LEARNING FROM GERMANY

From Dictatorship to Democratic Renewal: Learning from Germany’s Past to Rebuild America’s Future,

History is not just a chronicle of events; it is a mirror that reflects lessons for those willing to see. Few examples are more illuminating than Germany’s transformation after the fall of Adolf Hitler. Emerging from the ashes of fascism, Germany built a resilient, socially conscious democracy, one that serves as a striking blueprint for what America could become after its authoritarian flirtation.

The United States is now deep in its reckoning. After years of institutional erosion, disinformation, and the consolidation of executive power under Donald Trump, it is clear that American democracy, as initially designed, has proven vulnerable, too reliant on good faith, too trusting of unwritten norms, and too permissive of capitalism’s excesses.

Just as Germany’s first experiment with democracy, the Weimar Republic, collapsed under economic inequality, hyper-nationalism, and demagoguery, America’s system has buckled under similar pressures. But just as Germany emerged stronger after the nightmare of dictatorship, so too can the United States. Like Germany, the path forward will require abandoning the illusion of returning to some idyllic past. Instead, we must construct something new: a New Democracy fortified by accountability, equity, and shared prosperity.

Germany's Recovery: From Fascism to Social Democracy

Postwar Germany did not simply resurrect the Weimar Republic. It reimagined democracy altogether. The new German system placed safeguards against authoritarianism at its core. It introduced:

• Proportional representation to ensure multiparty pluralism.
• Constitutional limits on executive power and a strong, independent judiciary.
• Public ownership and oversight in critical industries.
• Universal healthcare and a broad social safety net.
• Strict anti-fascist laws to guard against the return of demagogues.

This was not just democracy. It was a democracy with guardrails. Germany had learned that political freedom must be paired with economic fairness and that unregulated capitalism was just as destabilizing as unchecked state power.

Today, Germany is one of the world’s most stable, prosperous democracies. It thrives not despite its regulated economy but because of it. And it provides a compelling model for America’s reinvention.

America’s Crossroads: After Trump, What Comes Next?

Donald Trump may not be Hitler, but the authoritarian dynamics are disturbingly familiar: the cult of personality, the vilification of truth, the subversion of institutions, the scapegoating of minorities, and the weaponization of the state for personal gain. Project 2025 and the movement around Trump are not about conservative governance; they are about ending democracy as we know it.

If and when the Trump era ends, whether through electoral defeat, civil resistance, or sheer collapse, the question will not be how to restore what was lost. The question will be: What can we build that will endure?

Like post-Hitler Germany, the United States must design a better democracy from the wreckage. That means confronting the structural failures that allowed a demagogue to rise in the first place. Chief among them is unbridled capitalism.

Toward a New American Democracy

The next American democracy must reject the myth that economic freedom means corporate impunity. It must draw on the lessons of Germany’s recovery and the vision long articulated by American progressives like Bernie Sanders. Key reforms include:

• Democratized economics: Public control or strong regulation of healthcare, transportation, and energy to ensure access for all, not profit for a few.
• Progressive taxation: A fair tax system that redistributes wealth, closes loopholes, and funds public investment in education, infrastructure, and health.
• Labor empowerment: Strong unions, co-determination in corporate governance, and protections for gig and contract workers.
• Capitalism with constraints: Ending monopolies, regulating Wall Street, and curbing speculative excess.
• Constitutional safeguards: Codifying voting rights, depoliticizing the judiciary, and preventing the rise of another autocrat through legal mechanisms.

This is not socialism in the dogmatic sense. It is democratic capitalism, capitalism as the servant of democracy, not its master. It is government by, for, and of the people, where markets are regulated, human dignity is preserved, and power is never allowed to concentrate in the hands of one man or class again.

Conclusion: From Ashes, a Better Republic

Germany’s rebirth proves that nations can emerge stronger after dictatorship if they choose to. America is now presented with that same choice. If we face the whole truth of our decline and are brave enough to reimagine democracy with equity and accountability at its core, then perhaps our nation, too, can say what postwar Germans did: never again.

William James Spriggs

 

ADA MEMO

MEMORANDUM

To: Management, Merrill Gardens
From:  Bill Spriggs, Resident
Date:  May 29, 2025
Subject: Violation of Disability Rights: Restrictions on Mobility Devices and Reasonable Accommodation Requirements

Introduction:

I am writing to raise serious concerns about the facility’s recently implemented policy restricting motorized mobility devices, such as electric scooters and power wheelchairs—in key areas, including the dining room and near exit points. These restrictions appear to target residents with physical disabilities directly and violate their federally protected rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Fair Housing Act (FHA). These policies are not only discriminatory, but they also appear to be legally indefensible.

