What Would Nellis Say?

all people matter

By Rick Stiller​​​​​​​

 

As Biden prepared to leave office after the November elections, The Economist Magazine touted the American economy as “the envy of the world.” Unemployment was the lowest percentage in decades, inflation was dropping, and the markets were soaring.

 

$11 trillion has been lost since Trump’s election, the Dow continued to drop into bear territory today after declining by more than 3,600 points last week, and international financial markets are in freefall. Allies and trading partners are responding with reciprocal tariffs on our imports, and confidence in everything America represents will suffer long after Trump is removed from office.

 

Less than three months since his election, we are immersed in the new age of Trump’s alternate reality 2.0 as the nation faces the inauguration of our next recession and, perhaps, the first real depression since Herbert Hoover signed the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act in 1930 that precipitated a trade war which paved the way for the Great Depression. 

 

We are in a new era of confrontation with our allies, collaboration with our enemies, isolationism, and withdrawal from the role of the world's leader in defending democracy. This is not who we are or who we as a nation intend to be.

 

Unfortunately, legitimate media and right-wing propaganda machines failed to expose the $55 million Leonard Leo and Charlie Koch invested in the Heritage Foundation's openly published Project 2025, a day-by-day action plan to dismantle the federal government and eliminate taxes and regulations. The ultimate goal of the document is to replace our democracy with a fascist regime manned by loyal but unqualified and incompetent zealots, headed by an inept, semi-illiterate, and easily manipulated dictator, and directed by an autocracy of greedy billionaires. 

 

The ultra-conservative plan includes a $4.5 trillion gift to the top one percent of the top one percent that will be paid for by Trump’s ridiculous tariffs (a tax on everything Americans purchase every day), combined with the elimination of our rights and benefits, the salaries of hundreds of thousands of civil servants who were unceremoniously booted from their jobs without cause (adding to the unemployment roster), as well as the gutting and privatization of Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, and most of our social services.

 

Every crazy pledge Trump threatened in his campaign speeches (Oh, he wouldn’t do that) was expanded into attainable goals in that document. MAGA and far too many traditional Republicans refused to believe him, glorifying him as the second coming of Christ and the savior of white nationalist domination. Blind adoration despite his 34 felony convictions, accusations of rape by dozens of women, and the fact that every business he started ended in bankruptcy. All of that, in addition to leaving a million dead through his arrogance and incompetence in refusing to deal with the pandemic. Trump’s economy was smoldering in a dumpster when he left office after his first term. Now we, all of us, will pay for their nonsensical fidelity to America's first fascist dictator.

 

This is merely the initial chapter in America’s coming economic, intellectual, and social nightmare, a first salvo in a barrage of demolition, destruction, and senseless cruelty and deaths that will replace the hope, innovation, and determination of the past four years with a national catastrophe.

 

Many readers have responded to these essays with frustration and wondering what they can do to stop or at least diminish Trump and the zillionaire’s rampage against our freedoms and security.                  

 

Everyone possesses a skill or ability to protest what’s happening. A friend wrote a clever and humorous song that could easily become the movement’s anthem. Others are writing on public forums like Facebook, Medium, and SubStack. And others are calling their Senators and Representatives every day, demanding answers and action! Each of you can and should contribute your voice in your own way today! And tomorrow! And the day after that!

 

While individual protests are valid and necessary, We, The American People, need to organize our outrage into a national campaign that can not and will not be denied. We’ve seen the first massive demonstrations (Hands Off!) this weekend in cities in every state in the country, organized by FiftyFiftyOne. Let’s make sure these are just the first steps in a fearless and relentless crusade to resurrect everything we believe our nation should be.

 

Republicans have been trying to eliminate the Postal Service for decades, and they are on the verge of success. (Private delivery services – UPS, FED EX, etc. - owned by members of that elite group of billionaires - will reap the rewards and charge more for less service). So why don’t we send millions of postcards to every official’s office every day, a paper blizzard to express our outrage over their lack of courage, gumption, and real patriotism? 

 

Why don’t we boycott the businesses and products that enriched the American oligarchs who are trying to take over the country? (Think Musk-Tesla, Bezos-Amazon, Theil-PayPal, Zuckerberg-Meta, Koch-Georgia-Pacific, et al.) Why don’t we organize more focused protests at the offices and businesses of those who are supporting the destruction of our nation? 

 

Why don’t qualified and dedicated citizens run for office in local and state elections? You could earn a seat on your city council or your school board to defend against rewriting history and brainwashing our children with fake Christian dogma. (The world is not flat, the Civil War was fought over slavery, the horrors of the Holocaust really happened, and 2 + 2 still equals 4). 

 

Why don’t we defend libraries (and librarians!) from those who would deny our right to express our opinions and read whatever inspires us, answers our questions, or fulfills our dreams? Why don’t we defend our colleges and universities that have made us the educational envy and technological leaders of the world while they are under attack from illiterate right-wing censors? (An ignorant and uniformed populus is easier to manipulate than one that has been taught to think critically and make informed decisions…as MAGA proves).

 

What’s Trump doing during this time of crisis? He waved to the press corps, lumbered onto his chopper, and headed off to a Saudi-sponsored golf tournament and a million-dollar-a-plate fundraiser for his PAC at his resort in Florida. He doesn’t care about the American people, and he never did.

 

We need a generational change in leadership. We need people willing to cast aside the Democratic notion that we should follow the rules politely against the radicals who control Congress backed by an avalanche of lies and misinformation surging through the airwaves and social media. We need honorable people willing to fight for everything this country stands for, including the rights of women and minorities, due process for immigrants, and putting an end to Tom Homan’s masked, plain-clothed ICE stormtroopers dragging innocent people off the streets of our country and shipping them off to draconian prisons in El Salvador without warrants, representation, or trial. 

 

We need folks willing to gum up the machinery to stop the MAGA extremists from destroying our institutions and passing or supporting hateful, destructive edicts that mimic totalitarian regimes that used to be our enemies. We need leaders who are not afraid to scream and shout and pound the podium to protect the nation from the darkest intentions of the right-wing conspirators.

 

The characters in my Redemption Series created a tiny protest movement called ‘All People Matter’ that grew into a national campaign to end exploitation by a cadre of wealthy white business owners and corrupt government officials.

 

They overcame their fears and found the courage to shut down the country, and so must we. We are the resistance, and you have the power to make a difference! 

 

As Senator Cory Booker said in his twenty-five-hour speech, “The power of the people is stronger than the people in power!” 

 

All People Matter! Stand up! Speak out! Join the fight for freedom and help end American fascism!

 

Thanks for your support. I look forward to your thoughts and comments.

 

Visit www.rickstiller.com to read my previous essays and an introduction to my novels.

 

Give your brain a rest and visit www.rickstillerart.com to admire my floral portraits from Kelian’s Garden.

​

​