Part 2: She was given an explanation…
Hello again, I have spent some time this morning going over how I want to word everything I have to say and not call anyone names or insult their intelligence. I am not going to pretend I don’t feel a bit like I am screaming into the void. I’m sure no one who disagrees with me has actually bothered to read the first part… or will read any of this. But the thing is, if I want to change anyone’s mind, if I want to make a point of any kind, it’s going to be hampered by insults and calling names. Oh, the irony…
When Joe Biden took office in 2021, it wasn’t like I had super high expectations. Honestly, the bar he was about to tiptoe over was low enough that even ants could have managed. I also hoped that over the next four years, Trump’s supporters would lose interest in him and that he would find something else to do. Unfortunately, I was incorrect on both counts. Somehow, he gained more support, and the reasons why, as I have heard them explained to me and others, are as follows:
He’s not a politician.
He’s a billionaire; he can fix the economy.
He’s just like us.
He’s draining the swamp.
He’s not corrupt.
He’ll make America great again.
Let’s take this from the top, shall we? Because while this part of the introduction is about explaining how we got to this point, I also get to explain how this is completely incorrect.
They were correct; he is not a politician. The problem with that is he has no idea how the law works. He has no idea how any of this works. He’s basically been doing what people told him and occasionally going off and doing other terrible things all on his own. Sure, not knowing how laws work might not seem a huge deal. Until you realize…well, what does he know about the way the government works? And clearly, the answer after the first four years was “not much.” The answer after…dear god…it’s only been a little under nine months…is “he’ll make it up as he goes.” Now, on this point, just one more thing. If Barack Obama or Joe Biden had done any of the stuff he has done, every redneck across the country would have been up in arms. Oh, wait, January 6th, which his followers either ignore or consider their ‘peaceful protest.’ No, both inciting the riot, as he did, and the people who participated in it broke the law. And I promised I wouldn’t insult intelligence, so that’s where I am leaving this one. However, it ties quite nicely, I think, into point number two.
Being a billionaire, he can fix the economy. Well, sure…for rich people. The rest of us are going to suffer. As evidenced by the eggs that you people said would be cheaper. Or the rising cost of living in general. Or when he decided to cut funding for disaster relief, the National Weather Service, and education. But Donald Trump doesn’t care about protecting people. At least unless it will benefit him in some way. And, listen, I homeschool. I get it. The public education system needs to be fixed. But it doesn’t need to be defunded. It needs more money. It needs more resources. But I can’t imagine that a man who is, rumor has it, next to illiterate, would even consider this to be an issue. In fact, when it comes to leading mindless drones he probably prefers people don’t have an education. Point number three “he’s just like us,” goes with this explanation, too. For one thing, he’s a billionaire. Not like most of us at all. Second, he would never lower himself to help any of you up if you fell, and you would do well to remember that. Finally, do you really want to be just like someone who’s a racist, sexist, felon with multiple accusations of rape and sexual assault against him? I didn’t think so.
“He’s not corrupt”/“He’s draining the swamp.” Oh please. If you don’t think that man is corrupt, you are lying. Case in point, from his first term: after a mass shooting, he said he thought maybe there should be more gun control laws. Right up until the NRA had a talk with him, and suddenly he backtracked on that. And what exactly is he draining the swamp of anyway? The good people? The innocent people? The ones trying to help others who don’t agree with him? Oh, the horror! Not decent, compassionate people trying to make lives better for their constituents! Whatever shall we do? (I apologize for the sarcasm that is now dripping from your device.)
When he and his supporters say that he’s going to make America great again, I always have two thoughts. The first is pedantic and unnecessary. It’s the United States; don’t lump the other poor countries that are unfortunately attached to us into his mad plans. The second is, well, was America ever that great? It depends, I guess. If you are a straight, cis, rich, white man. You probably haven’t had too many problems. I’ll even go so far as to say that if you are a straight, cis, rich, white woman, you’ve definitely felt the sting of sexism but probably not to the extent others have felt prejudiced. And really, it’s not. There are other countries that are smarter, with better healthcare, more affordable healthcare, and less poverty. That’s the thing, something most of us learn as kids: there will always be someone better than you at something. America is not and has never been any better than other developed nations. It’s just different. It does things differently. We think differently, we live differently; hell, we even stand differently. But the thing is, it’s the growing and the learning and the changing into something better that makes a country great. And Donald Trump and his cronies have not done anything to make the country better; they’ve only taken us backwards.
My last point concerning why these things are happening actually has nothing to do with Trump. It’s not even about why he was elected but why his movements to grow into a dictator are so problematic. It’s another quote about history. This time, from one of my very favorite historical figures, Frederick Douglass. He was a slave who learned to read and write. He traveled the country and the world facing all the hate it could throw at him, and still, he kept pushing forward for a better world. His explanation for why unchecked power over anyone, what the current president and his followers want him to have, is this:
“Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did, and it never will." —Frederick Douglass
What demand will finally be the straw that breaks your back? What does he have to do to make you realize how terrible he is for this country and for humanity? If you’ve already had your answer, welcome to the group. We currently alternate between anxiety, panic, and anger on a regular rotation. If you’re not there yet, I’m sorry. You will be soon.
Sources:
Bender, Michael C. “Trump’s Mantra from Schools to FEMA: “Move It back to the States.”” The New York Times, 1 Apr. 2025, www.nytimes.com/2025/04/01/us/politics/trumps-education-back-to-the-states.html.
“BrainyQuote.” BrainyQuote, 2025, www.brainyquote.com/quotes/frederick_douglass_134371. Accessed 27 Aug. 2025.
PBS NewsHour. “All the Assault Allegations against Donald Trump, Recapped.” PBS NewsHour, 21 June 2019, www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/assault-allegations-donald-trump-recapped.
Robertson, Lori. “Trump’s Mixed Record on Gun Control.” FactCheck.org, 8 Aug. 2019, www.factcheck.org/2019/08/trumps-mixed-record-on-gun-control/.
Winkler, Libby. “Seriously, Though. Is It True That Trump Can’t Read?” Medium, 24 Jan. 2024, libbysuethewriter.medium.com/seriously-though-is-it-true-that-trump-cant-read-0c5920ab0fce. Accessed 27 Aug. 2025.
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