regardless of the person’s rank, years of service, and/or history of performance. Trump order stated all known transgender service personnel be dishonorably discharged, which, in turns, makes the person ineligible for any potential pension.

One person affected is a pilot with 19+ years of service and 50+ combat missions. The military has invested $20+ million in training the pilot. But in Trump world, expertise and experience do not matter. If the king, who never served one day in the military, doesn’t like you, then “you’re fired!” A dishonorable discharge and no pension despite your service record. So much for supporting duty, honor, country.

Aside from the lack of evidence by the Trump administration that transgender personnel have underperformed or transgender personnel negatively affect morale of the unit, out they go. Where this leads is again not hard to predict.  What’s equally disturbing, I have not heard the likely consequences discussed in the media. And, as usual, Republicans in the House and Senate remain silent, shaking in their booties.  

What’s the risk of the SCOTUS decision to allow the president to basically decide who can serve in the military?  Given Trump’s demonstrated proclivity for stretching every ruling to the limit, and then often ignoring the law, it is not hard to imagine Trump, or his Secretary of Defense lackey, will declare that those considered unfit for military service now include blacks, Hispanics, Jews, Asians, etc. Anyone who is not a religious fundamentalist with western European heritage is not fit to serve. 

The SCOTUS ruling does not prevent transgender personnel dishonorably discharged from suing to get their jobs back.  Duh, SCOTUS, did you think through this decision? How do those discharged get their jobs back and/or retain their pension rights?

While the courts are technically available to those personnel, what is the cost and what are the consequences of the time lag between filing a suit and the eventual outcome? Law firms which have not capitulated and decided to stand up to Trump are already overloaded with pro bono work trying to help many high profile, highly educated people arbitrarily discharged or dismissed by the DOGE boys.

The pilot is high profile and might be an exception and probably could get pro bono representation from a top-notch law firm. But what about the other personnel? What is the staff sergeant going to do? If the personnel are able to sue, the Federal government will appeal any unfavorable ruling all the way to SCOTUS. Even with a favorable SCOTUS decision, the time lag will be ~3 years. The plaintiff will have taken another job, and the former military unit moved on. Those discharged have few real options for restitution.   

What’s the solution to a SCOTUS that has repeatedly been unable to consider consequences of their decisions?  Some of the likely consequences are so basic you’d think that even Thomas and Alito would be concerned about the decision. But apparently not.

The solution is the same that’s required to stop Trump‘s effort to destroy democracy and form a dictatorship. The solution is a revolution, and one that more and more seems likely to become a shooting revolution with possible assassinations of Trump and key enablers. SCOTUS’ ineptness aside, the real cause is Trump.  

If you think such events are unlikely, consider all the highly trained military like personnel who have been terminated and are extremely upset. People with military combat training, and especially those having served in special forces, know how to circumvent many “protections” surrounding the president and key agency personnel. Another option is a squadron of drones that attack during one of the president’s frequent golf games.

Want more ammunition, as it were, about how alienated groups might take revenge? SCOTUS agreed to hear arguments this term about whether the 14th Amendment grants citizenship to anyone born in the US. Trump, the Constitutional scholar, says the 14th Amendment does not apply to non-citizen mothers. Mmm, does that mean a couple of Trump’s children are not US citizens since the mother was not a citizen when they were born?  Stay tuned. 

By the way, have a nice day, Mrs. Lincoln. Hope you enjoyed the play.   END #525

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#523. Artificial Intelligence: Friend or Foe? We Don’t Know.

13 Sunday Apr 2025

Posted by in Causes of the Revolution, Education Issues, Societal Issues, Trump 47, Uncategorized

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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 #519. Yes, we are currently embroiled in the “Revenge Revolution.”

BEGIN ENTRY #523: AI has gotten a lot of ink in the past few years. Some people tout AI as the next major advancement in civilization, while others claim AI will accelerate the decline of civilization.  So, who’s right?

At this point, we don’t know. However, it seems possible that AI could reduce man’s (generic “man”) ability to think and ability to determine what is a reasonable solution to a problem. Yes, AI can help solve many problems. AI is an excellent tool for getting answers to questions.

The dilemma is whether or not the person asking AI for the answers needs to have a reasonably good understanding of the topic AI is being asked to address. Without that understanding, how does one know if the response is reasonable or AI is “hallucinating” – i.e., making up the answer. 

