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| (Image credit: Mike Luckovich / Copyright 2025 Creators Syndicate) |
As usual, political cartoons speak volumes. Thank you, Mike Luckovich.
I meant to be at a “Hands Off” (I prefer “F**k Off”) rally today but writing might be slightly more effective than my body being there. This letter to Senator Chris Murphy also went to my Florida representatives, with no expectations of a non-AI response. And as Senator Murphy is not my representative, I already received an automated reply that I should direct my letter to one of my representatives, so I am in an endless loop of non-representation; it’s frustrating, infuriating, but mea culpa for moving from the northeast, too late in life now for me to reverse.
The motivation for writing to Murphy is his view that tariffs are a Trump tool to subjugate businesses, bending them to his transactional will as he has done with other institutions.
The fact that none of the math makes sense, and seems to be concocted by a Dunning-Kruger schoolboy the night before the homework was due (after his cheerleader-worthy Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, implied they are the result of decades of careful deliberations, admonishing the press to “Trust in Trump”).
There’s so much more to say, but for the time being here’s my letter to Senator Murphy:
Dear Senator Murphy: I lived in Connecticut for thirty years before retiring to Florida. Yet I write to you as you’ve had the courage to speak out about President Trump’s true motivation regarding these senseless tariffs: they are but a tool to “gain fealty from private industry.”
He has torn apart the government to surround himself with acolytes, as well as bringing legal firms and even universities to their knees. His power is now unchecked, by SCOTUS, and by Congress. Thus we are well on our way to autocracy with kleptocrats in control and the Rule of Law stifled.
The markets have finally awakened to the reality of tariffs, a tax on the people, and a means of further undermining a world order which emerged after WWII. Our adversaries’ prophecy that democracy will be destroyed from within seems to be coming true, while our traditional allies are left bewildered and have found they must fend for themselves.
We all know that these tariffs are not going to solve our deficit. More sensible graduated income and inheritance taxes are needed, but that will not become reality with plutocrats in control of government and congress cowered by this president.
The final death knell could be selectively defaulting on debt, particularly when a large foreign debt holder such as China is due repayment of principal and interest, yet another potential “tool” like tariffs. Instead, the present regime might offer cryptocurrency, perhaps closely tied to the Trump family’s Bitcoin mining enterprise. This would be the ultimate undermining of the “full faith and credit” of the US dollar as the world’s reserve currency. It’s not surprising that the dollar has seriously weakened with tariff announcements.
“Only the weak will fail,” he texted in regard to the market selloff. Senator Murphy, this nation turns our lonely eyes to you and others in Congress to put a stop to this attempted coup and desecration of the American way of life. I’d be out protesting today if it were not for health reasons, so I have taken to the pen.
Sincerely and with thanks,
Cc: Representative Brian Mast
Senator Rick Scott
Senator Ashley Moody
