Disaster Day Fallout - Trump Goes After EVERYONE

Well, if today didn’t make it crystal clear how awful this administration is… I’m sure there will be more to come. *Sigh.* Isn’t it sad to think that? What’s even sadder is when these policies start costing lives, families, jobs, health, and security. This man has bamboozled SO many people and somehow has a bunch of idiots following him around, saying, “Yes, sir! Let’s do that!” And those people have impacts on each and everyone of our lives.  Some of them we VOTED FOR. 

Just to be clear—here are some MAJOR things that should get your attention: our President of the United States gives **zero F’s** about veterans, the low and middle class, people of color, LGBTQ+ members… anyone who isn’t him. And those supporting him? They’re lost in the journey because maybe they’re getting richer, gaining attention, or holding onto a position of power they KNEW they’d never achieve on their own. Why? Because they lack self-control, discipline, humility, education, awareness, empathy, and morals.

Because they lack all of those things, we get situations like this: someone serves 12 years in the Guard—specifically the DC Guard—and has their service ended because they were flagged as an “insider threat” due to concerns over tattoos and political affiliations. So, he goes to Fox News and propagates more brain washing and then becomes Secratay of Defense so he can use his SIGNAL app that can and has been hacked to transfer classified details about a mission that was ongoing.  And while that scandal was going on, Fox news had clips of him shooting “Freedom Bullets” as if it were a Saturday with his buddies.  

Next thing you know, another unqualified person is in Greenland standing in front of Airmen and Guardians (all with TS clearances), claiming they didn’t do anything wrong by using an unclassified app to send details of an ongoing mission.  All while criticizing Denmark and saying they should “do more.” Oh, and let’s not forget suggesting that *we* (the U.S.) should just overtake Greenland. I mean… is this a Black Mirror Episode we are still trying to decrypt?  

But yesterday was "Liberation Day," and Mr. Trump and his staff decided to slap some made-up tariff numbers on big boards and say: *“Reciprocal Tariffs! China puts 67% on us… so we’ll go 34%!”  I was watching him speak and thinking—my GOD—those numbers are huge. That does seem unfair! BUT… here’s the thing: the way they calculated this is absurd.

They’re using a formula that goes like this:

1. Take the **U.S. Trade Deficit with a Country**.
2. Divide it by **Total Exports from That Country to the U.S.**.
3. Multiply by 100.
4. Then divide it all by 2.

And here’s why this is a terrible idea:

1. Higher Costs for U.S. Consumers

- Tariffs act as a tax on imports, increasing the price of goods for American consumers. This disproportionately impacts low- and middle-income households, who spend a larger share of their income on necessities like food, electronics, and household items.

2. Retaliation from Trading Partners

- Countries targeted by these tariffs are likely to impose retaliatory measures on U.S. exports, harming American farmers, manufacturers, and other industries reliant on global markets. This can escalate into trade wars that destabilize the economy.

3. Disruption to Global Supply Chains

- Many U.S. industries depend on imported components for manufacturing (e.g., electronics, automobiles). Tariffs increase production costs, making U.S.-made goods less 

4. Oversimplified Trade Policy

- The formula used to calculate "reciprocal tariffs" is based solely on trade deficits and ignores the complexity of international trade relationships. It fails to account for non-tariff barriers (e.g., subsidies or quotas) or the U.S.'s surplus in services like technology and finance.

5. Legal and Diplomatic Risks

- These tariffs may violate World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, exposing the U.S. to legal challenges and potential sanctions. Additionally, targeting allies with high tariffs risks damaging diplomatic relationships and weakening international partnerships

6. Limited Effectiveness in Reducing Trade Deficits

-  Trade deficits are influenced by macroeconomic factors like currency exchange rates, national savings rates, and investment flows—not just tariffs. Imposing tariffs is unlikely to significantly reduce deficits and may simply shift imports to other countries rather than boosting domestic production.

7. Long-Term Economic Consequences.

- Protectionist policies discourage innovation and efficiency in domestic industries over time. Furthermore, uncertainty caused by abrupt tariff changes can deter business investment and slow economic growth.

I don’t know how else to say this: we are in serious trouble. The decisions being made right now are not just bad—they’re catastrophic. If you’re okay with what’s happening, fine, but wear your hate proudly so the rest of us can avoid you. For those who still care about decency, fairness, and the future of this country, here’s what we’re up against:

**80,000 VA Employees Laid Off**: Programs for homeless veterans are being gutted. Project 2025 is proposing to slash VA benefits, even for retirees. This is how we treat those who served?

**Deporting Legal Citizens**: Yes, you read that right—legal U.S. citizens are being deported to countries like El Salvador due to “administrative errors.” And the response? “My bad, but we can’t fix it.” Unacceptable.
**Ignored Sacrifices**: Four American soldiers died in Lithuania, and leadership had no clue. Their lives deserve more than silence.

**Elon Musk’s Recklessness**: A man without a security clearance has access to sensitive data and is firing people left and right with no accountability. Teenagers are reportedly involved in decisions affecting national security. Let that sink in.

**Healthcare Under Attack**: Gender-affirming care bans don’t just target the trans community—they impact cancer patients needing breast removal surgeries and even access to medications like Viagra. This isn’t about “morality”; it’s about control.

**Collapse of Public Health Research**: Hundreds of NIH grants have been canceled—stopping research on cancer, Alzheimer’s, heart disease, strokes, HIV prevention, and more. Stage IV cancer patients have had their clinical trials abruptly halted. Over $12 billion in funding for mental health and infectious disease monitoring has been wiped out.

This isn’t some Stephen King novel—it’s happening *right now*. If you think this doesn’t affect you, think again. These decisions will ripple through every aspect of our lives—our health, our safety, and our future as a nation.

If you’re okay with this, then own it—please continue to wear your identifying hate clothing so we can avoid you at all costs.  But if you’re not—if this makes your blood boil as it should—then it’s time to stop sitting on the sidelines. Speak up. Vote. Organize. Do something before there’s nothing left to save. If you want to get rid of your pervious hate clothing line – I for one will embrace you. There is no time for the “I told you so” rants at this point. You have literally been brain washed and the faster we form TOGETHER the quicker we can stop this craziness – people are going to die if this continues. 

Elbows Up