These certainly are very dangerous times, and the fascists within the Trump administration have much further goals they intend to reach. I 'm trying to see, nevertheless, two relatively-yet-untested sources of support are showing signs for resilience. 1. So far, the courts are recognizing that this administration lacks a lot of grounding in Actual-Establiished-passed-by-Congress law to do most of the things it wants to do. 2. Is it possible there are a few R's in Congress who understand how deeply Trump and Musk's reign of chaos has hurt America's image-in-the-world and America's leadership in science and other "soft power" values? There are soundings and echos indicating that such a faction might actually be willing to pass a "normal' that actually protects things that Americans' value, like FEMA and the Weather Service and the National Parks and the National Science Foundation, which I didn't realize was by far the single-biggest provider of $ for basic science research in the world, and which is of course a huge pillar of America's actual accomplishments for a better world so far. Hopefully at least just enough R's will not be willing to give China, India and Russia such an advantage in the world leadership race to foil Trump's insane desire to kill the resources that have provided America's leadership in science so far. Universities could be doing much more Public Outreach on this: for example, I understand that leading non-progressive podcaster, Joe Rogan has decided that "expertise" is a false concept. Could this idiot build his own microphone from scratch, his own broadcast tower? Of course not, and those of us who appreciate science should be pointing out how much of American "greatness" depends on progress in basic science. 3. The public is beginning to understand that the Trumpites have no intention of helping them in any way, and the university communities have much more they could do to help build and sollidify this resistance.
Yes, there will be many obstacles, yet we need to fight, and to fight well we need just a smidgin of hope. The time is now.
These certainly are very dangerous times, and the fascists within the Trump administration have much further goals they intend to reach. I 'm trying to see, nevertheless, two relatively-yet-untested sources of support are showing signs for resilience. 1. So far, the courts are recognizing that this administration lacks a lot of grounding in Actual-Establiished-passed-by-Congress law to do most of the things it wants to do. 2. Is it possible there are a few R's in Congress who understand how deeply Trump and Musk's reign of chaos has hurt America's image-in-the-world and America's leadership in science and other "soft power" values? There are soundings and echos indicating that such a faction might actually be willing to pass a "normal' that actually protects things that Americans' value, like FEMA and the Weather Service and the National Parks and the National Science Foundation, which I didn't realize was by far the single-biggest provider of $ for basic science research in the world, and which is of course a huge pillar of America's actual accomplishments for a better world so far. Hopefully at least just enough R's will not be willing to give China, India and Russia such an advantage in the world leadership race to foil Trump's insane desire to kill the resources that have provided America's leadership in science so far. Universities could be doing much more Public Outreach on this: for example, I understand that leading non-progressive podcaster, Joe Rogan has decided that "expertise" is a false concept. Could this idiot build his own microphone from scratch, his own broadcast tower? Of course not, and those of us who appreciate science should be pointing out how much of American "greatness" depends on progress in basic science. 3. The public is beginning to understand that the Trumpites have no intention of helping them in any way, and the university communities have much more they could do to help build and sollidify this resistance.
Yes, there will be many obstacles, yet we need to fight, and to fight well we need just a smidgin of hope. The time is now.
Ron,
Thanks for weighing in. Optimists find reason to take heart: the courts, a Congressional election in two years, efforts at unity among the opposition.
But we are likely to see much damage before any such efforts can succeed.
Stay well.
JW