Martha Young

State College

It’s tempting to tune out the shock and awe strategy of Trump’s second administration, but to do so is foolhardy. The American way of life is disappearing.

Thanks to federal cuts to universities and other research agencies, much of the nation’s cutting-edge medical research is screeching to a halt. The impact on patient care will be devastating–and long-term (consider that 1/3rd of all cancer medicines currently in use were discovered by academics). To make matters worse, this administration is also actively pushing medical misinformation.

Safe food, clean water and worker safety be damned! The administration’s all-out attack on federal regulations puts corporate profits ahead of the health and well-being of the American people. Popular myths that regulations harm the economy ignore the far-reaching benefits, and cost savings, associated with protecting human and environmental health.

Trump’s trade war is blowing up retirement plans! The U.S. Stock Market is in turmoil, prices are rising, retirement accounts are shrinking and the probability of a U.S. recession is real and growing.

Adding to the madness, Trump threatens to deport American citizens who commit crimes to El Salvador’s brutal prisons! Trump’s acknowledged “errors” in deportations to date, his failure to provide due process, and his record of political vengeance reveals a broader authoritarian bent that threatens all Americans.

Not scared? You should be. But remember this: the Trump administration admits to “flooding the zone” to provoke fear and paralysis. Don’t let them! Stay engaged–practice resistance and fight for justice.