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Dear Wall Street Journal ... [1]

['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']

Date: 2025-02-11

I believe you are in a unique position, perhaps historically so, to reach a particular group of Americans. DailyKos can’t reach them. The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN, MSNBC, all those outlets are seemingly disregarded. For the most part. But you have clout with the business world, so I think you can and should make an appeal.

For some time, starting in the first Trump administration, analysts and pundits have been scratching their heads wondering how elected Republicans could defend or shield Trump’s most outrageous statements and acts. I think it’s time to bring something out in the open: you’re not going to get hundreds of elected officials to remain silent in a way that borders on betrayal of their oaths, with only threats of political retribution. These politicians are not afraid of being primaried; they’re afraid for their safety and the safety of their families. Let’s dismiss the mystery of this dynamic once and for all.

The Republican Party lives under a threat umbrella, and this is how Trump gets things done. Do we want to accept this path?

Does anyone really think Marco Rubio’s opinion of Donald Trump has changed since he was campaigning in 2016? He got a talking to some time back. Now, Rubio is on a leash and the world sees it. Autocrats love doing that sort of thing. And remember Lindsay Graham’s “I’m out” speech? Hmm … I wonder what brought him “back in” after his trip to Mar-a-Lago. Any guesses?

Who set up this threat umbrella? Consider this: Keith Schiller, Donald Trump’s bodyguard during the 2013 Miss Universe Pageant held in Moscow, testified that one night as they were leaving the hall he and Trump were offered women. They declined. Trump went to his room, and Schiller stayed outside for a half hour or so, then retired himself. So, unguarded door, and hidden cameras everywhere. None of this is a crazy conspiracy theory. Go look it up. Do you think the spymaster might have thought of just sending some women after Schiller left?

Kompromat.

Then the Russians heavily working the black arts for Trump’s 2016 campaign. All documented beyond a shadow of a doubt.

The meeting in Trump Tower.

Trump gets elected. First thing he does is bring a bunch of Russians into the Oval Office so they can pee on the carpet and mark their territory.

Then Helsinki.

Then Trump sitting for 3 hours on Jan 6, watching the violence while being implored by friends, colleagues, and family to do what everyone knew only Trump could do: stop the violence.

Then all the documents taken to Mar-a-Lago.

And now …

Killing USAid. Why?

One reason and one reason only. Nothing to do with corruption, waste, or fraud. It is to diminish the influence and standing of the United States in the world.

Killing the Department of Education Why?

Two very good reasons. First, religion. Trump has said education should be sent “back to the states”. This is innocuous on the surface, but of course what he means is that states should no longer have to adhere to national standards. In addition, they will be free to introduce prayer in public schools, and use taxpayer funds for private religious education.

Why appeal to the religious? Two reasons: First, Trump feels that this is a group that will have no problem professing loyalty to him over loyalty to the Constitution. Second, religious folks can be very passionate … insistent … ok, violent.

Second reason to kill DOE: Do you remember “we love the poorly educated”? Well, let’s just say that it is hard to manipulate or gaslight a highly educated, clear-thinking population. What does this say about Trump’s desire for the American people?

Firing the Inspectors General Why?

No brainer. To give corruption some elbow room.

Now consider this:

In corrupt societies, like Russia and China, there are incurable problems in the domestic manufacturing chain that arise from corruption. Before I go any further, I want to make one assertion that I will defend to anyone: corruption at the top flows all the way down. The corruption at the top takes the form of one simple rule: please the boss. This rule, which replaces the traditional bottom line considerations of stock price, profits and losses, or even national security, causes all the rot in Chinese and Russian manufacture. Of course, they can turn out quality products when they have strong incentives to do do (usually when they are head to head with outside products), but their defense industries, in particular, are riddled with problems stemming from corruption in all its forms: fudged numbers, substandard substitutions, inadequate testing or training, etc. And these problems cannot be cured when there is corruption at the top. It will be with us forever.

This is why China will always produce second rate products. Their industries cannot ever free themselves from corruption, because it is the rule. The same is true in Russia.

So the world still looks to the US, Germany, UK, France, Sweden, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan as the absolute leaders in quality. But we will drop off that list once the business world falls under Trump's dominion, as it must. No autocrat can tolerate an independently powerful business community (see Russia). Autocrats have to rule it all.

And here is where I ask you to make an appeal to the business community: reject authoritarianism. Stand up and be heard if you believe in democracy. And to companies in the defense industry: do not allow yourselves to be compromised by corruption. It is obvious that Vladimir Putin would love to see a weakened US defense industry. Don’t let that happen.

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