Federal Law Requires Reasonable Accommodation:

Under Title III of the ADA, public accommodations, including senior living facilities, must permit individuals with disabilities to use wheelchairs and other power-driven mobility devices (OPDMDs) in all areas where the public can go. (28 CFR § 36.311)

Similarly, the Fair Housing Act requires housing providers to make reasonable accommodations to allow individuals with disabilities to fully use and enjoy their residence, including access to common areas and transportation. Blanket restrictions on mobility devices frustrate these purposes.

The facility’s new policy effectively denies residents with mobility impairments the ability to:

• Access the dining room to receive meals
• Reach exit points to board transportation
• Freely move within and around the facility like all other residents

This amounts to a denial of services and unequal treatment based solely on disability.

Addressing the Claimed “Safety Concern”

Management may claim these restrictions are justified on safety grounds. However, this argument does not withstand legal or logical scrutiny:

• Safety concerns must be real, specific, and based on objective evidence—not assumptions.
  The ADA allows denial of access only if a person’s use of a mobility device creates a direct threat to the health or safety of others, and even then, the denial must be based on actual risks, not generalizations or stereotypes. (28 CFR § 36.208)
• Any object or person can pose a safety risk if operated negligently.
  A resident using a cane, walker, or simply walking can trip, bump into others, or fall. We don’t ban walking in the halls because some people walk recklessly. By that logic, shall we ban shoes with rubber soles next?
• Blanket bans are inherently discriminatory.
  The Department of Justice and federal courts have clarified that across-the-board mobility device restrictions are prohibited. The proper response to safety concerns is not prohibition but individual assessment and, if necessary, education or supervision of those misusing devices, not collective punishment for disabled residents.

Legal Precedent:

In Anderson v. Franklin Institute, 185 F. Supp. 3d 628 (E.D. Pa. 2016), the court held that denying an individual the right to use their motorized wheelchair in a facility's public spaces constituted discrimination under the ADA, absent specific, documented safety concerns.

Likewise, U.S. v. City of Chicago Heights, 161 F. Supp. 2d 819 (N.D. Ill. 2001) reaffirmed that housing providers must provide reasonable accommodation unless doing so would impose an undue burden or fundamental alteration, not merely inconvenience.

Recommendations:

To bring this facility into compliance with federal law and restore equal access for all residents, I respectfully request the following:

1. Immediate rescission of the current restrictions on mobility devices in the dining room and near exit areas.
2. Implement individualized assessments if safety issues arise rather than blanket bans that punish all disabled residents.
3. Development of a reasonable accommodation process so residents can request exemptions or modifications where needed.
4. Training for staff and management on ADA and FHA responsibilities, including handling safety issues without violating civil rights.

Conclusion:

The Americans with Disabilities Act and Fair Housing Act exist to prevent precisely this kind of exclusion and unequal treatment. The idea that disabled residents should be confined to their rooms or barred from eating meals or exiting the facility like everyone else is both offensive and unlawful.

I urge you to reconsider this policy immediately, work with residents to address any specific safety issues and adopt procedures that respect the rights and dignity of every community member.

Sincerely,

 

THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS DEAD

The Democratic Party Is Dead. Long Live the Republic.

The Democratic Party is dead.

Not in name, perhaps, but in purpose, will, and the strength needed to meet this moment in history. May it rest in peace.

Let us be clear: I was never a card-carrying Democrat. Like many Americans, I often voted with the party because it was the only viable alternative to the accelerating madness of the right. But now, that binary choice has collapsed. The Democratic Party, faced with the gravest threat to American democracy in a century, blinked. And in blinking, it failed us all.

We warned them. Project 2025 was not a policy paper. It was a declaration of war on the American government as we know it. It outlined in chilling detail the dismantling of the civil service, the replacement of professionals with loyalists, the conversion of justice into vengeance, and the death of objective truth. And what did the Democrats do? They issued statements, hosted panels, and begged for donations.

Words. Always words. Never action.

And when Donald Trump, a weak man with dangerous ambitions, seized power through a corrupted system and brute force, what did they do? They shrugged as if this were still politics, as usual. As if compromise, decorum, and “bipartisanship” still had currency in a world where fascism is ascendant, and elections are performative theater.

Democracy is dead. That’s not a metaphor. That’s a diagnosis.

We said it months ago, and we wrote a book warning about it. And now, in the ashes, we are watching new leadership emerge, not from within the hollowed-out Democratic National Committee but from the unlikeliest places.

Liz Cheney, once a fixture of the Republican establishment, now stands taller than the entire Democratic leadership combined. She sees the danger, speaks the truth, and calls for a new, bold resistance. She is not waiting for permission. She is not interested in navigating old party loyalties. She is acting openly, clearly, and unapologetically.

Bruce Springsteen, too, speaks the language of the new resistance. He has always been the voice of the working class. Still, now he is becoming something more: a moral beacon calling for courage, sacrifice, and the revival of American decency in a time when institutions have lost their backbone.

