Just a quick note about the new federal indictments apparently issued against Trump.
I am as happy as anyone about this development. It has been a long and stressful journey to this point. There is now some real possibility for some serious accountability for The Don.
I do hope, however, that we can all figure out how to celebrate the fact that Trump is finally being held accountable without shoving it in the face of the MAGA millions and having it become about pissing on -- and further pissing-off -- millions of fellow Americans.
These indictments are about holding Trump (and hopefully some of his fellow conspirators, etc.) accountable. Many Trump acolytes are being, and will continue to be, separately held accountable for crimes they might have committed.
But addressing the disaffection, fear, and grievances of so many millions of MAGA and MAGA-adjacent Americans still needs to be its own major national project. So many of our people still need good jobs, rejuvenated and safe communities, some personal agency in civic and political affairs, the dignity of being able to afford to raise a family, and freedom from the cabals of financial and other predators, both individual and institutional, who/that make life even more miserable for people living on or over the edge of financial insecurity.
Thankfully, Biden and Congress have made a good start on this with the billions of dollars they have passed in legislation during Biden’s first presidential term that is being invested directly into “the heartland” of America. This is providing the basis for redeemed livelihoods and lives. It’s also providing the foundation for a process of rebuilding faith in government.
Let’s take this action against Trump as a clarion call to now redouble our efforts:
To confront and rout the cruel and corrupt Republican authoritarians attacking fundamental rights and liberties in the states and in the courts;
To win every office in the land that we can with Democrats and for Democracy; and, just as importantly,
To support “Bottom-up and Middle-out Economics” investments in “the heartland” and beyond, including investments in healthcare, education and other “public goods” essential to a healthy society.
Accountability for Trump and other very bad actors, and rejecting authoritarianism in any and every form, are essential, but not sufficient, to securing the future of our Democratic Republic.
What is needed, in addition, is that we center the bottom-up and middle-out economics that can rebuild our working and middle class — and that we commit to doing all we can to break-down barriers to civility and good will. It’s time to hold-up some quintessentially American values, like: “e pluribus unum” and “Live and Let Live.”
So, yes, let’s celebrate this terrific development (And yes, I know there’s already concern about the Trump judge now assigned to the case. Of course there will be many worries and frustrations in this judicial process. But we are in a very formidable process and I don’t think these will be as big a deal as one might think).
But it’s “We, The People” who will and must make the difference with one another in the end.
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This is a thoughtful, fair piece.