(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Think that Trump will be accountable for ANY of the 78 charges against him? Check out this photo. [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.'] Date: 2023-08-04 On August 3rd, 2023 Donald Trump appeared in United States Federal Court and pled not-guilty to 4 felony charges: Conspiracy to defraud the United States; Conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding; Obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding; and Conspiracy against rights. This appearance brings the grand total of charges against former President Trump to a total of 78 (with additional investigation and indictments still pending). August 3rd also marks the first time in U.S. history that a former President has been charged with a series of crimes. The events that occurred on January 6, 2021 are tantamount to a coup attempt and arguably the most disgraceful moment in our history since the Secession of the Southern States that began on Decemeber 20, 1860. All of this we should know. Donald Trump remains one of the most (if not the most) ethically compromised, financially compromised, mentally compromised, morally compromised and spiritually compromised individuals to ever hold elected office. I hope I am wrong, but it is my fervent belief that Donald Trump will get away with EVERYTHING. This we should know as well. The Right will claim vindication, the Left bleat something along the lines of, “Well we did everything we could, it’s not a perfect judicial system, but it’s better that one guilty person walks free than one innocent person goes to prison.” The fact that will become clear throughout the course of these investigations and proceedings is that we are indeed a “nation of laws” but unfortunately there are one set of laws that apply to wealthy, powerful white men (again, see photo above) and one set of laws that apply to everyone else. If you disagree, feel free to reach out to any of the men and women who are currently serving prison time for the crimes they committed on or leading up to the coup attempt that occurred on January 6, 2021. We don’t have to like it (I don’t). But here are what I believe are three undeniable truths as to WHY this is happening. TRUTH 1) The ENTIRE REPUBLICAN PARTY has a very simple goal: To destabilize and deregulate any and all laws, to reduce or remove any and all social programs or benefits, and to stifle or eliminate any discourse that impedes the ability of the business interests they have been elected to represent in their goal to generate and secure as much financial profit as possible. TRUTH 2) The ENTIRE DEMOCRATIC PARTY also has a very simple goal: To offer the illusion of choice and act in opposition to the Republican party, while simultaneously doing everything they can to facilitate the ability of the business interests that they also have been elected to represent in their goal to generate and secure as much financial profit as possible. TRUTH 3) This two party paradigm only serves gives underclass voters the illusion of choice in a closed system that is run by the ruling class and only serves it’s ultimate design to extract as much labor, revenue and profit each of us from our cradles to our graves. Again, we don’t have to like it (I don’t). But there are things we can do about it: 1st — Accept that by taking the “Moral High Ground” you are simply choosing a hill to die on. The “arc of the moral universe” MAY be long, and it MAY bend toward justice. BUT IT MUST BE BENT. The same goes for “speaking truth to power”. Power doesn’t accede to truth, power accedes to superior power. We have the means, we have the numbers, we need the solidary. There is no middle class, there is no middle ground. It’s us vs. them. It always has been . We have to use the tools we have available to bend that arc. Those tools are votes, voices, money and solidarity. 2nd — Accept that cultural prejudices are a biproduct of institutionalized racism and that institutionalized racism EXISTS and is a tool employed by the ruling class to stop the underclasses from achieving solidarity (and subsequent parity). Cultural prejudices can be unlearned (maybe not by everyone... but they can be unlearned). The horrific crimes of slavery, prejudice and racism that continued after the Emancipation Proclamation of 1862 can be addressed and hopefully with growth and change, those crimes can be forgiven so we can move forward as a united, solidified people. 3rd — Understand that LGBTQ rights are the new “wedge” issue and fight that battle correctly by forming a 3rd Party to advocate for LGBTQ/Civil Rights for all. The Left lost the abortion battle because the Right outmaneuvered them for 49 years. Both sides of the Ruling Class will use this LGBTQ rights an an opportunity to fund raise, but neither side will take drastic action to resolve the issue because it’s too lucrative of a fundraising tool. Upon achieving solidarity, the underclasses must take steps to develop and fund a viable third party. 4th — Vote exclusively FOR the Democratic Party but DON’T donate to them. A vote for a Republican will only hasten your demise. Organized, solidified votes for the Democratic party will hasten the demise of the Republican party. You will never able to raise funds on the level that the corporations that fund the Ruling Class can. Don’t try, it’s a waste of money. 5th — Cultivate and Fund a Viable/Electable Third Party that advocates and legislates for ALL progressive issues/concerns. The decline that will be brought about by late-stage capitalism and it’s failed policies will force the Democratic Party will more than likely govern/legislate Center-Right in obedience to their corporate paymasters while the (hopefully) dying Republican Party will continue to pull Far-Right and play up scary wedge/culture issues that they’ve cultivated four generations of low information voters to fear and react to. A third party must be established that advocates and is accountable to the underclasses by advancing legislation that advances and codifies civil rights (including LGBTQ rights), labor, affordable housing, affordable healthcare and clean energy and environmental protections. 6th — Understand that is this a fight for the survival of our species NOT the survival of the Earth. The Earth is capable of shaking off humanity like a cold. As the changes resulting from global warming become more severe and more apparent in the next 10-20 years there will be a push from the Ruling Class to further solidify power and resources (habitable land, potable water, sustainable food supply, reliable power grids, access to healthcare and access to media). Push for our government(s) to make sure that the power is in our collective hands to find ways to sustain and share those resources, we may be out of time to fix the problems but we have to do everything we can to sustain our species. Technology will more than likely not save us, we have to figure out a way to save ourselves collectively. 7th — Understand that the “American Dream” is just a dream until we make it a reality. You don’t have to be “asleep to believe it” but the ruling class will continue to divide and exploit us until we can come to a collective understanding and are empowered to demand these changes through our vote, our voices,our money and our solidarity. Stop quoting Hannah Arendt and song lyrics. You’re very well read, it’s well known (see what I did there?) but at some point we have to admit that all that is accomplishing is whistling past the graveyard. There will be more tornados. There will be more wildfires. There will be more floods. There will be more conflicts. There will be more pandemics. There will be more “Trumps”. Unless we agree to band together, fight together and do something about it. Believe it. Do it. [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/8/4/2185332/-Think-that-Trump-will-be-accountable-for-ANY-of-the-78-charges-against-him-Check-out-this-photo Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/