These are not traditional politicians. That’s why they may succeed where the Democrats have failed.

Because what we need now is not another party that begs for votes and capitulates to tyranny in the name of “respecting norms.” We need a Labor Party, a new force rooted in working-class values, moral clarity, and the bold action necessary to rebuild a republic worth defending.

The Labor Party is not about left or right. It’s about survival.

It’s about organizing not around personalities or dynasties but around principles: workers’ rights, universal dignity, fair wages, public ownership of essential services, protection of voting rights, and the absolute rejection of authoritarian rule in all its forms.

The Democratic Party had its chance. It failed. It refused to take the threat seriously. It ignored calls for coordinated action and strategic legal resistance to create a new constitutional safeguard. And it indeed ignored our proposal to stop Trump’s takeover before it began.

Now, it is up to the rest of us, the unaligned, the principled, the patriots without a party, to act.

There is a new movement forming. It won’t be led by the same consultants, funded by hedge funds, or confined to the same tired playbook. It will be led by people like Cheney and Springsteen, unexpected allies in the fight for freedom, and built by millions ready to move beyond mourning and into action.

The fight ahead will not be won with tweets, petitions, or polished speeches. It will be won with organizing, strikes, refusal to cooperate with illegitimate authority, and courage.

The Democratic Party is over.

The Labor Party, whatever name it takes, is just beginning.

William James Spriggs

DICTATOR DIPLOMACY DISFUNCTION

Trump, Putin, and the Fantasy of Dictator Diplomacy

When Vladimir Putin escalated his war of aggression in Ukraine, killing civilians, annexing territory, and openly challenging the post-WWII order, Donald Trump's reaction was telling. He didn’t condemn the act. He didn’t call out the criminal behavior. He didn’t speak to the suffering of the Ukrainian people. No, he said, “I’m not happy about that.”

Why? Because, in Trump’s mind, the real betrayal wasn’t the invasion. It was that his friend Putin didn’t consult him first.

This is how the world’s most dangerous narcissist processes global events: through the bruised ego of a man who believes that international war crimes are secondary to whether he’s feeling personally snubbed.

Let’s be clear: Putin is a brutal autocrat who rules by force and fear. His so-called alliances are built not on friendship but on necessity, convenience, and shared enemies. He does not need friends. He needs tools. And for a time, Trump played the part well.

But now, the illusion is shattered. Trump thought he could “get along” with fellow strongmen and that authoritarian rule would be a passport to mutual respect and cooperation. Instead, he learned the lesson every narcissist eventually faces: real dictators don’t care about your feelings. They don’t honor loyalty. They don’t return favors. They pursue raw power and crush those who get in the way.

So no, Mr. Trump, this isn’t about you. It’s about a criminal regime in Moscow that has invaded a sovereign country, slaughtered civilians, and thumbed its nose at every rule of civilized conduct. The time for naive bromance and “I think we’ll get along great” diplomacy is over.

Putin only understands force, and it’s time the United States starts responding with precisely that.

That means increased intelligence, more military aid, and direct support to Ukraine’s defenses. No more half-measures. No more fearing Putin’s tantrums. He pushed Europe to the brink; now we go back.

That means sanctions with teeth, real ones that cut off oligarch wealth, sever financial lifelines, and kneecap the Kremlin’s war machine. Economic war is war, too, and it’s one the West can win without firing a shot.

And yes, it means preparing for escalation, including the nuclear threat. Because appeasement has never stopped a tyrant. Only strength and resolve have. We didn’t back down in the face of Hitler. We didn’t flinch when the Cold War turned hot in Korea or Cuba. And we cannot turn away now simply because Trump can’t get over the fact that his pal Vlad won’t return his calls.

Trump’s entire worldview is built on the false belief that personal charm is a substitute for policy, that manipulation is stronger than morality, and that dictators are just misunderstood CEOs with bigger weapons. It’s childish. It’s delusional. And in the face of real geopolitical threats, it’s outright dangerous.

The lesson here isn’t just about Putin. It’s about Trump. His unfitness for leadership isn’t a matter of ideology. It’s psychological. He is incapable of seeing beyond himself. His lens is always personal. And in the ruthless world of authoritarianism, that makes him a mark, not a master.

The U.S. must support Ukraine not just to protect democracy abroad but also to remind the world that we still stand for something beyond our leaders’ personal feelings. The time to act is now, with force, clarity, and the full understanding that dictators don't need friendship. They need to be stopped.

William James Spriggs

TRUMP'S BIG LIE

Fraud, Waste, and Abuse: The Big Lie Behind Trump’s Biggest Crime

Donald Trump has always had a signature move: accuse others of the very crimes he commits. It is not just deflection; it’s projection. It’s not just hypocrisy; it’s strategy. And perhaps nowhere is this more shamelessly on display than in his crusade against so-called “fraud, waste, and abuse” in the federal government.