An example: in preparing for this blog entry, I asked AI the following “Draft a 2-page document describing how unreasonably high tariffs can affect the economy.” (Hint: the more precise the instructions to AI, the more likely you’ll get a reasonable response.)

AI’s response, which was provided in seconds, was, in my view, an excellent summary of the possible impact of unreasonably high tariffs. (Click link for AI response.)

Having studied economics and spent many years applying economics to guide critical business decisions helped provide me with a perspective to assess the credibility of the AI response. Without that education and experience, I would not have known to what extent the response was reasonable, or to what extent AI was hallucinating, which it does periodically.

The answer to the question, “Is AI a friend or foe?” will be greatly influenced by the extent to which society begins to substitute AI for basic learning. We are already experiencing some decline in the ability of the population to reason. In my view, that decline has been accelerated, in part, by the shift toward more emphasis on STEM (Science. Technology, Engineering, Math) education and less emphasis on the liberal arts. Much content of STEM is binary – yes/no, right/wrong.

However, the real world and real relationships are not so clear cut. Depending upon the topic, the “gray area“ between the binary poles can be substantial. Understanding how to operate in the gray area is critical for building relationships, and for the continued survival of civilization. 

Interestingly, understanding how to operate effectively in the gray area is also critical for many STEM situations. Engineering solutions tend to focus on a defined area or application. Yet, almost always the application operates in a much larger, more complex environment.

While the teaching of “systems engineering” begins to address the influence of other variables in that environment, to fully apply the benefits of systems engineering, engineers themselves need to be able to identify likely variables in the environment and their influence on the outcome.

Where does that broader perspective of a problem come from? Learning what is taught in the liberal arts.  Critical thinking comes from understanding interactions that are often based on “fuzzy” variables and “squishy” assumptions. Behaviors within an environment are not binary.

Without systems thinking, problems tend to be viewed as binary, which leads to a zero-sum game. In a binary, zero-sum game world, if one side wins, the other side must lose. In a binary world there is no such thing as “a rising tide lifts all boats.”  In a binary world, a win-win situation is not possible.

While more entries on AI are to come, a key point is if the “organization in charge” – company, political party, group, etc. – views the world with a binary, zero-sum mentality, then all decisions are based on someone, or some group always having to win and someone having to lose.  Such an attitude disenfranchises groups and inevitably leads to a revolution. END #523

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#517. More Basic Education Needed to Avoid Electing a TOT as President

26 Thursday Dec 2024

Posted by in Causes of the Revolution, Education Issues, Societal Issues, Stupid Is as Stupid Does, Uncategorized

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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, one of which seems to occur about every 50 years in the US.

The previous “sense check” was ENTRY #500. Much has happened since Entry #500 to reinforce my belief we are currently embroiled in US Revolution 5, which I’ve labeled the “Revenge Revolution.”

BEGIN ENTRY #517: The American voting public is stupid. Such a statement might seem harsh and elitist. And maybe so.  But how else does one explain electing a fraudster, convicted felon, serial liar with no known positive attributes to become president, again?

Besides, insults seem to be the only type of statements MAGAts understand. Clearly, logic and taking the high road were ineffective approaches.

I’ll cut some slack to those who voted for Trump the first time, but not the second. All the negative attributes of Trump cautioned about before the 2016 election, and widely documented in an array of publications over the years, were proved correct during the four years of his administration. Those negative attributes were reinforced during the Biden administration and even more apparent during the campaign against Kamala Harris.

Where was the much of the voting public during the last eight years? Apparently, being brainwashed even more by Fox Misinformation Network. (Just in case you missed it, Fox agreed in April 2023 to pay Dominion Voting Systems $785 million to settle a defamation suit stemming from Fox promoting fraudulent information about Dominion’s voting machines in the 2020 election.)

OK, so you voted for Trump in 2024 because you were frustrated with some of the Biden administration policies, or maybe you couldn’t stand the idea of a black woman as president.  The policies that were so frustrating?  The ones that resulted in strong economic growth, the lowest unemployment rate in more than 50 years, a record high for the stock market, and legislation  to repair and expand infrastructure. 

Recall all the “infrastructure” programs under Trump that got enacted?  You don’t recall any?  At least you have some memory left because there were none, even though Trump controlled both houses of Congress for part of his term and had regular “infrastructure” sessions.

