SOUP LINES

We are deeply concerned about the economic implications of a second Trump administration implementing policies outlined in Project 2025. The warning signs are already flashing red, and if Trump's economic plans come to fruition, massive government layoffs, extreme tariffs, corporate uncertainty, and crony-driven policies could cause the U.S. to face the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. Let’s break down why this is an inevitable disaster in the making.

1. The Immediate Economic Shock of Mass Government Layoffs

Trump’s stated plan, Project 2025, calls for the elimination of tens of thousands of federal workers, replacing them with ideological loyalists. This will trigger:

• Mass layoffs in the federal workforce, causing millions of people to lose income suddenly.
• Ripple affects private industry, especially defense, healthcare, and IT, dependent on federal contracts.
• Reduced consumer spending, leading to job losses in retail and real estate sectors.

2. Trump’s Tariffs Will Trigger a Cost Explosion

Trump’s proposal to impose 10% across-the-board tariffs on all imported goods and up to 60% tariffs on China is nothing short of economic suicide.

• Prices on consumer goods will skyrocket—from food to cars to electronics.
• American manufacturers will suffer because they rely on global supply chains.
• Retaliatory tariffs from China, Europe, and Mexico will crush U.S. exporters, especially agriculture and high-tech industries.
• Higher inflation will force the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates, crushing any hope for economic stability.

3. Corporate Layoffs Will Follow—Big Business Won’t Stay in the U.S.

With massive tariffs, corporate tax giveaways to billionaires, and global instability, companies will start downsizing or moving operations overseas. This is what happened in 1929:

• Stock market panic as investors see economic contraction ahead.
• Bank failures, leading to restricted lending for businesses and homeowners.
• Higher unemployment, especially for middle-class and blue-collar workers.

4. The Federal Reserve Will Be Helpless

During Trump’s last presidency, the national debt ballooned by $7.8 trillion, mostly from tax cuts for the rich. With Trump poised to cut taxes for billionaires again, there will be zero fiscal room to help when the economy collapses. The Federal Reserve:

• Will be forced to raise rates to combat tariff-driven inflation.
• There will be limited options to print money without worsening economic instability.
• Will watch as the recession turns into a full-blown depression.

5. Safety Nets Will Be Gutted, Leading to a Soup-Line Economy

The worst part? Trump’s Project 2025 explicitly calls for:

• Slashing Social Security and Medicare—harming the elderly and disabled.
• Eliminating unemployment benefits—leaving millions with no support.
• Ending food assistance programs—creating literal soup lines.
• Defunding education—keeping voters uninformed and easily manipulated.

6. The Final Nail: Theocratic Oligarchy Will Enrich the Few, Destroy the Many

At the heart of this collapse is the oligarchy disguised as populism:

• The top 1% will get richer through deregulation, stock buybacks, and government kickbacks.
• The middle and working class will collapse under crushing inflation, layoffs, and benefit cuts.
• Theocrats will weaponize faith to distract the suffering populace, blaming immigrants, minorities, and the "deep state."

We Are Sleepwalking into a Depression

The low-information voter bloc has enabled a con artist who has no grasp of economics, to lead us straight into the worst economic disaster of this century. We warned them. We saw Project 2025 for what it was. But now, the writing is on the wall:

We are heading for a soup-line economy engineered by a plutocratic, theocratic oligarchy, and it may be too late to stop it.

William James Spriggs

TRUMP IS NO NEGOTIATOR

The Art of Negotiation: A Concept Lost on Trump

Negotiation is a delicate dance of power, patience, and strategy. Any skilled negotiator understands that the side with the stronger position never makes the first move. Power is preserved by waiting for the weaker party to initiate, forcing them to concede before the discussion even begins. Yet, Donald Trump, a self-proclaimed master of "The Art of the Deal," consistently violates this fundamental rule, proving once again that his book and entire approach to negotiation is nothing more than a con.

His latest blunder? He is attempting to insert himself into the Ukraine-Russia conflict with reckless promises that undercut American strength. He openly declares that he can end the war in 24 hours, yet the very foundation of any successful negotiation requires that the weaker party, Russia, in this case, make the first move. By preemptively offering incentives or concessions, Trump eliminates the possibility of real negotiation before it even begins.

The Fatal Mistake: Giving Away Power Upfront

One key principle in negotiation is never to surrender leverage before talks begin. If you hold a position of strength, you aim to extract concessions from the other party. You apply pressure, impose conditions, and clarify that they must act first if they want a resolution. Trump, however, does the opposite. He openly signals that he will give up Ukraine’s defense and support in exchange for nothing.