Trump did not fight fraud, waste, and abuse. He embodied them, supercharged them, and used the slogan as a cover for the most aggressive dismantling of public trust and public service in American history.

Let’s begin with the facts: prior administrations had their share of inefficiencies. However, those instances were often minor and subject to rigorous oversight by the Inspectors General, the Government Accountability Office, and the Department of Justice. These internal mechanisms worked. Fraud was detected, waste was addressed, and abuses were prosecuted.

Until Trump.

Under Trump, the watchdogs responsible for rooting out government wrongdoing were fired, sidelined, or replaced by loyalists. Independent Inspectors General were systematically purged. The Department of Justice was twisted into a personal legal defense fund for the president and a political weapon against his opponents. The fox was not just guarding the henhouse; it had eaten the hens and was now selling their eggs at a profit.

Yet, through it all, Trump kept repeating the lie: that he was cleaning up Washington, that he alone could root out the rot, and that he was the guardian of taxpayer dollars.

In reality, he was robbing the public blind.

Trump's idea of “draining the swamp” was to drain the lifeblood from essential government agencies, gut environmental protections, sabotage public health infrastructure, and freeze or eliminate services for veterans, the disabled, the elderly, and the poor. In the name of removing waste, Trump ensured that countless Americans were denied lifesaving services. Some will die as a result.

Meanwhile, who benefitted? The wealthy, the corporations, the Trump family, his allies, and his donors. Trump used the language of fiscal responsibility as a smokescreen for theft. His tax policies were a massive wealth transfer to the top, paid for with cuts to social services, regulatory rollback, and chaos.

This was not just waste; it was intentional sabotage. It was not just fraud; it was state-sanctioned grift. It was not just abuse; it was an assault on the very idea of government by and for the people.

And all the while, his followers cheered.

Why? Because the slogan “fraud, waste, and abuse” is effective. It appeals to everyone—nobody wants their money wasted. But Trump turned that common cause into a con job. He pretended to be the sheriff while looting the town. And now, he wants to finish the job.

We must not let him.

William James Spriggs

MERRILLVILLE

Welcome to Merrillville

(A Tribute to Merrill Gardens, Kissimmee, FL)

We call it Merrillville with pride and with cheer,
A place where the golden years blossom right here.
It’s Merrill Gardens, yes, but add a twist,
A village of laughter too precious to miss.

Here, freedom’s the rule and joy is the guide,
You live how you wish, with nothing to hide.
Prefer quiet reading or planned happy hours?
You’ll find both embraced with musical powers.

From bingo to chorus, to greetings in tune,
To poetry spun by a resident loon,
Yes, a poet among us, with rhythm and rhyme,
Reminding us daily that life still has time.

The food is first-rate, the desserts divine,
And the coffee? Perhaps with a splash of red wine?
Entertainment arrives with flair and finesse,
From parties and dancing to sartorial dress.

Some stroll in the gardens, some sit and debate,
Some host Bingo nights or just meditate.
There’s room for all passions, from calm to the bold,
And every new story is welcomed and told.

No fences on joy, no limits on will,
We thrive in this haven some call Merryville.
It’s not just a building, it’s freedom with flair,
A home where each moment is lighter than air.

So here’s to our village, our laughter, our song,
To friendship, to living, and to growing strong.
With harmony rising and spirits that shine,
The experience here defies father time.

.

 

THE THRILL OF THE LIE

The Thrill of the Lie: Why Trump’s Followers Embrace the Fiction

There is no longer any question that Donald Trump lies. He lies daily, flagrantly and unapologetically. He lies when the truth is readily available. He lies when it’s inconvenient when it’s irrelevant, and even when it’s dangerous. His lies are not occasional misstatements or rhetorical flourishes; they are foundational to his political strategy, central to his public persona, and essential to his movement.

One of the more persistent examples is his lie about tariffs. Trump repeatedly claims that foreign nations, particularly China, are paying billions to the United States through tariffs he imposed. This is categorically false. Tariffs are import taxes paid by the American importer who receives the goods, not the foreign exporter. That cost is then passed on to the American consumer through higher prices. It is a tax on Americans, not on China.

This is not an obscure economic theory but a basic and easily verifiable fact. Yet Trump continues to say the opposite, and millions believe him or pretend to. The real question, then, is not why Trump lies. We know why. It benefits him. The real question is why his followers love it.

The answer is both disturbing and revealing because lying has become a thrill.

In Trump's world, lying is no longer immoral; it is performative, entertaining, and oddly empowering. When he lies, and millions repeat it as gospel, they aren't just deceiving others. They’re participating in a communal game of “make-believe” where facts are malleable, and reality is negotiable. They are in on the con, making them feel clever, rebellious, and free.