But, no, none of the accomplishments of the Biden/Harris administration mattered.  MAGAts were focused on real issues, like Biden administration’s commitment to give some rights to a tiny percentage of the population who’s transgender.  MAGAts know transgenders are not real people, so why give them rights?

MAGAts, why don’t you put on your big boy pants and focus on issues that matter.  Regardless of your political views, every administration is going to implement some policies you disagree with. What should be criteria for evaluating is whether the policies benefit the citizenry of the country and not a select group of politicians, or say the very wealthy, like Trump’s tax cuts did.

We all need to keep in mind citizens have equal protection under the law. While one might not agree with another’s personal behavior, as a society, we have laws to protect individual rights. Rights are defined by the Constitution.  Rights are not defined by some short-term president, some blowhard politician or some religious group.

In the Bill of Rights – notice the name – Amendment I of the US Constitution reads as follows, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or the press, or the right of the people peacefully to assemble, and to petition the government for the redress of grievances.”  That’s the entire First Amendment.

For those who slept through American History class from elementary school through high school, the pilgrims left England and came to America to be able to establish and enjoy freedom of religion. The US was not founded based on a single religion.

For those who claim because many of the basic laws in the US are consistent with the 10 Commandments, the US was therefore founded on Christianity.  If you’re in that group, please read the books of Exodus and Deuteronomy not in the Trump bible but as written in the Torah. If one wants to pick a religion as the foundation for the US, the logical choice would be Judaism and not Christianity.  

Where is the lesson from this discussion? Clearly more educated voters would make better choices when selecting candidates for office. My question to those who voted for Trump, especially a second time, “Do you really understand who Trump is and what he wants to do?”  “Are you prepared for the chaos that will occur under his new administration?”

Yes, most everyone agrees there are parts of the government that could be improved. But, improvements are needed in most organizations, relationships, and even structures. Because your house needs a few repairs, do you destroy it? Destroying something is always easier than fixing it.  Once destroyed, rebuilding takes more time and effort than repairing and results in more disruption to normal operations. 

What do we have with Trump and his incoming administration?  Conan the Barbarian on steroids.  Assume your bathroom faucet is leaking. You call a plumber named Trump.  Does Trump the plumber fix the leak in the faucet?  No, he tears down your house.

Funny, ha, ha it isn’t. Keep in mind Trump is not loyal to anyone.  He does not care if you voted for him.  You can quickly become a target and be on the receiving end of the viciousness of some of Trump’s policies. 

What a small majority of the public has done is vote to assign responsibility for the welfare of the country and much of the world to someone with the maturity and intellect of a 6-year-old spoiled brat.  The MAGAts have elected a TOT to help determine everyone’s future.  The TOT is Trump the Orange Tyrant. END ENTRY #517

Other Topics. Interested in more info about climate change, what’s required to electrify a fleet of cars/trucks, and an array of other topics, visit another page of this website, https://usrevolution5.com/jrd-thought-comments/

#509 — Goodbye Sam the Sham Alito. Part 4 Repairing Democracy

26 Sunday May 2024

Posted by in Causes of the Revolution, Common Sense Policies, Societal Issues, Uncategorized

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Welcome to a discussion about the upcoming 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” to assess whether a revolution in the US is possible or whether the entire exercise is based on a statistical aberration — i.e., a roughly 50-year cycle between major upheavals in the US. The previous “sense check” was ENTRY #500.

ENTRY #509: Part 4-Repairing Democracy: “My wife made me do it! She flew the American flag upside down! How was I to know?” claimed SCOTUS justice Samuel Alito after the NYT published a picture of the flag.

Right Sam. Let’s see if I get this right.  The flagpole in question is planted right outside the front door of your house in Washington, DC.  And given that location, a flag being flown on that pole would be hard to see whether coming or going from the house.

Oh, and yes, the flag was flown upside down for several days.  So, tell me again, what’s your excuse for letting the flag fly upside down for several days?

The timing?  Gee, the upside-down flag just happened to fly soon after the January 6 insurrection. Excuse me, I misspoke.  After the January 6 visit to the Capitol by those “true patriots” who wanted to encourage Senators to reconsider the will of the public.

“But that’s my wife’s 1st Amendment right. I can’t control what she does or says,” further claimed Alito. 

