I’m not an economist. I took a course at one time and made a high A mostly because economics uses a great number of mathematical formulas and I tend to be good at working out such problems. I don’t pretend to be a business person either. I actually changed my major to business in the first months of attending college. Taking one class in that department sent me quickly back to education and courses in math and the liberal arts. Somehow I made the low salary provided to teachers in Texas add to our family budget. I had learned from my mother how to stretch the available dollars that we had. I even worked long enough to earn a pension that is not outstanding but certainly better than what most people have. I have mostly been content with living within my means and feeling as though with my husband’s contributions we have lived a comfortable life.

Even as prices rise and so many families are struggling we are able to keep the lights on, the air conditioner humming, and have food to eat each day. All in all I can’t personally complain but I am all too aware that the present situation in the United States is becoming more and more untenable for many American families. The man who is our president was supposed to be an economic and business genius but instead he is continually making blunders that even a business rookie like myself would never think of doing. 

The results of Trump’s second attempt at running our nation have been rather disastrous and we still have more than two years to go before he is gone. I can’t even begin to imagine how much damage will take place during the rest of his tenure. Until then we are looking at inflationary prices and a huge debt even as Trump has slashed many government jobs and unemployment especially among the young is rising. His war with Iran and his tariff wars with the rest of the world are creating much uncertainty in the world all while he and his family and the billionaires who support him have enriched themselves beyond anything that most of us might even imagine. 

So why are so many still touting Trump as a genius who was sent here by divine intervention to save us all? What am I missing that could possibly create such adoration? Why is he being forgiven for blunders that would have sent anyone else on a downward spiral of rejection? These are things that I ponder each day with great confusion. I don’t have to have a PhD in economics to know that his profligate spending on remaking the White House and much of Washington DC is totally unnecessary. When inflation is high and the nation is struggling just to keep food on the table and the car running back and forth to work a ballroom seems to be the very last thing we need. A gigantic arch is a worthless frivolity. 

Trump seems to think that he is a decorator or someone whose job is to entertain us rather than being serious about our national security or our relationships with our long time allies. He does dangerous things like starting a war and then gets board with the idea and shuffles off to play a game of gold and put gold on sculptures. His ultimate goal seems to be to break things right and left like a naughty boy who is angry at the rest of us and determined to get even with us just because we breathe.

The damage that Trump is doing to the world economy is not some small thing. It is deadly serious. The repercussions of his vindictive behavior will take decades repair so why haven’t the people who have the authority to do so stepped up with enough courage to stop the bleeding of our reputation in the world? The Supreme Court could step in and remind him that there are three branches of government and he has overstepped his bounds. The Republican Congress could take back their own powers that he has stolen. The American people might unanimously demonstrate their anger with him rather than so many standing behind him at rallies smiling and applauding his absurd ideas. 

I have to keep pinching myself to be certain that I am not simply locked into an horrific nightmare. I suppose it would be a wonderful relief to wake up and realize that it has all been just a bad dream but the horrible truth is that it is all real. 

I am tired of seeing immigrants treated with total disdain. I am weary of our sailors crying for help because they have been forgotten on a ship without working toilets and decent food. I feel for the farmers and ranchers whose ways of living are crumbling even after thinking that supporting Trump would make their lives better. I abhor the gaslighting and propaganda designed to turn us against each other and against other nations that have been our friends. I cringe at the inhumanity being leveled at trans people who have done nothing to stir up so much animosity. I am tired of being used and abused by a narcissistic man who spends his days whining about how much he is abused. 

I look to the elections with more hope than I have ever before mustered but also with a grave fear that somehow nothing will change. I worry the Trump status quo will win and we will see even more abuse from a petty man who will use lies and fear to get his way. I never imagined my world would be so uncertain.