Inventing your own reality and getting others to accept it is to experience a power usually reserved for gods and dictators. It liberates you from accountability, erases the shame of ignorance, and creates the illusion of control in a world that otherwise feels chaotic and uncontrollable.

Trump’s followers don’t call him out because he isn’t just their leader; he is their avatar. His lies are their lies. His delusions validate theirs. When he declares something false to be true, they cheer, not because they are fooled but because they no longer care what’s real. What matters is that they win the argument. That they own the libs. That their side feels right.

In this twisted new reality, lies are not shameful but admired. Not because they are believed but because they are believable enough to sow doubt, blur lines, and distort the public square. The goal is not truth but dominance, not persuasion but submission.

And in that sense, Trump has pulled off the greatest con of all, not just lying to the American people but making lying itself the new form of truth.

William James Spriggs 

HAPPINESS

What Happiness Is

It is not in noise or neon light,
Nor in the rush of youthful flight.
It’s not in riches, fame, or speed,
But something slower, more in need.

It is the hush of morning’s grace,
A knowing glance, a steady pace.
It’s hearing your name in a hallway song,
And feeling, at last, that you still belong.

It isn’t control, we’ve lost that, it’s true.
The world’s been handed to a reckless new crew.
Our hands don’t build as they once could,
Our voices now softer, but still understood.

We are the keepers of stories and scars,
Of courtroom battles and time beneath stars.
Of raising a child, of building a name,
Though now they instruct us, we taught them the game.

Happiness hides in the simplest of things:
A shared slice of pie, a barbershop sing.
A smoke with a friend, a warm patch of sun,
A memory rising when the day is done.

It is not the joy of dancing on air,
But the dignity found in an old wooden chair.
It’s not always laughter or bright party rooms,
But kindness that lingers and softens the gloom.

So let others chase what fades overnight,
We’ve lived long enough to see the real light.
Happiness dwells where the patient abide,
And walks, not runs,  at our slower side.

 

YVONNE

To Yvonne, on Mother's Day

You are the light that fills this place,
A smile that warms, a heart of grace.
You serve with joy, you laugh, you care,
Spreading love everywhere.

Vivacious spirit, always bright,
You turn each meal into delight.
A mother, grandmother, friend so true,
The world is better because of you.

On this Mother's Day, we celebrate,
The love you give, the lives you shape.
Your children grown, your heart still wide,
A mother's pride you cannot hide.

Noble in all the ways you live,
A heart that knows just how to give.
From family to friends, you are the key,
That unlocks joy for all to see.

Never-ending is the care you show,
With every smile, your kindness flows.
Your brother Tony sings your praise,
With love and joy, on this special day.

Ever grateful, we say to you,
For all you are, for all you do.
Today we pause, we thank, we cheer,
Happy Mother’s Day, Yvonne, dear!

 

CHORUS

The Patriotic Pipes of Merrillville

(or: “The Chorus of the Nearly-Immortal”)

We gather each week with a song in our hearts,
With voices that warble and pitch off the charts.
From “Yankee Doodle” to “Mr. Sandman,”
We belt it all out because, yes, we still can!

Twenty or more ladies, all noble and spry,
With sparkle and sass and a glint in each eye.
Three gallant men do their musical part,
Though we think one’s just there to win someone’s heart.

We sing the anthem with pride and with poise,
Though some think the high notes are just background noise.
We march to the beat, or at least try our best,
A half-step behind, but with vigor and zest.

We’re not quite the Met, but we do have some flair,
(And matching old cardigans, some of us swear).
We wobble, we giggle, we sometimes forget,
But oh, what a show when we’re all in duet!

So raise up your flag and your hearing aids too,
For the spirit of freedom is singing in you!
In this fine chorus, we’re legends and mates,
While searching for Broadway’s opening dates.

 

COMMANDER-IN-THIEF

Commander in Thief

Donald Trump is not leading the country. He’s looting it. Not in secret. Not behind closed doors. But openly, brazenly, and with the backing of nearly half the population who still believe he’s their champion. This is not leadership. It is theft in broad daylight. He is not the Commander in Chief. He is the Commander in Thief.

Trump has perfected a kind of reverse Robin Hood economics: robbing from the working class and handing the spoils to the ultra-rich, including himself. His so-called policies are scams wrapped in slogans. Beneath the “America First” bluster lies a very different agenda: Trump First, Always. From tax cuts that benefit billionaires to deregulation that lines the pockets of polluters to trade wars that hurt consumers and farmers alike, every move enriches his cronies and impoverishes the average American.

Even now, he is campaigning on the promise to finish what he started, which means gutting what remains of public service and turning over every agency, every contract, every national resource to the highest bidder or closest loyalist. His economic “plan” isn't a strategy; it’s a pipeline that pumps wealth upward while draining the rest of us dry.

