1 FOLLOW ME OUT OF THE WOODS
I lie awake many nights, tossing and turning over what can be done to correct America’s deep fall into a land of autocracy, bigotry, and hate. The easiest path is for many people to awaken to their big mistake, having swallowed right-wing propaganda. That is how many people describe it, “right wing.” I want to begin this treatise by clarifying the meaning of labels that are used to divide Americans. The intent of our nation is “E pluribus unum.” Out of many we are one.
The trouble begins when many American citizens probably have less knowledge about their government than new immigrants who must pass a test on such knowledge to gain citizenship.
I asked AI for an overview to determine the accuracy of my personal notion. I stand, partly corrected:
“No, the data does not support that new immigrant citizens consistently know more about the US government than the general citizen population; however, naturalized citizens must pass a civics test to become citizens, which requires a baseline level of knowledge. Some studies suggest native-born citizens may be more informed about history and government, but many native-born citizens lack basic knowledge about the government, according to sources like the Annenberg Public Policy Center.”
I asked for an AI Overview of “right wing,” and here is what it says:
“While its meaning has evolved, core characteristics of right-wing thought today include:
· Conservatism: A preference for preserving existing institutions and traditions. This can include social conservatives who emphasize traditional family values and social order, and fiscal conservatives who focus on limiting government spending and influence.
· Economic Liberalism: Often champions laissez-faire capitalism, free markets, and deregulation.
· Limited Government: Advocates for reduced government intervention in the economy and individual lives, prioritizing personal freedom and responsibility.
· Strong National Defense: Commonly supports a powerful military and a firm approach to law enforcement.
· Social Hierarchy: Some right-wing ideologies view social or economic inequality as natural and inevitable, or even beneficial to society.
Next, I asked for an AI Overview of “Liberalism.”
“Liberalism is a political and economic philosophy emphasizing individual autonomy, equality of opportunity, and the protection of individual rights. It has been a dominant force in Western democracy since the Age of Enlightenment, although its meaning and application have evolved significantly over time.
Core principles
Though they vary depending on the specific form of liberalism, several key principles are fundamental to the ideology:
· Individualism: Liberalism views the individual as the fundamental building block of a just political system. It promotes individual freedom, reason, and self-determination.
· Liberty: Central to liberalism is the protection of individual liberties such as freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, and freedom of association.
· Consent of the governed: This principle holds that a government's legitimacy comes from the people it governs, who consent to be ruled.
· Rule of law: The idea that all individuals and institutions, including the government, are subject to and accountable under the law.
· Equality: Historically, early liberal thinkers focused on equality before the law. Modern liberalism often extends this to include equality of opportunity and social justice.
· Limited government: Liberalism supports a constitutional government with a limited scope of power to protect individual rights and freedoms.
· Private property: The right to own and control private property is a core principle, especially within classical and economic liberalism.”
I ask you, are these ideas mutually exclusive? One principle that is shared between these ideas is “Limited government.” That is, both acknowledge the need for governance with the caveat that government must be regulated, as it is also the source of regulation. Until the Donald J. Trump regime, the rule of law was highly respected and integral to the US Constitutional Law of the land. This author rejects the Trump/MAGA movement’s upheaval. The way ahead is to reestablish and reinvigorate America’s embrace of the rule of law and the founding articles. I go one step further by imploring citizens to dedicate time and attention to renewing their knowledge about government and citizens’ responsibilities to preserve, protect, and defend their Constitutional democratic republic. You see, it isn’t only elected officials who are sworn to the nation’s defense; it includes every able-bodied American.
2 CELEBRATING ‘NO KINGS’ DAY
In light of America’s founding by those who vehemently rejected the notion of the nation having a King instead of an elected President, today’s chapter happens when millions of Americans march and shout, no to the dictatorial authoritarian Donald J. Trump and his ilk. Seventy-two percent of Americans want Trump and his cabinet and Congressional tribe out of office. We the People want them gone today, not tomorrow or some day in the future.
The damage done by the Trump-Republican MAGA movement is too great to tolerate. One could hope a posse of Generals would arrest him and them at the direction of Congress and with the backing of the Supreme Court. Because Congress and the Court are corrupted by the Trump tribe, the rule of law and due process is bent, altered, and therefore, creative patriots must forge a new way forward.
To what outcome is desired and required?
The US Government must be purged of the Trump-MAGA-GOP strain. That strain of corruption, undermining the rule of law, cannot coexist in the American democratic republic under the US Constitution.
The mechanism for the purge needs to be defined as it is a process for paving the way for a newly elected government.
Impeding the way ahead is a lack of Standards for American Political Parties.
Figure 1 Standards for American Political Parties, James A. George
https://www.amazon.com/Standards-American-Political-Parties-George-ebook/dp/B0CXML7MLR
Not to worry, I explored the need for uniform standards for political parties to which all parties and American citizens must adhere and enforce. Basically, standards govern political parties that are non-profit corporations intended to recruit and vet candidates for elected officers bearing their brand. I advocate that political parties be held liable for candidates' truthfulness in their resumes and in their intentions to support party platforms via their individual manifestos. Only when such standards are adopted with implications for a Constitutional Amendment can the public be assured of a degree of honesty and character among them.
3 THE PURGE
I have no expectation that Americans will do their remedial education. However, I began long ago, advocating the Universal Declaration of Human Rights because I believe that document, to which America is a signatory, is a superset of the US Constitution. Otherwise, human rights are essential to all the rest.
To eradicate the evil-bearing administration demands quicker attention than the normal political process. Since Trump himself proffers the notion of his running for a third term (which is illegal) and since he has taken numerous illicit actions for which the court has ruled against him 93 percent of the time, it must be acceptable to counter his subversive actions.
“One recent impeachable offense was Trump’s mobilization of military forces into the streets of Los Angeles, in which he trampled on the US Constitution, the rights of peaceful protesters, the constitutional authority of the state of California, and the rule of law.” [1]
Trump’s apparent strategy is to flood the zone with lawsuits, many of which are frivolous, with the intention of tying the hands of his opposition.
Since Republican Congressional representatives chose to sit out their responsibilities and not show up at work, the Democratic Representatives should call Congress to order with their leader, Hakeem Jeffries. The first order of business should be to impeach or censor all Republican representatives for dereliction of duty and failing their oaths of office. Denying them the right to vote would place Democrats in charge, and they can advance their leader back to the position of Speaker of the House.
Having restored the House, they can advance the budget bill and prepare it for presentation to the Senate. There will be wrangling in the Senate, though, and with momentum, the government should be turned on again.
Concurrently, the newly activated Congress can proceed to impeach Donald J. Trump and his “kingdom” expeditiously. Speedy justice is what they deserve. Prosecute and lock them up on all counts. Send Trump to the Court where his cases are on hold and turn them back on to get him in jail.
Where there will surely be resistance, Congress must communicate with both the Supreme Court and the Military leadership about the plan to arrest and remove them. Since the Supreme Court was corrupted by the impeached president’s appointments, those justices must be asked to resign or otherwise be removed. In such cases of Clarence Thomas he may be liable for individual prosecution.
The Purge Process demands special attention and resources independent from the work required to serve the nation’s needs.
[1] https://freespeechforpeople.org/constitutional-scholars-agree-trump-has-committed-multiple-impeachable-offenses/
