By A. Martinez, Majd Al-Waheidi
Democrats have won back Congress (click here). Now comes the harder question: How much can they actually change with President Trump still in the White House?
"I dare him to veto that," Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York told Morning Edition, challenging Trump to reject bipartisan legislation restoring Medicaid coverage....
There are a couple of issues that immediately come to mind as to where to start when the new Congress convenes.in
1. Genocide
The people of the United States of America never intended to kill at will inside of Iran, Gaza, or the seas where speed boats carry drugs to distant lands. The killing by the USA has to stop. There are also service members killed because of incompetence dictated by Trump and carried out by Hegseth. None of these acts can go unrecognized. The accountability for these deaths must be carried out to the point of ending all aggression.
Impeachment for the sake of impeachment will only result in maintaining power within reach of Trump. Vance will pardon Trump if given a chance. Trump will pardon his minions. The ability to carry out justice at this point is somewhat thwarted by the extent of the corruption. The executive branch is in trouble. Congress must remain strong and strategic to end the assault of the depth of the corruption.
The crimes have to go on record as the prosecution of them will remain viable for years. I think Congress can count on dismissed FBI and former US Attorneys to testimony to the way forward and as advisors to the new Congress. The depth of the corruption is the issue at this time.
2. Accountability to Allies
The attack against allies in diminishing the vibrancy of our alliance is of great concern. How much were they damaged? How do they see the necessity of the USA to adhere to the alliances? What are the new threats? What does every country need to be more self-sufficient adding to the strength of the alliance? France has brought forth a reality never considered before possible at the United Nations. France should address a joint session of Congress to bring about the awareness needed to heal wounds and sew new understanding.
3. Ukraine
The country is experiencing genocide by Russia. What do they need? How does Ukraine see the future? What does a viable peace treaty look like? All of Trump's so called peace attempts were a travesty to the word peace. The United States of America cannot tolerate genocide by one country of another. I believe much of the support by the USA of allies in the region of Ukraine were syphoned off for Israel and assaults on Iran. That is a matter of accountability and inhibition of war through reining in Trump and Hegseth. The USA has to heal, reconstitute it's military from personnel to munitions to well supplied ships and well trained soldiers. The soldiers also need to understand what illegal order are and how to prevent being overpowered by them.
4. The First Amendment
Trump has to end his damaging agenda to control the voice of freedom in the USA. The truth, the reporting of the truth, open and free testimony and the witnessing of government working, and especially the freedom of the press is to a healthy democracy. There will be no inhibition by any federal or state agency to bring the freedom of speech to Americans and the world.
5. The Vote
This election is an iconic act of freedom as expressed by so many Americans. The idea that every lever of power used by Trump to assault voting is alarming. The Voting Rights Act has to be strengthened as well as the other two legislative measures. It may be necessary to bring about a Constitutional Amendment to strength the current laws, including and especially, the wrong headed idea that money has a vote. We need to move money out of politics. There is a fund to support national elections of a president. That fund is completely ignored with the onset of PACs and unlimited use of money to buy elections. There is no doubt Trump was returned to a second term by Elon Musk's money. As a result Trump provided Quid Pro Quo to Musk in ending investigations, fines, and whatever else was being tapped to understand the impact of the companies of Musk and their practices.
6. Human Rights
I have been alive for decades and generations and never, not once, has there been a round up of human beings, packed on a plane, and sent to the far reaches of Earth from the borders of the USA. It is not only an outrage, those measures are so far outside the mainstream they have to be outlawed forever. The assault on the USA immigration system by Trump, the building and occupation of buildings for the purpose of human storage for deportation is an abomination to this country. That entire paradigm must be dismantled and better systems of justice put into place with humanity and morality as the driving force to our immigration laws.
7. The Rule of Law
The USA Constitution has remedies for the people within Trump's corruption network. Those remedies must be taken seriously. The racketeering and the scope of that racketeering isn't completely understood, known, or measured. The unfolding of the corruption will take time. The recording of the assault by Trump begins in 2021 with the inspired assault of the USA Capital. Moving forward from that act of treason by Trump to current day has to be made a matter of record. In recognizing the treason of those moments in 2021 will be the reason his pardons then and since are meaningless.
8. The disruption of life in the USA
The people of this magnificent democracy are suffering. They need relief and they need to believe their vote this election meant something. They have to have their course corrected, including abandoning the internal combustion engine. Sorry, but, there is permanent international damage to the infrastructure that provided petroleum products to an addicted USA. The people need reasonable costs to their energy needs, including strong policy and REGULATION of data centers. Those centers may provide employment, but, the employment is not safe and the communities are highly impacted adversely. Basically, the data center employment is not worth it.
The cost of living in the USA is ridiculous and the American Dream is out of reach. Our 30 somethings are still unable to buy a house or a condo or townhouse. The entire idea of exploitation of every American for every dime they earn if they are lucky enough to have a good paying job is an outrage and every Wall Street Broker should be ashamed of those profits. They are not profits, they are blood money.
Opportunity needs to return to Americans. Opportunity for a quality public education. Opportunity to engage education without the threat of violence within that environment. Domestic violence, especially with weapons, has to end. The idea a child can grow up well within an environment of violence is old world and must not be tolerated. Public schools, including opportunity for higher education of community colleges, including career path education, degrees in colleges and universities are vital to the people of this country. While offering students from other countries opportunities to be educated within the USA is important to allies and the common good throughout the world, the governments at all levels have to ensure Americans with ambition for higher education are satisfied first. The idea high tuition paid by those outside our borders are vital to universities is an outrage. If Americans need those seats, they should have them.
9. Women's Rights and Children's Rights
That is self explanatory. Women and children need to be recognized and their rights codified.
There is much work to do and this is only a basis of understanding to the depth of the corrupting force within our society. The people deported by Trump must be brought back to the USA and provided a path to justice. The people within detention facilities must be treated well and provided a path to justice. ICE and Border Patrol must be reviewed as to their most useful place in our democracy and the USA military returned to defending our democracy outside our borders.
Peace, wellness, and happiness. The holidays are upon us and we have a right to enjoy them and worship as we see fit, including the USA military. The Chaplains must continue to minister to all faiths and just a chosen few.
end