And the most galling part? He’s doing it in front of everyone. It’s not hidden. It’s not subtle. He proposes tax breaks that would apply to himself. He flirts with foreign money and autocrats while pretending to be a populist. He takes millions at his properties, golf courses, hotels, and resorts while pretending to fight for the little guy. He claims to represent the forgotten man, even as he picks that man’s pocket and laughs all the way to the bank.

This is not complex. It’s not a matter of political ideology. It’s a matter of basic morality. No one,  right, left, or center,  wants to be stolen from. Yet here is a man who is stealing, day after day, not just from those who oppose him but from those who still support him, who rally for him, who chant his name. He is draining their wallets, their futures, their dignity, and they don’t even see it.

They think he’s their anger. Their outlet. Their middle finger to the elite. But he is the elite. Worse: he is the worst kind of elite,  unqualified, unethical, and utterly uninterested in anyone else’s welfare.

And when the bill comes due, and it will, it won’t be paid by the billionaires he’s helped. It will be paid by the very people who waved the flags, wore the hats, and believed the lie. It’s already happening: prices up, wages stagnant, healthcare slashed, education under siege, infrastructure crumbling. But there’s more to come. Much more.

History will not look kindly on this period,  not just because of the man who stole the presidency and then pillaged the country, but because of the millions who stood by and let him do it, and even worse, cheered him on while he did.

It’s time to stop pretending this is politics as usual. It’s not. It is kleptocracy in action,  and if we don’t call it what it is, we are complicit in our own decline.

Donald Trump is not your savior.
He is not your voice.
He is not your strength.

He is your thief.

William James Spriggs

THE COST OF IGNORANCE

The High Cost of Ignorance: How the People Allowed Fascism to Take Root in America

Former Supreme Court Justice David Souter once warned that the gravest threat to American democracy was not terrorism or foreign aggression but the ignorance of the American people. His warning has come true.

The slow-motion collapse of American democracy has not been a mystery. It has not been hidden. It was laid out in detail for all to see, most notably in Project 2025, the Heritage Foundation’s blueprint to dismantle and replace the federal government with a centralized, autocratic regime. The warning signs were everywhere: the stacking of the courts, the open admiration of dictators, the promise to be a “dictator on day one,” and the targeting of civil servants, the press, and dissenters. And yet, the American public slept.

This wasn’t just political apathy. It was, and is, active ignorance. Interviews on the street routinely show that many Americans cannot name the three branches of government, describe their function, or explain what “coequal” means. They cannot define the rule of law, much less articulate how it distinguishes democracy from tyranny. For many, democracy is a vague abstraction, not a system grounded in accountability, separation of powers, and individual rights. They do not know what they are losing because they never knew what they had.

Into that void stepped a man and a movement who understood something clearly: Ignorance is fertile ground for fascism.

Donald Trump, enabled by right-wing operatives and cheer-led by a compliant media ecosystem, exploited the ignorance of millions to cast democracy itself as the enemy. With false grievances, simplistic slogans, and authoritarian swagger, he convinced 40% of the country that truth is a matter of opinion, that laws are meant for others, and that power is its own justification. That 40% became an unshakable base because where civic knowledge was absent, fear and tribalism rushed in to take its place.

The result? A regime that governs not with respect for law or fact but by decree and spectacle. A government run by loyalists, not experts. A judiciary compromised by ideology. Agencies gutted. Protections erased. Speech chilled. And the public, still too ignorant to realize the full cost of what it has already lost, continues to cheer from the sidelines, or worse, remains oblivious.

This did not happen overnight. Over the decades, a political strategy that devalued education, demonized intellectualism, and undermined faith in institutions sowed the seeds. What better way to prepare a people for authoritarian rule than to ensure they don’t understand freedom?

The tragedy is not just that democracy is being lost. The greater tragedy is that it is being lost without a fight. Many Americans still believe that things will self-correct, that courts will save us, and that elections will matter again. But fascism is not a temporary phase. It is a destination, and we are arriving.

The only antidote is civic awakening, which is painful, urgent, and massive. But time is short. Every day that Americans remain ignorant of their system of government, its fragility, and its foundational principles is another day fascism consolidates its grip.

History will not forgive us for this. And it should not.

William James Spriggs

IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT YOU THINK OF TRUMP

The World Moves On: Trump, America, and Global Abandonment

It doesn’t matter what you think of Donald Trump. It doesn’t matter at all. Whether you view him as a savior or a tyrant, cheer his bravado, or shudder at his recklessness, the truth remains unchanged: the world has already decided. They have seen this movie before; they know how it ends. For decades, the world has watched America preach democracy while occasionally stumbling. However, Trump’s rise to power and his ironic grip on American institutions have shifted that perspective from mere caution to outright preparation.

The global community is moving on strategically, economically, and defensively. Europe is strengthening its military cooperation, fortifying its borders against external threats and the creeping influence of American authoritarianism. Trade agreements that once centered around American markets are now pivoting to new alliances. China, the European Union, and even parts of the Global South are reorienting their diplomatic and economic ties, carving out paths that bypass American influence. They have decided they do not need us, not in the way they once did.