This is not a negotiation strategy. This is capitulation.

If Trump had genuinely understood the art of negotiation, he would have realized that the U.S. and its allies held the dominant position in this conflict. Russia is militarily strained, diplomatically isolated, and economically weakened by sanctions. The correct strategy would be to tighten the screws until Russia is forced to make the first move, signaling that they are ready to negotiate on Western terms. Instead, Trump signals weakness by saying to Putin that he doesn’t need to make a move because he will give him what he wants anyway.

Negotiation Requires Patience—Which Trump Lacks

Patience is the backbone of high-stakes negotiation. The party that can wait the longest typically wins. The stronger side doesn’t rush into talks, forcing the weaker side to sweat it out. However, Trump, impulsive and desperate for attention, does not have the patience to execute a real strategy.

His eagerness to “make a deal” is rooted not in strategy but in his need for spectacle and self-aggrandizement. He doesn’t care about securing the best possible outcome; he only cares about appearing to be the hero, even if the deal he makes is an outright disaster for the United States and its allies.

Real Negotiation Requires Incentives—Not Bluster

Negotiation involves incentivizing the weaker party to act first. This does not mean surrendering ground; it means creating a situation where the other side sees an opportunity to make the first move. Trump’s approach ignores this. He offers concessions upfront without extracting anything, paying Russia to accept its victory.

A real statesman would understand that negotiation is only possible in a war like this when the aggressor, Russia, recognizes its position is unsustainable. That recognition must be forced through economic, military, and diplomatic pressure. Yet Trump, blinded by his ego, skips the entire process and tries to negotiate from a position of self-imposed weakness.

The Reality: Trump’s ‘Art of the Deal’ Is a Sham

Trump’s actions reveal what many have long suspected: he is no master negotiator. His so-called expertise is a fabrication, a flimsy sales pitch designed to convince people that he understands deal-making when, in reality, his instincts are catastrophically flawed. He lacks patience, strategy, and the ability to recognize when to act and when to hold firm.

If Trump were put in charge of the Ukraine-Russia negotiations, the outcome would be predetermined: Russia would get precisely what it wants, and America would walk away humiliated. That is not the art of negotiation; that is the art of surrender.

The question is: will the American people recognize this before it’s too late?

William James Spriggs

ANOTHER CON GAME

Trump’s Tariff Tax: A Self-Inflicted Wound on His Own Supporters

Donald Trump has once again demonstrated his profound ignorance or his utter indifference when it comes to economic policy. His latest move? Imposing tariffs on goods from China, Canada, and Mexico are the three nations with which the United States trades most. These tariffs are nothing more than a tax hike on American consumers, businesses, and workers, many of whom, ironically, are his staunchest supporters.

Trump sells tariffs as a penalty on foreign nations, a means of punishing them for what he claims are unfair trade practices. But anyone with a rudimentary understanding of economics knows that tariffs do not work this way. China, Canada, or Mexico do not pay them; they are paid by American importers, who then pass the cost down to American consumers. The result? Higher prices on everything from automobiles and electronics to food and clothing.

This isn’t just speculation, it’s economic fact. The Trump tariffs imposed during his first administration led to billions of dollars in extra costs for American consumers and businesses. Studies from both conservative and liberal economic think tanks have confirmed that those tariffs failed to reduce trade deficits and resulted in higher costs for American households. The same thing will happen again, but the pain will be even greater this time, as inflation and supply chain disruptions have already weakened household purchasing power.

Who Gets Hurt the Most?

While Trump’s wealthy allies may shrug off the impact, working-class and middle-class Americans—particularly those in red states, will feel the brunt of these policies. The very people who cheer for his economic nationalism will soon find themselves paying more for groceries, cars, construction materials, and everyday necessities. Small businesses relying on imported components will be forced to raise prices or lay off workers to absorb the added costs.

Let's not forget farmers, many of whom suffered greatly under Trump's previous tariff wars when China retaliated by slashing purchases of American agricultural goods. Back then, Trump had to use taxpayer-funded subsidies to compensate them for their losses, an absurd situation in which Americans paid twice through higher prices and government bailouts.

Trump’s Economic Con Game

Trump’s entire economic rhetoric is built on deception. He claims to fight for the "forgotten man" yet repeatedly implements policies that harm them. His tax cuts benefited the ultra-wealthy and large corporations while doing little for the average worker. His trade wars devastated American farmers and manufacturers. And now, his latest round of tariffs will serve as yet another hidden tax on everyday Americans.

