Printed in the Fayette County Record on 2-28-25*

The far right has finally gone too far, and the country is paying the price.  Federal workers are being laid off with vigor.  Cancer research has been stifled.  Increased numbers of innocent, law-abiding immigrants are being detained and separated from their work and families.  Food is threatened to be taken away from our children based on anti-LGBTQ motives.  Top military officials like General Charles Q. Brown and Admiral Lisa Franchetti are being fired likely based on their race and gender.  From the monstrous to the petty, these things are the direct responsibility of the entire Republican party. 

The problem is not in the discussion of who/what should or should not get money.  The problem is protections for average Americans are being dismantled by the current presidential administration and congressional majority.  The problem is not having a white male president instead of a black woman president.  The problem is having a billionaire in power hiring more billionaires to make all of them more money while the Republican Party at large shreds Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, and other programs that assist vulnerable Americans.  

It gets worse as the cabinet nominees look more like a pool of cast members from a reality TV show versus true professionals relevant to the positions to which they are nominated.  The majority party is completely complicit in these largely unqualified nominations as they have time and time again voted unanimously in favor of them.  Senators like Ted Cruz and John Cornyn will be directly responsible for the havoc that leaches down to us by these nominees.

Democrats largely exhibit complicity in these times as well.  Though there are many great members of the House like Greg Casar of Texas who actively fight for everyone, the majority of Senate Democrats have chosen an approach that says, “Let’s just let the Republicans sink themselves then everyone will like us again.”  This approach is ludicrous.  Right-wing, sycophantic brand loyalists will not change their vote because they will feel like they are winning even if reality proves otherwise.

There will continue to be lies projected from Republicans and their voters that say, “Look how good we’re doing!”  Many people will simply accept these lies as they will be consistently presented with boisterous enthusiasm.  Meanwhile, patriotic Americans toil away at looking for new jobs and lose the ability to pay their bills.  

Let us be clear.  What was happening over the previous four years wasn’t working either. And if a party does not regularly address what people are dealing with on a daily basis they will lose.  If a party just asks for money without much to back it up they will lose.  If a party believes they are on the correct side of issues and people will vote for them “just because” of that fact they will lose.  The Democratic party lacks the spine to play hardball and get things done, and even when they attain the majority they let the Republicans rule the sandbox in an attempt to hinder confrontation and promote fair play.  That does not work.

Republicans, however, unite and accomplish their goals even as they are currently staffed with prejudiced personnel and conspiracy theorists in the Cabinet, Senate, and House.  They are already hurting everyone including their own voters.  And now they are trying to take away the right to vote from average Americans with the SAVE Act which is largely propagated from conspiracy theories and, let’s face it, a hearty dose of racism.

For those of us who are concerned by the current tidal wave of radical conservatism and lack of liberal defense, there is a way to push back.  The way is us.  We have a voice, and we can fight.  We may not be able to change a lot in Texas for a while, but we can support a national movement that sends a message and pushes to protect real Americans, including Texans.  A message that shows we are in solidarity with people's rights.  The right to fair pay, education, and equitable opportunity.  And opportunities right now exist in us building our own power. 

We have to push the Democratic Party to not be cowards and discourage the “strategy” of complying with ridiculous, overly righteous statutes.  We have to show disdain through writing, phone calls, or in person to all representatives, Republican and Democrat, who cater to a king’s whim.

I’m guessing there’s about 30% of us around here who agree with this while the other 70% hail the king.  I encourage the 30% to follow Indivisible.org for inspiration.  You are also welcome to follow me at shipwreckedintexas.bsky.social if you are inclined.  Hope to see you around.

Here’s to the 30%.

*The address shipwreckintexas.bsky.social has been updated in this post from schipprecked.bsky.social in the original Letter To The Editor