Courtesy of Ken Baker https://www.holladayparkplaza.org
A drizzle, more like a fog, dampened the pavement where I stood holding my “Stop Trump” sign. Minutes later, the drizzle became a downpour. Fortunately, I was prepared for a change, having buttoned my raincoat to its lapels and covered my sign with heavy plastic. Drivers had no trouble reading its message, and a few of them honked as they passed, leaving behind a breeze that carried a chill.
Each time it happened, I shivered and longed for my armchair and a warm cup of coffee. Nonetheless, I remained at my post because, on a whim, Donald Trump had bombed Iran the previous evening. The splash of gutter water that darkened my shoes was a small price to pay to protest America’s involvement in another Middle East war.
I was not alone in my vigil. A dozen protester stood on either side of me; their umbrellas lowered so that conversation was difficult. Much of the time, each of us was occupied with our private thoughts. Mine were especially bleak. The president, eager to pose as a strong man, had been willing to do Israel’s dirty work. Would his erratic behavior play out in the 2026 mid-term elections, I wondered.
THE DANGER
When he lost reelection in 2020, he attempted a coup. If Democrats regained control of the House or the Senate next year, would he revert to more violence? Were the Marines lining the peaceful streets in Los Angeles a rehearsal for Martial law?
Anything is possible when voters elect a felon to lead the nation. His Cabinet reflects his character, too–a rooster of like-cohorts and incompetents chosen for their loyalty to the president rather than the Constitution. Republican members of Congress aren’t much better. They either support his authoritarian goals or fear his malice.
The ultra-conservative majority on the Supreme Court, three of them his political appointees, isn’t likely to curb his autocratic instincts. So far, the last line of defense has been the bureaucracy—civil servants whose job it is to churn out rules to implement legislative action. Hired and fired under a Merit System, they have been shielded from political influence since its inception in 1883.
Understandably, this special status has come to the attention of the would-be king. In response, he created Schedule F, an executive order that he drafted in his first term and recreated in his second. It allows him to exempt employees from the Merit System if, in his opinion, they are engaged in politically sensitive work. So far, he has used his order to fire thousands of federal workers, replacing some of them with his cronies.
Now that Trump has weaponized the government, he is free to torment his enemies with endless tax audits, frivolous lawsuits, false arrests and prosecutions, and even deny states disaster relief.
THE CONSEQUENCE
Many of the rich and famous who are forced to hover around Trump’s flame see the danger and have moved to placate his whims. These include colleges, the media, law firms, and tech giants. Presumably, they consider paying his shakedowns the cost of doing business. But pity the father who drives his child to school in the morning and finds himself in an El Salvadorian prison that afternoon.
THE STRATAGY
Those of us who love justice must be steadfast against Trump’s lawlessness. Nature shows us the way. The tallest mountain can be worn to a nub if drops of water persist in falling on it.
We need no bullets to achieve our objective, nor an army. We win if we resist. But we must start before the 2026 mid-terms. Fortunately, the ways to express our discontent are many. Calls to Congress and emails help. So do demonstrations. Contributions to a campaign is the equivalent of watering a garden. Every American knows the drill. The key is to act because no cavalry exists but us.
On election day, prepare to deliver the coup d’état. You’ll need two items at the polls: 1) proof of citizenship. (driver’s license, state-issued ID, US Passport, Military ID, tribal ID); 2) proof of residency. (a utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or other government paper, dated and bearing your name)
THE OUTCOME
Trump and his cronies have never understood that America’s strength lies it its diversity. Our new nation was founded by immigrants. They came from different cultures and spoke different languages. What they shared was a desire to be free. Their creation wasn’t perfect. The country remains a work in progress. Even so, our ancestors had a noble vision and for the past 249 years we have defended its goal: liberty and justice for all.
When we listen to our better angels, we have no need for a king.
BOYCOTT TESLA