If he truly cared about trade imbalances, he would invest in domestic manufacturing, support worker training programs, and foster innovation rather than resort to blunt, self-defeating protectionist measures. However, Trump is not interested in smart, sustainable economic policy. He is only interested in power, spectacle, and the illusion of strength.

Eventually, even his most loyal supporters must wake up to the fact that they are being conned. The question is: How much more will they be willing to pay before they realize they’ve been sold a lie?

William James Spriggs

YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN

You're on Your Own—We're All on Our Own

The illusion of leadership is dead. It has been for a while, but now, with the entire descent into plutocracy, there is no denying it. If you thought you were voting for someone who would protect your interests, serve your needs, or fight for your future, think again. You are on your own.

Trump’s base, the fervent MAGA faithful, is about to learn this the hard way. He never cared about them. He used them, stoked their fears, fed their grievances, and sent them into battle for his power. But now? He is doing what he has always done: serving himself and the ultra-rich, his billionaire cronies who profit off chaos and control. Those who cheered for him, who thought he was their champion, are about to experience betrayal on a grand scale.

What has Trump ever actually done for them? Did he raise their wages? Did he fix their schools? Did he lower their cost of living, make healthcare affordable, or ensure their communities thrived? No. He handed tax cuts to the wealthy, undermined public services, and left his followers struggling while he built his empire on their loyalty. And now, as he and his billionaire backers tighten their grip on the government, those working-class voters who thought they were part of something bigger will find themselves abandoned, struggling in the wreckage of their misplaced trust.

But don’t be fooled into thinking the other side offers salvation. If you are a Democrat, an Independent, or simply someone who values democracy, you are also on your own. The Democratic Party, for all its rhetoric, has proven incapable of real resistance. Their response to the rising tide of authoritarianism has been weak, bureaucratic, and ineffective. They have allowed corruption and greed to consume our system while offering little more than symbolic victories and empty promises. They are not going to save you.

This is no longer a democracy. It is an oligarchy, a plutocracy, a nation ruled by a handful of billionaires who manipulate both parties, the media, and the economy to ensure that their wealth remains untouched while the rest of us are left to fend for ourselves. Elon Musk and his ilk are running the show, steering policy, controlling narratives, and ensuring that nothing changes in a way that threatens their power.

And now, to make it all worse, the so-called “cost-cutting” measures we hear about aren’t actually about reducing the deficit or helping the economy. They are a scam, an excuse to slash social programs, defund essential services, and tighten the financial noose around the middle class and the poor. Why? Because the real plan is to make room for a $4 trillion increase in the national debt, not to help struggling Americans, but to shovel even more wealth into the pockets of billionaires and their corporate cronies. The government isn’t being streamlined; it’s being looted. And the people who will suffer the most? Those duped into believing Trump and his allies would fight for them.

So where does that leave the rest of us? Alone. Without a leader, party, or institution that truly fights for us. There will be no cavalry, no sudden reversal of fortune. The realization is brutal but also freeing because once you understand that no one is coming to save you, you can take action for yourself.

If anything is going to change, it won’t come from politicians, parties, or governments. It will come from individuals who refuse to wait for leadership that isn’t coming. It will come from people organizing their movements and communities and resisting a system designed to keep them powerless.

Waiting is over. Hoping is over. The truth is simple and undeniable: You are on your own. We all are. And if anything is going to change, we must be the ones to change it.

William James Spriggs

UNIVERSAL, COMPLETE, AND CONSTANT RESISTANCE

The Necessity of Universal, Complete, and Constant Resistance

Resistance is not a momentary act, a fleeting gesture, or confined to a singular event, election, or movement. It must be constant, deliberate, and woven into the fabric of daily life. To counter an existential threat to democracy, justice, and the very notion of truth, we must resist at all times, in all ways, and without hesitation.

Defining Resistance

Resistance is not just opposition; it is active defiance. It means refusing to normalize what is abnormal, refusing to stay silent when injustice prevails, and refusing to be complicit through inaction. It is a mindset, a daily practice, and an unrelenting commitment to upholding the principles that define a free and just society.

