No. None of This is OK — And We Can Never Pretend It Is

I’m angry.

Very, very angry.

And not because of anything that’s happened to me, but because of what is happening to people I don’t know. Because what is happening right now in the United States? It’s purely an injustice to morality and human decency.

On January 20, 2025, a felon was sworn in to be the President of the United States of America. A felon who has also been found liable for sexual abuse. Who has been found guilty of fraud.

Who was under investigation for TRYING TO OVERTHROW THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.

How we got here? That’s a very long and winding road I can’t get into dissecting right — and there are a lot of other people, books, and articles who can get into it better than I can anyway (check out White Rural Rage and Deaths of Despair and the Future of Capitalism for a few intro points). And while it’s essential for us to understand better how this all happened, the fact is — it has happened … but is still happening.

What we need to do now is figure out how to make it stop.

Because none of this is okay.

None of it.

I could go on about how some of the most unqualified people ever are being put into extreme positions of power. Hegseth. Noem. Bondi. (and the fact that Vought, RFK Jr., Kash Patel, and Tulsi Gabbard are even still up for consideration is an insult to the American people).

But they’re getting in. And it’s not okay. None of them should have been approved, and none should be approved.

Because what is happening is an internal overthrow of our government by very bad people with very bad intentions and no moral compass other than to do whatever is best for them.

Again, it’s not okay.

Things get even worse, though, when you look at the absolute disregard for decency and humanity displayed by our “President.” Installing people like Musk in a made-up department, where he is having an extreme impact as an outsider directly on our government institutions. Where he’s getting the Director of the FAA to resign simply because he doesn’t want to be fined for civil penalties due to improper safety and licensing.

And what happened right after?

The deadliest US air disaster in nearly a quarter century.

And how did the person who is supposed to lead our country respond? By blaming Biden, Obama, and DEI (which very clearly became a way for people like him to say “black, brown, gay, transgender, or disabled).

It’s a distraction from his utter incompetence and a dismissal of the pain and anguish caused by this very real tragedy.

The thing is, Trump and his posse have no idea what DEI even is. Or if they do, they sure as hell don’t act like it. When they speak of DEI, they are using it interchangeably with the previous conservative scare-tactic phrase “affirmative action.” And while the value of affirmative action can be argued separately, DEI is nothing of the sort.

It’s not just “hiring people because of their skin color, gender, or sexuality) — it’s about ensuring we are supporting and telling the stories of the whole of America. Throwing out our history to rewrite the books to say slavery was good is abhorrent.

Telling teachers that if they respect their students and call them by their preferred pronouns, this is a reason to be fired is, quite frankly, disgusting. And telling those outside the confines of binary male/female dichotomy that they do not exist is … I don’t even have a word for it.

But there’s so much more beyond DEI (and the subsequent and related attack on education) that is wrong here.

The gaslighting of America has to stop.

Every word uttered by Trump (and again, his posse), is a distraction and frankly an admission of guilt.

Kash Patel wants to “end the weaponization of the FBI.” The FBI was not being weaponized. It was doing exactly what it is there for — to investigate crimes. And it doesn’t matter if those crimes are done by some idiot who used to be the President. (Don’t get me started on the immunity for “official acts” nonsense).

Trump said he’d lower prices. People believed him. Now, he’s threatening massive tariffs on some of this country's most important food sources — which will only raise prices.

Trump said he’d “throw out the criminals.” Only to redefine “criminal” as anyone here without permission (unlawful presence is not a crime).

It’s all hatred and fearmongering, and it’s an affront to humanity.

It’s not okay.

So yeah, I’m angry. I’m angry about all the injustice. I’m angry about the fear. I’m angry about book bans. I’m angry about taxes going up for regular people while Trump and his buddies line their pockets with tax breaks and sweetheart deals.

But you know who I’m most mad at? The Democrats in office.

If there ever was a time and a place to stand up unwavering in support of human decency and morals, now is the time.

But what are they doing? Mostly business as usual.

Voting on Trump’s inane picks for the Cabinet.

Officially “denouncing” Trump’s release of 1500 people who tried to overthrow our government (and hurt a lot of people at the same time).

Now is not the time to sit around and have “votes.”

Now is not the time to write strongly worded letters.

Now is the time to stand up and fight.

And while some of them are doing it, very few are. And it’s time the rest of them take this seriously and do everything they can to SHUT IT ALL DOWN.

Because if they don’t, the people will. And it’ll get very, very ugly.

Why?

Because none of this is okay.

None of it.