All Fascist Wannabes Go After the Free Press First

A friend posted on Facebook this morning about Trump's attacks on the press, writing "A free press is essential to democracy". To which I responded: Yes it is. And, even as stupid as Trump is, he knows that. Which is why he, like all fascist/dictator wannabes, is attacking and going after the press first. He's clearing a path.

I have been saying since the primary campaign, based on the things Trump said, the policies he put forward, and the dog whistles he consistently blew to his supporters, that this man is a fascist. I was told I was being overly dramatic. I will say it again: Trump is a FASCIST. He wants to make America a fascist country.

We cannot allow that. We have to keep doing exactly what we have been doing, in breathtakingly beautiful, inspiring fashion: we have to keep resisting: standing up, turning out, marching, chanting, holding signs, filling the switchboards, offices and town halls of our elected representatives, filling the streets, and refusing to be silenced.

"She was warned. She was told to stop. And yet she persisted."

We must persist in standing together, standing for each other, being indivisible, and protecting our constitution and democracy with everything we have, non-violently, as we have 100% been so far, because no matter how low Trump goes--and he's nowhere near his nadir yet--we *only* go high, we only go non-violent, we only go creative resistance, and we will triumph--look at history. And then look Trump in his beady little constitution-violating eyes and stare him the duck down. We will prevail.

The Man Behind the Curtain

People: Trump is amping up his tirades against the media for the purpose of discrediting the free press in the minds (such as they are) of his supporters. Why? Because he knows damn well that evidence is going to come up to link him to Putin, to show that he is compromised by Putin/Russia and therefore can't be trusted at all, even just due to that one reason--though there are so many other conflicts of interest when it comes to Trump, too--to put the interests of the United States first. In the case of Russia, we are talking about an enemy foreign power run by a murdering thug KGB dictator. Trump's allegiance seems to be to said murdering thug and not to the United States of America. That's what he's trying desperately to distract you from realizing.

Trump running around demonizing the press is a tactic that he, and all fascists and wannabe fascists use to control the people.

Think of the Wizard of Oz. He had and used a lot of smoke and mirrors to deflect from people seeing the tiny-handed (couldn't resist) man behind the curtain, who really didn't have magical powers and couldn't deliver on anything he promised. But at least the Wizard was "an old Kansas man" with a good heart. Trump does NOT have a good heart. And we are all definitely not in Kansas anymore. So don't be fooled by the smoke and mirrors.

When they go crude, we go green!

Throughout the campaign season, I shouted from the cyber-rooftops that one of the first things Trump would do as President would be to eviscerate environmental regulation in this country. Well, now he has actually appointed someone to head the EPA who wants to ABOLISH it.

Folks, here's what we, as individuals, have to do: we have to divest from fossil fuel interests, and invest in green, sustainable, renewable energy/interests. We have to practice, every day, in every big and small way, what Al Gore calls "sustainable capitalism".

How do we do this:

1. At the grocery store, buy foods that are sustainably raised, and boycott companies with fossil fuel interests.

2. If you have a 401(k) or 403(b) at work, call up your HR department and/or call the company providing your plan directly, and tell them you want them to divest from fossil fuel business interests. Ask them if they provide any green investment options for you as an individual investor to *CHOOSE*.

That's the key here: make choices anywhere and everywhere you can to buy green! Even the seemingly smallest purchase at the store makes a difference if we are ALL making those choices--buy organic, buy sustainable, buy ethical, buy green. If your heating system at your house goes belly up, look into going solar if possible. If your car goes belly up, can you afford an electric car? I probably cannot afford that, but then buy a car with excellent gas mileage--make that priority one about the car. Change your lawn from a lawn to native and/or xeriscaped plants that don't need watering once established. Are you in school? Speak to the administration about divesting from fossil fuel interests. Employers, colleges, churches, anything you are a member of, employee of, student at--tell the powers that be there that you want them to divest from fossil fuel interests and INVEST IN RENEWABLE ENERGY AND SUSTAINABLE, GREEN BUSINESSES IN GENERAL.

We now have a federal government run by fossil fuel interests. It is now more important, more crucial, than ever that we as individuals and private organizations make an end run around their gutting of environmental regulations, and CHOOSE GREEN. If no one buys fossil fuels, if there is no market for it, that will kill it. The only thing Big Business listens to is MONEY. You may not think you have any of the stuff but you do, even if all you do is shop in a grocery store.

Choose wisely, grasshoppers.

We Will Triumph Over Trump

On November 9, when I awoke to the news that Trump had won the election, I was terrified. Terrified with a kind of terror I can't put into words.

But since then, my faith in my fellow Americans, and in the strength of our country to survive Trump has been restored, inspired and amazed by seeing so many Americans, so consistently, so passionately, so bravely and doggedly stand up for what is right. We're marching in the streets. We're dissenting in ways big and seemingly small. We're wiping swastikas off subway walls.

Since then, I've begun to hope...and then to have faith...and then to really know, that our country will not only survive Trump, but we will triumph over Trump. The crisis that is the Donald Trump presidency is also an opportunity for those of us young enough to perhaps never have seen it as clearly as we can now to see the breathtaking brilliance, power, wisdom and resilience of our constitution...and the bravery and basic decency of the majority of our people. Yes, we'll survive. And we'll come out stronger, with renewed awe at, and love for, the true greatness that already is and always has been the United States of America.