Trump Surrendered US to Himself

By Stuart Greenbaum

No longer in good conscience can I display the American flag outside my home. I am ashamed of what this country has become. America and the Stars & Stripes have been disgraced here and abroad by President Trump’s bullying, weakness, corruption, and abject inhumanity.

As an ancient saying warned, There can be no justice until those of us who are unharmed become as indignant at those who are. Every one of us should be indignant. The Golden Rule matters. Empathy matters. Without it, there is no civility, no democracy. Justice for all is not the only pillar of society at risk. America is surrendering values and principles at a breakneck pace, often in advance, sometimes unintentionally but mostly intentionally, with malice of forethought. Trump and Musk have plainly ceded public interest for private gain. Ever the dealmaker, Trump has also enabled similar corruption amongst his obsequious billionaire toadies.

Unfortunately, too many of the 77 million voters dupped by this Capitulator-in-Chief will never hear about his wrongdoings on Fox News. Yet reality will not spare them from the consequences. Other than claiming to “own the libs,” Trumpers are being forced to consider: Am I safer, healthier, richer, smarter, less aggrieved? And each must acknowledge: The cost of eggs is up. The cost of gas is up. The Stock Market is down. Unironically, Trump’s job approval rating is down. For whom exactly does the star-spangled banner yet wave? To satiate his voracious ego and greed he tendered superpower for supersized. The disunity and devastation left in the wake of Trump’s surrender tsunami is staggering to behold:

1. America surrendered the US Capitol to violent, pardoned insurrectionists.
2. America surrendered Ukraine and NATO to Putin.
3. America surrendered Palestinians to Netanyahu.
4. America surrendered U.S. foreign aid and diplomacy to extortion.
5. America has surrendered “coalition of the willing” to transactional billing.
6. America surrendered outer space (and Mars?) to Musk.
7. America surrendered equal opportunity to oligarchy.
8. America surrendered justice for all — particularly Trump — to a feckless Supreme Court.
9. America surrendered the federal bureaucracy and public servants to Musk’s DOGE (SHITE).
10. America surrendered Congress for gutless fealty to a wannabe autocrat.
11. America surrendered the news media to echo chambers and click-baiters.
12. America surrendered freedom of (and from) religion to zealots and white Christian nationalists.
13. America surrendered regulations to polluters and scammers.
14. America surrendered personal privacy to Big Tech.
15. America surrendered AI safety to the shadiest, highest bidder.
16. America surrendered the federal workforce to tax breaks for the wealthy.
17. America surrendered healthcare to the three stooges — Dr. Oz, Dr. Phil and RFK, Jr.
18. America surrendered medical research to anti-vaccine and anti-science lunatics.
19. America surrendered victims of gun violence to “thoughts and prayers.”
20. America surrendered education to the Ten Commandments.
21. America surrendered facts to beliefs.
22. America surrendered reality to fraudsters and conspiracy theorists.
23. American surrendered red ballcaps to MAGA.
24. America surrendered “United” to individual States. (Stay strong CA, NY, IL, ME, MN …)
25. And most immorally, America surrendered the Golden Rule to narcissism and othering.

Though frustrated by America’s spinelessness, I refuse to wave the white flag. I remain grateful and hopeful for a better future … at least for Californians. For now, I’ll fly the State’s Bear flag.* It is my way of showing appreciation to State officials and residents who are committed to doing what is right and good for all, forever.

* The Ukrainian flag will wave, too, as soon as I can find one other than on Amazon.

Stuart Greenbaum is an author and veteran public relations counsellor who resides in Sacramento, California.