In 2016, I thought the country needed a change. I did the research w/respect to Trump and Clinton, and made the decision to vote for Clinton given her record and platform. While I voted for Clinton, I was willing to give Trump a chance when he won. Yet in the early days of his Presidency when speaking to the CIA in front of a tribute to those who gave their life in service, Trump proceeded to prop up his ego with lots of lies including his false reporting on the numbers of people who attended his inauguration. It was clear then that Trump didn't care about our country or those who served, but instead was obsessed with his own power, privilege, pride, profit, and pleasure.
From that day on, almost everything Trump did while in the Presidency served to harm and hurt most Americans--he was clearly in it for himself and few to no others. He was a complete waste of money, time, energy, and effort on behalf of Americans--he proved that day after day. Then on January 6th, I was glued to the television as Trump urged his followers to raise havoc in The Capitol. I knew people would be hurt, yet after Trump gave the rally call he sat back and let the destruction and harm happen.
Trump, as President of the United States, did not protect Americans that day, but instead sat back and let his minions harm and even kill Americans, destroy The Capitol, obstruct justice, and cause worry and angst amongst all Americans throughout the country. He led America's number one domestic terror assault while he was President of the United States--an assault that cost the United States lives, health, peace, justice, and lots and lots and lots of dollars--dollars that could have been spent in positive ways to enrich American lives. Trump as President and seemingly as an individual throughout his life wasted a lot of energy, money, positivity, and capacity wherever he went, and it's so good that his bad actions are finally catching up with him via multiple indictments now and into the future. Trump is a bad man--he is an oppressive weight on humanity and must be held accountable.
Trump robbed time, peace, and potential from all of us. I had many sleepless nights during the Trump Presidency because I could clearly see that he was obstructing the good possible with his countless, self-serving, corrupt words and acts. He obstructed the potential to improve lives day in and day out. He promoted multiple like-minded crooks including his adult children, their spouses, and the countless cronies he had surrounding him--cronies who lacked the experience or will to do the jobs they were assigned to, and cronies who, like Trump, served themselves first no matter whether it was legal, moral, humane, or ethical.
Trump was clearly a cult leader. Through his gift of theater, his lack of conscience, and his will to serve himself above all else, he was able to trick and fool many average citizens who seemingly lacked the will or ability to do their homework related to Trump's thievery. Trump played upon old time prejudices, myths, and ideals to win these people over--people that mostly represented those in poor parts of the country with less education and little broadband or other access to truthful information. And he led this thievery with like-minded and similarly-self-motivated wealthy, bigoted Americans (mostly old white guys with lots of money), heinous international leaders, and self-serving media moguls such as the leaders of Fox News. They gladfully promoted propaganda to continually prop up their wealth, power, privilege, prejudice, protection, and pleasure.
I lost friends because of Trump. Some friends who I still respect because of so many of their personal talents and commitments were completely bamboozled by Trump speak and actions--they sided with his power likely because they had not dealt with the prejudice they inherited from ancestors or updated their ability to look deeply at the truth of the matter. I couldn't stand by and let them support that man. I had to speak up, and when I did, they ended our friendship. That hurt, but I don't regret speaking up. When we let evil prevail, we are part of the problem. I didn't want to be part of the dehumanizing Trump problem.
It's going to take years to clean up from the Trump evil--an evil that harmed our country greatly. It will take years because Trump like Epstein is a talented con man, and Trump like Hitler and Putin, is a selfish, greedy cult leader without conscience or humanity. Also, Trump cronies continue to exist--selfish men and women who put little value in the lives of anyone that doesn't look or act like them--people who don't believe we can all live well, but instead people who work to live well themselves at the expense of others. Trump's adult children and cronies are dangerous, destructive people who will not stop even if Trump is held accountable.
I believe we can all live good lives. I believe the algorithm exists that promotes good living everywhere in the world. I don't think we work hard enough to make that equation work, and I think we can all do a better job.
Thankfully the Trump indictments are one step in the right direction. It's right to hold corrupt, dehumanizing powers accountable for their hateful, hurtful, criminal acts--acts that destroy humanity in too many ways. We can do better and we all have to work with this in mind. Onward.