The Plundering Of Your United States
Our universe is expanding and solar systems and galaxies are racing away from each other. It means the universe will likely get colder and perhaps the speed of the expansion will slow down. We now know this expansion is true. We can measure it. A problem for cosmologists, however, is that the rate of expansion is still being discussed and debated. Nevertheless, what’s missing might have more to do with us rather than the universe.
So what you might ask. What’s that got to do with the rest of us—the “real” world so to speak, what actual people care about. I don’t know exactly. I’m not a cosmologist. Quite possibly no one knows at this particular moment. Perhaps it’s like quantum mechanics; we can’t be certain what’s occurring when we’re not watching. But still, it is most certainly real and will continue to remain so.
The same response likely occurred with Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, which he announced in 1905. So what? Well it’s linked to such things today as radar guns, sending text messages and global positioning systems among other things. Ah and atomic energy and yes, the atomic bomb. The bomb of course has more to do with us rather than the universe.
What this is all about is knowledge, that comes from the Greek word Gnosis, which is knowing through observation and experience. It does have something to do with why we live longer, don’t die from horrible diseases and understand that lightening doesn’t come from angry gods in the sky.
Oh, and that reality thing. Vaccines don’t cause autism the, er, missing causal link? It may be the opinion of RFK Jr, our current Health Secretary, but it is not at this point a scientific fact. No it’s not merely common sense, as some would have you believe.
We know how one thing builds on another thing and the development of systems for aggregating, accumulating and applying human knowledge that may lead to new knowledge, about ourselves and the universe we reside in. But I don’t know, exactly, but I do know I want to find out. I’m not at all fond of people who would deliberately prevent me from knowing.
Watch It All Disappear
Yes we Americans now find ourselves in a sticky wicket, meaning we are knee deep in difficult circumstances—at least many of us believe strongly this is the case. All by ourselves we’ve created an awful mess and now some percentage of us will attempt to clean up the overflowing toilet oozing its way across America like it or not. Oh no, it won’t be everyone doing the cleaning. It never is. A new dark age is the shelf-ready reality accompanying passivity, denial and fear … along with willful ignorance.
Sure I think Trump is a mentally deranged psychopath devoid of any moral compass, merely my opinion, but he’s only the obvious poster boy. We’ve never lived in that Shining City On the Hill or Pericles’ Athens but still, our democratic republic is worth defending—warts and all—from the likes of Trump and company, Gilded Age authoritarians and techno-fascists.
I most definitely believe Donald Trump and his friends want the deliberate destruction of education, science and history. By undoing knowledge Trump, somewhere in his limited frontal lobe, likely believes that the destruction of knowing and questioning will ultimately make the U.S. more malleable to his political domination.
What Awaits Us
Another Trump executive order is about to be released and it is called Restoring Gold Standard Science. Now who wouldn’t support raising the rigorous standards of science even more. This is the very life blood for improving the lives of everyone!
But, it’s not exactly what it might seem. With this executive order there is the matter of “political appointments.” It is these folks that will be the ones determining what is acceptable and appropriate science.
State-dictated science, throughout the world, has a long, ambiguous history, sometimes sordid and often times has little to do with rigorous scientific research or actual scientific discoveries. Be leery of Trump’s big, beautiful science standards. This matter a lot because it impacts all of us, sometimes in very personal ways. SEE, Trump's new gold standard will destroy American science
Keep in mind that millions of dollars have already been cut from appropriated budgets and or impounded, covering all kinds of scientific research, studies and clinical trials, more often than not in the name of undefined “fraud and waste,” as determined by some ridiculous organization called DOGE.
Speaking of all this government “waste,” read, How Trump's regulatory rollbacks are increasing costs
SEE, A triple threat to humanity: climate change, pandemics and anti-science
Two excellent articles that should be read by anyone that believes we are in a real existential crisis in the United States right now are, The New Dark Age
and, An autoimmune disorder: How Trump is turning American democracy against itself
Be informed and know what you’re dealing with. And of course, all of us have reasons and excuses why we’re unable to do something. This will not be a good time to do nothing however.
ADDITIONAL READING:
Our susceptibility to authoritarianism:
Now guess who’s coming to dinner in your hometown? It’s a parasite that eats animals alive. Good thing we didn’t cut agricultural research … oh but we did:
Trump has no plan for who will grow U.S. food
We have too much emphasis on education in this country. At one time the 8th grade was sufficient, especially for girls:
RFK Jr threatens ban of federal scientists publishing in top journals
Elon Musk's legacy is disease, starvation and death
World scientists look elsewhere as U.S. labs stagger under Trump cuts
It begins with the primitive belief of human supremacy over everything, certainly a central feature of the Trump administration. It’s a fight we don’t want to lose:
Trump's war on nature is up against a powerful new resistant movement
Possibly one of the best examples of public policy in the United States was the creation of our national parks beginning in the early 20th century. Don’t let it vanish:
Turmoil, resignations and psychological warfare: how Trump is crippling our national parks
Will Trump succeed? Are we doomed to an autocracy in democratic drag? Not necessarily. To resist Trump, we need to rewire democracy to revive democracy. This requires a move away from moral abstractions and liberal hand-wringing to local political campaigning, non-violent civil disobedience and active social mobilization. The clock is ticking and we must not allow the wrong man to be the last standing. (Arjun Appadurai, Professor Emeritus, NYU)
APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT, FINANCIAL AND OTHERWISE. NOW LET’S GUT THIS SPREADING FASCISM ONCE AND FOR ALL. WE DON’T WISH IT AWAY. WE DRIVE THE PROVERBIAL WOODEN STAKE THROUGH ITS HEART. WE ARE ALL RESPONSIBILE FOR SUPPORTING AND STRENGTHENING DEMOCRACY.