Where Ugly Meets the Big Sneak – As America Sleeps

 

Where Ugly Meets the Big Sneak – As America Sleeps

“We have heard from employers in our districts that recent ICE raids are not only targeting undocumented workers, but also creating widespread fear among other employees, including those with legal immigration status… This fear is driving vital workers out of critical industries.” 

From a June 27th letter from six California GOP legislators to Donald Trump.

Like a coven of witches and warlocks, at 3:28 (EST) in the morning of July 3rd, as House debate on one of the most destructive pieces of legislation in American history nears passage began, even GOP House members who swore in public to oppose the President’s gift to the rich (paid for by the benefits given up by the poor)… fell in line behind their cult leader. As those House members touted the contribution to Medicaid that new procedures would bring, administrators of hospitals and nursing homes everywhere (but particularly in rural regions) were making very clear that these barriers to Medicaid coverage were specifically intended to deny access even for qualified applicants, people who have depended on Medicaid and SNAP in the past, most of whom were already working; many nursing homes and rural hospitals that depend on Medicaid would close.

The general awareness of what’s Trump Huge Hideously Ugly bill stands for is and was exceptionally low. Aside from the hard budget cuts to Medicaid and SNAP are the other hidden sneak-gems of the legislation. As those Republicans who swore at the inadequacies and unfairness of Trump’s dream, knowing full well of the damage it would wreak on all but the top 20% of earners, Trump’s late night phone calls told the holdouts not to worry; he could make the necessary fixes by executive order. That Trump’s standing with voters once reversing, now rising again, is a testament to voting for candidates without addressing the issues that they embrace. Out-sourced opinions to personality cults, buying clever labels and conspiracy theories wholesale.

Even as Trump’s policies draw core support from white Christian nationalists who claim whites are a discriminated class, Trump’s popularity with Black Americans, recently plunging, has reversed. “The latest Quantus Insights poll, conducted June 23-25 among 1,000 registered voters, shows Trump's approval rating among Black voters has grown by 8 points since the beginning of the month… According to the poll, Trump's approval rating among Black voters currently stands at 31 percent, up from 23 percent at the beginning of June. Meanwhile, his disapproval rating is down 4 points, from 68 to 64.” Newsweek, July 3rd. They are stabbing themselves in the heart.

But if you appreciate sneakiness, try these tidbits in the Ugly bill on for size: the worst Medicaid cuts are slated to kick-in after the midterms. The tax breaks for the rich are permanent; the tax breaks for the middle class expire automatically in a couple of years. Incentives for cheaper energy production are gone, favoring BIG Oil. The increases for ICE are intended to continue, without reduction, until all the undocumented aliens are gone.

We know Trump has it in for California; he has been anything but subtle in that regard. The largest per capita focus of ICE raids, the only cities where combat-trained Marines have supplemented ICE agents with support from federalized national guards have been deployed are in California. Repeatedly, local California cities (and state authorities) tell the feds that where their forces appear, businesses fail and violence follows. There are almost no constituencies in the state that want the feds to stay… including the Marines and Guardsmen themselves!

According to the July 2nd San Diego Post, “Six Republican lawmakers from California have asked President Donald Trump to rein in sweeping workplace immigration raids, citing concerns from businesses in their districts and the fear now rippling through legal and undocumented workers alike… The June 27 letter [quoted above], led by State Sen. Suzette Valladares and signed by five other GOP legislators including Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones and Assembly Member Laurie Davies, represents a rare break in tone from a party that has largely supported Trump’s hardline immigration stance. While the lawmakers emphasized their support for enforcing federal law, they warned that broad raids are causing collateral damage, particularly in industries that rely heavily on immigrant labor.”

Construction has slowed to a crawl. Unharvested crops are rotting in the fields. Childcare, already horrible, continues to vaporize. Restaurants and hotels are facing financial ruin as staffing disappears. The resulting cost increases are everywhere, even without Trump’s inane tariff policies. Logic has left the building as hate floods in.

As Trump suggests that reexamining “moral character” (which appears to be opposing policies that Trump embraces) may well be factored in as the DOJ considers revoking US citizenship to those admitted already… as he plows forward to de facto repeal section 1 of the 14th Amendment (birthright citizenship), rightwingers are celebrating a powerful symbol of American cruelty: the merchandizing of the hastily constructed “Alligator Alcatraz” immigrant detention center in the Florida Everglades. Those undocumented who might contemplate escaping could become reptile meals.

“The website for the Florida GOP [above] is promoting a shirt, hat, and beverage cooler in support of the quickly constructed, controversial building. The shirt and cooler feature an image of a nondescript building in a swamp with an alligator and snake in front of it... Alligator Alcatraz shirts and hats are also being sold by merchants on Amazon, featuring everything from a buff alligator with a gun to one behind bars for some reason.” FastCompany.com, July 3rd.

What continues to stun me is the utter rejection by the horde of MAGA evangelicals of the many lessons of kindness, charity, tolerance, not sitting in judgement of others (regardless of background or religion) and strong support for those in need that are the essence of the entire New Testament. If pastors supporting this mass cruelty, inflicting their toxic direction for fear of Trumpian “exorcism” on “true believers” in their pews, expect a place in heaven for themselves and their loyal flock, then I totally misunderstand what Christianity is all about. I never thought of the Bible as a menu. The Judaic-Christian morals that I thought were the bedrock of American democracy have eroded into callous sand.

I’m aghast at the quicksand of our democracy… and the seeming lack of required outrage from most Americans.