Defending Their System, Not Themselves

This is not simply about defense; it is about self-preservation. The world is not just protecting its borders but defending its system, democratic governance, multilateral cooperation, and global stability from us. America, once seen as the bedrock of democratic principles, is now regarded with suspicion. Our elections are marred with controversy; our judicial system is openly flouted by those in power; our international commitments are shredded with reckless abandon.

The Western allies who once leaned on American leadership now huddle closer together, not just out of fear of external threats but concern for what America might become. They are moving forward with new economic partnerships, advancing climate initiatives without our cooperation, and rethinking defense pacts that were once ironclad. They are preparing for an America that is no longer the bastion of democracy but rather a destabilizing force.

A World Without America

For the first time in modern history, the world is preparing to live without American leadership. They are not waiting for us to return to sanity; they assume we will not. This is the stark reality: what we think of Trump no longer matters. The global community treats his ascendancy as a permanent reality, an indelible stain on American governance. They are not simply waiting out the storm; they are building structures to withstand it, to outlast it, and to grow beyond it.

We have lost our allies' trust, our competitors' respect, and the faith of global markets. We are not the leader of the free world; we are the outlier, the unpredictable variable that the rest of the globe must insulate itself against. If there was ever a time for Americans to understand the stakes, it is now. The world is moving on, and it is doing so without us.

William James Spriggs

FORGET THE ISSUES

Forget Issues, Focus on Survival: A Call to the Sane Majority

It’s time to discard the word 'issues' from your political vocabulary. Forget about the talking points, the policy debates, and the endless back-and-forth over what’s right or wrong on specific policies. None of that matters now. All of it is irrelevant. You are facing a new reality that transcends the ordinary boundaries of politics. Donald Trump, with the backing of so-called conservative intellectuals and the power structure of Project 2025, has seized control. He is no longer just a candidate or a political figure; he behaves like a dictator. Democracy is dead. Reviving it in its new form should be our singular purpose.

You will occasionally see him gesture towards some semblance of helping the American people. But don’t be fooled. This is all theater, a ruse to maintain enough public support to tighten his grip. He is only in it for himself. Trump is indulging his whims, molding America into his image, and manipulating power for his own gain. That’s the raw truth, and it’s time you faced it.

The Illusion of Politics

Stop thinking of this as a political struggle. This is not a matter of differing opinions or policy disagreements. What you are witnessing is a total restructuring of American life and governance. The United States, as you once knew it, is slipping away, replaced by a regime of oligarchs disguised as conservative reformers. They are not here to debate or compromise but to rule.

There is no point in debating the issues. There is no point in strategizing around the margins. The singular, all-encompassing question you must ask yourself is this: Will there be an election?

If there is no election, democracy ends. If there is no opportunity to remove this dictatorship through the ballot box, the fight is over. Everything else is noise. The media pundits may ramble on about policy differences and legislative maneuvers, but it is all a distraction from the core existential threat: the end of electoral power.

Mobilize for Democracy

You must realize that you have no power except that you are willing to seize. The only path left is direct action, massive demonstrations, community mobilization, and relentless pressure on every level of government. But even that will not be enough if it is not coupled with a singular mission: to secure and win a fair election.

This is not about winning debates; this is about survival. Forget the town halls about issues. Forget the political roundtables discussing the nuances of policy. None of it matters if you cannot vote them out. The only problem, priority, is the preservation of the vote. Without it, the dictatorship endures.

A Singular Focus: Win the Election

If you are a Democrat, forget the endless hand-wringing about strategy. Focus on one thing and one thing only: ensuring the next election happens and winning it. If you are part of the sane American majority, recognize this is not a drill. This is not the time to debate. This is the time to act.

Your enemy is clear: it is Trump and his band of self-serving grifters masquerading as conservatives. They are oligarchs in sheep’s clothing, pretending to uphold American values while dismantling them brick by brick. They are looting the treasury, stripping away freedoms, and consolidating power while you are distracted by debates that no longer matter.

Stop fussing over 'issues.' There is only one issue now: survival. Either you reclaim your government through the ballot box or lose it entirely. That is the choice, and that is the fight: no more compromises or distractions. Mobilize, vote, and take back the country.

Democracy is dead. Read our book. Revive it with Proposal 2029. Read our description.

William James Spriggs

BOB

Patriarch Extraordinaire

For Bob's 100th Birthday – April 26, 2025

He rolls through the halls with a patriot's flair,
Stars and stripes flying proud from his colorful chair.
A hundred years young, and still on the go,
A legend, a light, with a heart still aglow.

He served in the war, with grit on his face,
A medic who drew strength from a sacred place.
Through chaos and fire, he steadied the line,

Saving lives with a strength that was quiet, divine.

