The Game Plays Out
Planning for the ugly realities
What do we do now? Yet another stage of disgust and desperation has been reached. Nothing remains of previous hope. All that we have is the endless list of lies, corrupt acts, and deteriorating international relations.
Since my last attempt to be positive with what could come from this met with the opinion that it just won’t happen, let’s look at elements of what would be the more likely outcomes. These realities start from political paralysis, structural failure and destruction that the election of Trump represented from the beginning. There is a growing belief that only when this destruction is inescapable will the people who refuse to see anything but propaganda and refuse to hear anything but lies begin to admit the reality of the disaster.
Maybe so. But what will that stage be? How far down does this need to go before the keepers of the illusion, the myth of exceptional nation and the wealth within reach of all, are forced to admit that lie?
The decades of decay and descent into economic and political ignorance, the coddling of billionaires, racism, misogyny and bigotry was allowed because it was only politics. The complete denial of free education, national healthcare, job and income security that the majority of this country has demanded for years is simply the proper action of representatives who only represent the wealthy oligarchy and this is the thieving nature of our government.
The old ranger thirty-five years ago, an actor politician committed to lies and theft, made our government the enemy and sneered at the foolish idea of equality. His message was give us all that you have and we will tell you that you are special. And then you will be happy because we are rich and our leavings will be enough for you. The economic lie failed quickly while wealth has been poured into the pockets of the richest while the leavings have barely increased for the rest.
Since then the rule has been to find those who can be blamed and made to pay. As incomes stagnated and debt has grown a new class of poor has been created that have little of significant value except their lives. The costs of healthcare and daily living have increased tightening the vice. The costs of products that have remained low due to global trade are now threatened by trade wars caused by ignorance and corruption.
To keep the scam going it has became essential to allow the people who bought and swallowed the lies to finally release their hatred. Trump was useful to focus the hate on the weakest part of America, immigrants and people of color.
Hatred was all that was left. Ignorance is wealth. You have no idea why you are poor. We tell you that you are wealthy because we are wealthy. And you have been told that all knowledge and logic are fake and education is a lie. Thirty years of hard work at the same pay but those that matter are vastly wealthier by the year. And your opportunities are gone. Your children will have even less. The thieves, whomever they are, need to be denounced, brutalized, murdered , and deported. Their children must suffer.
The options have been steadily eliminated. Will the migrations to the coasts and then to other countries grow until it cannot be ignored? Will the litany of crimes against Trump and his coterie of stooges be made public in the summer and will public anger explode? The fools represented by the fool in the White House have no understanding of these dangers but his danger is our danger now. And the people who were not fooled by the wild shouting are now very, very worried and they see no way out.
One possible scenario:
Mueller’s list of crimes is reported to the Justice Department and Congress as required but no action is taken. The list of crimes is leaked and the midterm election becomes confused with Republican candidates dropping out and their places being taken by opportunists as public anger and the fear of retribution spreads.
Trump cannot be removed legally, refuses to resign, and the election is a shambles with all races protested and then ignored. The old Congress refuses to act. Coastal states begin to break away. The US ceases to exist and the Trump police state struggles to take control of what is left. Who takes the military?
A second scenario:
All as above but the Mueller report becomes an indictment but Trump pardons his family, stooges, and himself. In reaction the election becomes an overthrow in the face of the crimes committed by Trump and cohort and impeachment is successful in the new House of Representatives. The Senate hearings drag on because there is no clear or ethical majority. The federal government and Supreme Court continue to be crippled.
The economy crashes as the bubble created by the ill conceived tax scam bursts triggered by trade wars and corruption too large to ignore. Prices rise and the lack of assets for the majority of population with the destruction of the safety nets leave more and more without choices. Slow government collapse ensure with thousands crossing the Canadian and Mexican borders to safety and a way to survive. International refugee camps line the Canadian and Mexican borders.
A third scenario:
Trump fires Mueller and the corrupt Congress talks but makes only token gestures of condemnation. The trade wars generate united international action sanctioning the US. This triggers the economic collapse.
The election replaces the House of Representatives and the Senate remains split. Trump expands ICE to handle domestic insurgency and suppress dissidents. The 2020 election returns Trump to power while fighting breaks out on the California, Oregon, Washington newly unified border. Cities break away from states in the south and elsewhere. The nation stumbles into chaos.
These scenarios include the most pessimistic components that could develop over this summer and into the autumn. The extent of criminal activity, if it is made public, will require action. The economic collapse is almost guaranteed without drastic change. Any combination is possible but the lowest odds are on a clean removal of Trump and his corrupt regime. Currently no option to achieve this is possible without a massive landslide election. The structure of the US cannot be maintained without a federal government with functional leadership. The current gerrymandered districts in a number of states and the massive corruption of the US party system prevents a fully representative election.
Any other option will require majority recognition that a major constitutional change or a constitutional replacement is needed. The ranks of national politicians are so corrupt, loaded with incompetents, and the election validity of the current representatives is so disconnected from the citizens that I cannot see the necessary actions needed to save the US as even remotely possible in this case.
It will soon be up to the people to act.
