People are not prisoners of fate, but only prisoners of their own minds. ~ Franklin D. Roosevelt
There’s no doubt that the 44 days we have endured Donald Trump’s presidency have been fraught, excessive and soon-to-be expensive. That’s especially true because the majority Repubs in both houses of Congress have behaved as supine sycophants. As a consequence, the president has trampled over numerous established conduct standards. This includes his all too notable efforts to certify himself as a modern-day Caligula, one of Rome’s most treacherous emperors. Caligula’s reign as emperor was cut short when officers of the Praetorian Guard, senators and courtiers assassinated him. During his almost four-year reign from 36 - 41 AD, the decadent Caligula tirelessly worked to strengthen the already-unrestrained power of the Roman emperor. Sound familiar?
Caligula Caesar (12 – 41 AD)
Meanwhile, the leaderless Dems remain in a myopic muddle. They are still attempting to figure out why they lost 120 days ago. Despite their uninspired efforts, I yearn they’ll be ready to challenge successfully their opponents way before the next-year’s federal elections on Nov. 3. Given the Dems’ pace so far I’m not sure they’ll be ready. Nevertheless, hopes spring eternal, despite recent polling that shows the Dems’ approval ratings are the lowest recorded in nearly the last 2 decades.
My principal consolation is that the Repubs have buoyantly reached a way too early peak, electorally speaking. The multiple, adverse consequences associated with the president’s becoming a misguided tariff warrior, among other things, that will heighten inflation. Substantial price increases will soon occur for veges and fruits imported from Mexico, as well as electronics, shoes (99% of shoes sold in the US are imported, mostly from China) and other traded items from around the world. Your wallets will soon need to be thicker.
And don’t forget cars. One automotive expert stated there’s probably not a vehicle on the market today that wouldn’t be affected in some fashion by the new US tariffs. And these price increases could begin increasing within several weeks of the tariffs going into effect. The cost of producing cars throughout North America may soon rise between $3,500 and $12,000, according to particulars. Imported cars’ prices will be directly affected by the tariffs.
Importantly, the hydra-headed (Elon Musk and Donald Trump) Musketeerian cohort’s efforts include stripping the federal government of vital strategic capabilities, including the significant human capital held by experienced public sector professionals. Their hard-earned knowledge cannot be replaced by Musk’s cocksure DOGErs using fiscal chainsaws. The Musketeers’ efforts will ultimately yield sobering political and economic tempests for the Repubs once they start affecting regular folks beyond the DC beltway, like you and me.
A major goal of the imprudent Musketeers’ staff cuts in federal agencies is to provide some fiscal breathing room for Mr. Trump again to lower federal taxes. When he did it in 2018 the already-rich benefited disproportionately. Within several years the top 5% of households had received 40% of Trump’s individual tax cut benefits. According to Census data, the average annual earned income in the top 5% of US households is about $500k. Do such income levels need tax reductions? Clearly not.
The president’s dreadful milieu of profligate changes produced an unexpected thought for me involving the game of bridge. I learned how to play contract bridge when I was in high school. Any skills I might have once had with this interesting card game dissipated long ago. My parents regularly played bridge with a group of friends, one of whom took it upon herself to teach me how to play. At that time – the 1960’s – bridge enjoyed considerable popularity. To excel at playing bridge, it’s important to apply mental insight, logic and deliberate tactics to make your bid. These skills, rather elusive for me way back when, are particularly important when no suit has been designated as trump so the highest card of the suit that’s initially played in a hand wins.
Continuing my bridge analogy, all of us will benefit now from publicly bidding No Trump. The president’s actions represent a bridge too far to take beyond November 2026.
My hazy memories of playing bridge are distinct from my vivid recollections of driving over several of the nation’s marvelous bridges. First place goes the Bixby Bridge, shown below.
The Bixby bridge.
This iconic 93 year-old bridge was completed for $200,000. When you’re driving south on CA Rt. 1, the Bixby bridge serves as the gateway to Big Sur. I’ve driven on this bridge several times, each one a delight.
I hope the Dems will be searching for a Bixby bridge to the future. The Musketeers’ efforts represent a bridge to a future that’s utterly ominous.