How to Resist at Every Turn

We must integrate resistance into every aspect of our lives to resist effectively. Here are concrete ways to ensure that resistance is universal, complete, and constant:

1. Economic Resistance

• Boycott businesses and corporations that fund authoritarian movements to suppress workers or spread misinformation.
• Support Ethical Businesses that align with democratic values, worker rights, and human rights.
• Bank Wisely by choosing financial institutions that support ethical causes and divesting from those that enable corruption.
• Withhold Support from Media That Spreads Lies by refusing to watch or engage with networks that promote disinformation.

2. Political Resistance

• Vote in Every Election—local, state, and federal.
• Engage in Activism by attending protests, rallies, and town halls.
• Pressure Lawmakers by calling, writing, and confronting them about their policies and actions.
• Run for Office or support candidates who champion justice and democracy.

3. Cultural Resistance

• Control the Narrative by refusing to let misinformation dominate conversations.
• Wear Symbols of Resistance (e.g., certain colors, pins, flags) to signal solidarity.
• Create and Support Art That Challenges Oppression—literature, music, film, and visual art have always played a role in fighting tyranny.
• Educate Constantly—correct misinformation, share books and articles, and teach critical thinking.

4. Legal Resistance

• Challenge Unjust Laws in Court through legal advocacy and support organizations fighting oppressive legislation.
• Know Your Rights and help others understand theirs.
• Use Civil Disobedience when necessary, peacefully disrupting operations that enable authoritarian rule.

5. Community-Based Resistance

• Build Networks of Like-Minded Individuals—resistance is strongest when collective.
• Organize Resistance Groups to discuss strategies, share resources, and take action.
• Mutual Aid—support those most vulnerable to oppression by providing legal aid, shelter, or financial support.
• Use Social Media Wisely to post and organize, inform, and expose corruption.

6. International Solidarity Resistance

• Support Ukraine and Other Nations Fighting for Democracy—authoritarianism anywhere is a threat everywhere.
• Call Out Foreign Influence—recognize when adversaries attempt to undermine democracy and speak against it.
• Boycott Dictatorship-Friendly Corporations Globally—economic pressure also works on a global scale.

Stories of Resistance

Resistance thrives when people share their stories. Individuals must step forward to recount how they resist in their own lives, whether it’s a worker refusing to be silenced, a teacher educating students on propaganda, or a business owner refusing to cave to pressure. These stories need to be spread widely to inspire and embolden others.

Resistance Is a Duty, Not an Option

Resistance cannot be occasional, or selective. Every person who values democracy, truth, and justice has an obligation to resist every day. Whether in the workplace, at the ballot box, in economic choices, or through confrontation, resistance must be universal, complete, constant, and unyielding.

If we fail to resist at every turn, we will fail to protect the very foundation of democracy itself. The time is now. Resist always, resist in every way possible.

William James Spriggs

AMERICA'S STAINFUL HUMILIATION

America’s Humiliation: A Shakedown in the Oval Office

The world bore witness to an astonishing and disgraceful spectacle yesterday as the President of the United States, flanked by his sycophantic Vice President and other lackeys, subjected Ukraine’s leader, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, to a humiliating shakedown in the Oval Office. In an act of cowardice wrapped in diplomatic pretense, they sought to extort from him an agreement that would all but concede Ukraine’s sovereignty, serving it on a platter to Vladimir Putin, the autocrat they now embrace as an ally.

The scene was surreal. A man who has stood as a symbol of courage, resilience, and democratic resistance was belittled in schoolyard fashion by Trump and Vance, two men who wouldn’t last a day in the trenches of Bakhmut or the diplomatic corridors of Kyiv. Zelenskyy, a leader who withstood the onslaught of one of the world’s most dangerous regimes, was treated as an errand boy to be scolded, a beggar to be dismissed. It was a moment not just of national embarrassment but of historical consequence.

Trump stained and humiliated America.

How did we arrive here? How, after years of supporting Ukraine’s fight for survival against Russian aggression, did America pivot in a single meeting toward appeasement and surrender? The answer lies in the grotesque transformation of the U.S. government under Trump’s leadership, a transformation fueled by billionaires, ideological zealots, and theocratic extremists whose long-term goal is nothing less than the dismantling of democracy itself.

This was not just a policy shift. This was a declaration: America, once the defender of freedom, is now for sale. The highest bidder? The plutocrats and autocrats see democracy as an inconvenience and the rule of law as an obstacle to their ambitions. Trump, ever the transactional grifter, has no loyalty to ideals, only to power, wealth, and those who flatter his ego. In Putin, he sees a model to emulate, not an adversary to confront.

