MY TURN: A river runs through it
A river runs through Idaho, but in this case, it’s not the Clark Fork River; it’s a river of sorrow. For those of us who truly understand what the election of a convicted felon, Donald Trump, means for average Americans, the celebrations and fireworks are deeply ironic. Your country has just been taken over by billionaires and corporate shills — like Elon Musk and Peter Thiel — who care nothing for you, yet you’re celebrating. This situation reminds me of the naughty kid who revels in being kicked out of school. It may seem appealing at first — until years later, when that same kid finds it hard to get a job.
But let's not lose sight of the urgency of the situation. Trump is not your savior, and in the grand scheme of things, he is not that important. The billionaires are eager to dismantle Social Security, Medicare and various safety nets like the Affordable Care Act. Musk wants you to experience hardship; he won’t face it himself, but he believes you should. And you will. You will, along with the rest of us. Buckle up, buttercup; here comes fascism.
The election of new NIC trustees probably makes you feel good. You may have observed that the previous trustees were damaging a beloved educational institution. Similarly, in four years, many of us (even the red hats) may long to restore Democracy. But perhaps it won’t be straightforward, because Trump will do everything in his power to undermine the election system. “Just vote for me this one time,” he told folks. “You won’t have to vote again.”
No, the joy of celebration may not last long. Oh, and surprise! Trump knew about and embraced Project 2025 all along! Down the road, we will face a backdoor ban on abortion nationwide, a packed Supreme Court that OKs everything Trump wants to do, and severe consequences from climate change as climate advisers are replaced by fossil fuel lobbyists. We likely will see pardons for violent insurrectionists at the Capitol, the repeal of LGBTQ protections, the elimination of unions, and the politicization of the Justice Department and the FBI against political opponents. Expect book bans as well. (Have you been enjoying the debacle at the CLN?) Get ready for an influx of religious doctrine in public policy. But which doctrine or denomination will be favored? Catholics, Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Jews, Sikhs, Indigenous religions?
Trump's tariffs will seriously hurt our economy and many businesses that rely on imports, like Home Depot, Lowe's, Macy's, etc. Those tariffs will also impact the world economy. Expect immigrants being held in mass detention camps (if you think food is expensive now, wait until we deport half the farm workers), the repeal of Medicare's ability to negotiate lower drug prices, cuts to employee overtime and much more. Can you afford to replace grandma's Social Security benefits and pay for her doctor’s visits? As Elon Musk suggested, we may need to brace for some real pain. Good luck, red hats. It won't be long before the party is over.
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Ethel Steinmetz Marmont is a Coeur d'Alene resident.