Well Sam, then what about the Pine Tree flag flying at your vacation house in Long Beach Island, New Jersey?  The symbolism of that flag might be a bit more subtle, but the message is essentially the same.  Disregard the US Constitution and set up a different set of rules.  The Pine Tree Flag supports the idea that Christianity should take precedence over any government regulation.

Dear Sam the Sham Alito:  maybe I missed when the 1st Amendment was modified to eliminate the separation of church and state.  And the modification to the 1st Amendment made Christianity the de facto law of the land. When was the 1st Amendment modified?

Your behavior has repeatedly demonstrated you are unqualified to serve on SCOTUS. If a SCOTUS Justice cannot follow a simple code of ethics that applies to every other federal judge, then why should anyone in the public respect your rulings on a case?

What’s the impact of behavior by Alito, and Thomas?  The behavior of both justices is a key contributor to a sharp and sustained decline in the public’s respect for SCOTUS.  Over the last 20-25 years – roughly the tenure of Alito and Thomas – according to a survey by GSS, the percentage of Americans who indicate high or some level of confidence in SCOTUS has declined from 85+% in 2000 to about 50% in 2023. The relative decline was even greater among those with “high confidence” in SCOTUS. 

The public understands the SCOTUS justices have a right to interpret a case differently. The public does not understand or approve why SCOTUS justices have a right to exclude themselves from ethical behavior and, in Thomas’ case, borderline illegal behavior.

Republicans who question why the uproar over the Stars and Stripes flying upside down at Alito’s house should ask themselves would they show equal support for a more liberal justice who did something similar? Or would they show the same indifference if a Democratic member of Congress had flown the US flag upside down or flown a flag supporting an insurrection? Would Republicans support such actions the way they’re supporting Alito and Thomas?

And about those 1st Amendment rights Alito claims for his wife?  Why are Republicans in the House all exorcised about some college students protesting Israel’s action in Gaza? Republicans don’t support either Muslims or Jews, so why all the fuss?  And don’t the students have 1st Amendment rights?

Disregard for the ethical behavioral guidelines and especially disregard for the rule of law by those in power erodes the public’s trust in democracy.  Trust is eroded even more quickly when the behavior is by those charged with upholding the rule of law.  And which body is charged with the final interpretation of the law – SCOTUS. 

When SCOTUS justices Alito and Thomas openly thumb their nose at ethical guidelines and/or the rule of law, the public then begins to question the fairness of all rulings.  The erosion of confidence in the court system can be the death kneel of democracy. 

If we, societal we, are to begin repairing our democracy, we need to get Alito and Thomas off SCOTUS. We should also consider implementing a reasonable procedure for “impeaching” justices who have clearly violated ethical guidelines and even worse the law. We should also implement term limits for SCOTUS justices – say 20 years and out. The changes would be a start. END ENTRY 509

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#508: Part 3 Repairing Democracy. Clarence Thomas’ New Gig – Stand-Up Comedian

14 Tuesday May 2024

Posted by in Causes of the Revolution, Possible Solutions, Societal Issues, Uncategorized

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Welcome to a discussion about the upcoming 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” to assess whether a revolution in the US is possible or whether the entire exercise is based on a statistical aberration — i.e., a roughly 50-year cycle between major upheavals in the US. The previous “sense check” was ENTRY #500.

BEGIN #508: During a recent private dinner for major Republican donors, SCOTUS Justice Thomas said he would be pursuing a part-time career when the court is not in session this summer. Thomas described the part-time career as a stand-up comedian.

When asked if he had another comedian in mind as a model, Thomas responded, “Rodney Dangerfield.” Thomas continued, “Like Dangerfield, I don’t get no respect. All those people are critical of me and my family. I don’t understand why. “

When someone at the dinner asked him to elaborate, Thomas claimed that people should not be disrespectful just because he has taken large loans that he never repaid or that he has taken a number of vacations paid for by someone else. In addition, people should not be upset because members of the family have received gifts from other Republicans.

Thomas lamented “Why are people so upset? SCOTUS has no rules about such corruption, I mean behavior.  Well, at least the rules are not enforced. Besides, I deserve respect and all that money because…well, just because of who I am.“

Right Clarence.  Let me provide some more perspective. First, respect is earned not automatically granted with the position. And being a justice of SCOTUS means you should be held to a higher standard, not a lower standard.