Zelenskyy, however, did not flinch. He endured the humiliation with the same quiet resolve that has defined his leadership since the first Russian missiles fell on his country. He walked into the lion’s den, knowing the odds were stacked against him, and still carried himself gracefully. That is more than can be said for the men who sat across from him, sneering and posturing as if history would remember them as anything more than puppets of tyranny.

America Must Rise Up

This is a turning point. America may never recover from this betrayal, not unless its people rise up, take to the streets, and reject this plutocratic regime before it tightens its grip.

The time for passive outrage is over. The response must be swift and relentless:

• Boycott: Starve the billionaires funding this betrayal. Boycott their corporations, refuse to buy their products, and make them feel the financial consequences of undermining democracy.
• Demonstrate: Fill the streets in every city. Make it clear that Americans will not stand idly by while their nation is handed over to dictators and oligarchs.
• Disrupt: Shut down business as usual. Organize strikes, protest at government buildings, and refuse to cooperate with the machinery of this emerging autocracy.
• Deny: Trump and his enablers must be denied legitimacy. Treat them as what they are—traitors to the American ideal. Do not recognize their authority, do not abide by their decrees, and do not allow them to redefine freedom in their image.
• International Mobilization: Call on allies worldwide to join the fight. The struggle against authoritarianism does not end at America’s borders. Those who value democracy must isolate this regime, refuse to engage with its leaders, and support resistance from within.

The forces at work are not just about enriching the elite; they are laying the groundwork for a theocratic autocracy where dissent is silenced, loyalty to the leader is mandatory, and power is concentrated in those who believe democracy is expendable.

This future has been laid out in plain sight, yet too few have acted to stop it. Will we continue to watch in horror, or will we fight back before it’s too late?

William James Spriggs

THE SUPREME CONSPIRATORS

The Supreme Court's Role in Trump's Path to Dictatorship

Let's call a spade a spade: The Supreme Court paved the way for Donald Trump to believe he could act with impunity while in office. In a move that defied precedent, the Court chose to craft new law rather than adhere to the guiding principles that have long ensured the accountability of a sitting president. This decision effectively granted Trump a shield of invulnerability, signaling that he could wield power unchecked and escape responsibility for any actions taken in his "official capacity."

By doing so, the Court gave him the foundation he needed to pursue his authoritarian ambitions. Once again, Trump demonstrated an unerring instinct to seize every advantage to consolidate his control. He used this legal pass to make any promise he wished during the election, knowing full well that once elected, he could shed any pretense of governance in favor of the brazen autocracy he has always desired. He did not hide this plan. He openly declared that he would become a dictator, if only for a day, testing the waters to see how far his rhetoric could carry him. Shockingly, a significant portion of the electorate either did not take him seriously or, worse, welcomed his pledge.

Did the American people want to vote for a dictator? Perhaps not all of them. But there is an undeniable faction of Trump's base that craves destruction, those who, like him, seek to dismantle the nation as we know it. This core group is not simply misguided; they are complicit in his malevolence. They do not merely tolerate his cruelty and lawlessness; they revel in it, feeding off his chaos and seeing him as a vessel for their discontent.

And what about the rest? What about those who were misled, deceived, or simply ignorant of what was at stake? Many know people who cast their ballots for Trump, convinced he was a tough-talking outsider or a necessary antidote to the political establishment. These individuals failed to grasp the gravity of what they were endorsing. They were bamboozled, sold a fantasy in which Trump’s words were mere bluster rather than the apparent warning signs of an aspiring tyrant.

But make no mistake: This was not an accident. Instead, the Supreme Court, an institution tasked with upholding the Constitution, enabled its potential destruction. Whether through intent or negligence, the justices who ruled in Trump’s favor on immunity for "official acts" laid the groundwork for an American autocracy. By shielding him from accountability, they signaled to future presidents that they too could rule without restraint, so long as their actions could be classified as "official."

This was, at best, judicial malpractice. At worst, it was a deliberate step toward the erosion of democracy. It is one thing for a power-hungry politician to exploit legal loopholes; it is another for the highest court in the land to create those loopholes, gifting an aspiring despot the legal justification for his tyranny.

So, where do we go from here? To preserve what remains of American democracy, we must acknowledge the Supreme Court’s role in this crisis. We must demand accountability, not just for Trump, but for those who enabled him, from the justices who rewrote the rules to the voters who turned a blind eye. We cannot afford to let history repeat itself.

The survival of the republic depends on it.

William James Spriggs