Not just a corpsman, but our kindest of men,
The life of the party again and again.
With a quip at the ready and stories to share,
He’s the soul of our circle and always there.

No crown on his head, no scepter in hand,
Yet he leads with a smile and a word that will stand.
The patriarch here, yet humble and true,
He’d rather crack jokes than be saluted by you.

He laughs like a boy with a twinkle and cheer,
And we feel more alive just because he is near.
He’s the spirit of grace, of true grit and of gold,
A rare kind of man if God’s truth were told.

So raise up your voices, let’s all give a cheer,
To the new centenarian, we all hold so dear.
A stellar life lived with our hope to extend,

You're forever our hero, our brother, our friend.

 

 

BINGO

 Life's Dauber . . .

Birth is the moment you grab your first card,
Cryin’ and kickin’, already on guard.
Nurses all whisper, “He’s ready to play,”
You drool on the board; it’s bingo, your way!

Income and taxes, the middle-aged phase,
Matching the letters through a caffeine-filled haze.
Your boss yells, “Report!” You just want to scream,
But secretly, hope for that free space to dream.

Naps become sacred, your joints start to squeak,
You shout, "Forty-four!" but it’s B-52 week.
At potlucks and church halls, you fight for the win,
While dropping your daubers and laughing with kin.

Granny's a hustler with her cards and more,
She flirts with old Joe, then hollers out, “Score!”
She’s got five in a row and winks with a grin,
“I’ve played with the best for this chance to win!”

Over the years, we all chase the same prize,
Through heartbreaks and hiccups and widening thighs.
But life’s not so bad with a number in tow,
A card full of memories, row after row...

BINGO

THE ROCKY ROAD TO PROJECT 2029

The Road to 2029: A Vision Without a Vehicle

Project 2029 offers a clear and compelling vision, a democratic renewal rooted in economic justice, workplace democracy, and collective ownership. It is a blueprint for restoring the Republic, not by returning to a broken status quo, but by advancing a system that prioritizes people over profits, truth over propaganda, and equity over domination. It is morally sound, intellectually robust, and politically necessary.

And yet, it is a vision without a vehicle.

If history teaches anything, it is that ideas, no matter how just, do not advance themselves. The fascists had Project 2025 and Donald Trump. They had a singular, malignant leader who galvanized a movement with fear, lies, and spectacle. With control of the levers of power, they institutionalized their agenda by dismantling civil service protections, stacking courts, eroding truth, and destroying trust in democratic institutions.

They had a plan and a pathway. They made sure the path was cleared by undermining democracy itself.

Project 2029 lacks both.

The dilemma is not the goal; it's how to get there. Democratic reform depends on a functioning democracy. However, democracy in the United States is already mortally wounded. Trump has effectively promised to rig the next election. Even if an election is held, he has shown contempt for court rulings, disregard for constitutional norms, and unrelenting hostility toward independent institutions. We are witness to the death of democracy in real time.

So what remains?

1. Leadership

Movements need a face. They need a voice that resonates beyond policy, a person capable of crystallizing values, rallying dissent, and withstanding the storm. Project 2029, for all its virtue, has no such figure. Without leadership, it cannot build coherence, inspire faith, or organize resistance. We cannot afford another season of leaderless hopes. The time for hesitation has passed.

2. Mechanisms of Change

If elections are no longer fair or free, and the courts are complicit or ignored, democratic movements must turn to non-electoral means. History suggests a few: mass demonstrations, general strikes, economic boycotts, and sustained civil disobedience. These methods do not guarantee success, but they reclaim the public square and keep resistance alive.

3. The Military Dilemma

Some whisper about a coup. But history also teaches that military intervention, even in defense of democracy, is fraught with peril. Coups rarely restore power to the people; they replace one tyranny with another. And yet, in a moment where constitutional guardrails have failed, and courts are defied, it is not unthinkable that some loyalists within the armed services may one day face a choice between obeying unlawful orders or defending the Republic.

Still, the battlefield is likely elsewhere, in boardrooms, courthouses, classrooms, and streets.

4. Mass Mobilization

The most promising avenue is also the most difficult: mass mobilization. If the people cannot vote Trump out, they must grind the machinery of his regime to a halt through sheer volume, visibility, and economic disruption. That means organizing marches, movements, opposition, and alternatives. It means calling out cowardice, confronting lies, and embracing personal sacrifice.

If the people do not act, no one will.

The fascists got their project because they believed in it enough to fight for it, dirty, dishonestly, and relentlessly. The democratic response must be equally relentless but rooted in justice, truth, and collective will. Project 2029 is not impossible. But it is improbable unless we do the unlikely or rise above fear unless we act.

We need a leader. We need a path. We need to abandon the myth that someone else will fix this. The future belongs to those who seize it.

William James Spriggs