How does Thomas‘ behavior affect the intensity of the Revenge Revolution?  While not the primary cause of the Revenge Revolution, the behavior of Thomas and other justices, even more than their decisions, affects how people view the credibility of branches of government.  For decades SCOTUS has been viewed as the providing the guardrails for a rogue Congress or a rogue president.

 The behavior of Thomas, Alito, and the Trump triumvirate has accelerated erosion in the public’s confidence of a credible SCOTUS.  Confidence has fallen to the lowest since surveys began.

The solution to begin to rebuild confidence in SCOTUS? Term limits – i.e., years in office.

Generally, I’m opposed to term limits, especially since for most government officials the public has the opportunity to throw the bums out.  Not so, however, with the SCOTUS justices, who are appointed for life. Putting some term limits would increase turnover and help avoid gross imbalances that could continue over decades.

Another change would be to make SCOTUS justices subject to the same rules and reporting requirements as other federal judges. The penalty for lack of compliance would be removal from the bench and not some BS impeachment hearing in the House and then a vote in the Senate.

Implementing term limits or time limits likely would require an amendment to the US Constitution.  Subjecting SCOTUS justices to the same rules and regulations as other federal judges likely could be implemented by Chief Justice Roberts and certainly by Congress.

Such changes would be a good step to beginning to repair democracy in America. END #508.

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#505: Looney Tunes Wants to Reign

19 Tuesday Mar 2024

Posted by in Causes of the Revolution, Possible Solutions, Post Trump Presidency, Societal Issues, Uncategorized

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Welcome to a discussion about the upcoming 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” to assess whether a revolution in the US is possible or whether the entire exercise is based on a statistical aberration — i.e., a roughly 50-year cycle between major upheavals in the US. The previous “sense check” was ENTRY #500.

BEGIN #505: Writing entries for this blog has allowed me to analyze and address a range of topics. Virtually all topics have been related to a possible 5th US Revolution, the Revenge Revolution.  The past six months, and especially since the beginning of the 2024 calendar year, finding a topic other than the absurdity of the behavior of Trump and the Republican lemmings, has been difficult.

While not alive during the period, the statements by Trump must be similar to that of the days in the 1930’s in Germany leading up to Hitler’s election and the early days thereafter.  The similarities go beyond Trump using the same words or phrases as Hitler. The similarities include absolute brainwashing of a substantial part of the population who cheer Trump’s every move.

In addition, Trump and allies, much like Hitler, are openly attempting to destroy all checks and balances in our democracy – at the Federal, state and local levels. Trump is open about wanting to be a dictator and his supporters seem excited about having someone as president who can “fix all the problems in society.”  Part of the “ultimate solution” being espoused by Trump is to deport, or maybe to destroy, all people other than those whose heritage is white western European.  “You know, we need to get rid of ‘those people’ who are poisoning the blood of true Americans.”

During political rallies Trump salutes and praises the January 6 insurrectionist, vowing to pardon them if elected. He also recently claimed that any Jew who didn’t vote for him must hate Judaism and Israel.

Unfortunately, the Trump insanity will continue to escalate as the campaign continues and key Republicans and many Christian leaders bow down to their replacement god. Maybe the logo of the Republican Party should become the golden calf – maybe an orange calf would be more appropriate. 

 The next few months will be a severe test of the US legal system. Trump has lost significant civil cases with substantial penalties – E. Jean Carroll, $90+ million, and the fraud case in New York State, $500+ million and counting.  He also faces a plethora of criminal charges  in Manhattan and Georgia.

Executing judgments from these cases and protecting people who have been involved, even innocent jurors and law clerks, will be difficult.  Few well-trained mental-health professionals doubt that Trump is mentally unhinged. The execution of the legal judgments – loss of financial assets and possibly some jail time – will put him in the total looney-bin category.

Executing the judgments likely will also unleash a number of supporters who will try and take revenge on the public and politicians. January 6 was a mere rehearsal.

My view and hope is all the turmoil around Trump gets resolved before the election, and certainly before the inauguration. The only solution to avoid widespread chaos and attempted retribution is to ensure that Trump is not able to takeoff office, should he be elected. “That’s all folks!”

More in future entries. END ENTRY #505

Other Topics. Interested in more info about climate change, what’s required to electrify a fleet of cars/trucks, and an array of other topics, visit another page of this website, https://usrevolution5.com/jrd-thought-comments/