Is it just me?

I haven’t understood some things in the news lately.

—Here’s your pink-slip! We encourage young men and women to serve our country in U.S. Armed Forces. We expect much of them. We put them through the ringer. They get out of the service and become veterans. Thanks to a variety of reasons, veterans often times enter public service. They make up one-third of the federal workforce.

As part of the Department of Government Efficiency’s purge of the federal government, President Trump and Elon Musk have eliminated an estimated 6,000 veterans from the federal workforce. Now here’s where I get lost.

I’m not arguing the cuts. If you want to cut back the federal government then fine, knock yourself out. However, I don’t get folks like Trump’s top lawyer Alina Gabba saying, “We are going to care for them in the right way, but perhaps they’re not fit to have a job at this moment or are not willing to come to work.”

Let me repeat that. “Not fit to have a job at this moment or are not willing to come to work.”

If you want cut, cut, but don’t besmirch the character and honesty of the people you’re letting go. These people went to work. They performed a key service. Treat people with dignity and respect.

—Hey, can I have your desk? I have even more questions for Musk. DOGE is making federal employees account for what they did the past week and says they will lose their jobs if they don’t respond. They have to list five things they accomplished from their past week. Simple enough. It sure sounds like something workers should be doing with their bosses. Sounds like perfect one-on-one fodder. DOGE is all about efficiency, right? How’s this help efficiency? Or let’s be honest, the real purpose of the email is to harass federal workers and get them to quit.

—Pardon me? When Trump spoke before Congress, he called for the death penalty for anyone who murders a police officer. I couldn’t help but wonder: What about January 6th? He pardoned over 400 violent Capital rioters who assaulted Capitol Police on his watch. So which is it?

—You’re your wrong! Trump signed an executive order designating English as the official language of the U.S. The order rescinded a policy issued by former President Bill Clinton requiring agencies to provide assistance programs for people with limited English proficiency.

I have no opinion on the order. I really am ambivalent about it. I have no dog in this fight. I just have one request: Can all those people in love with this order please start to use the correct their, there, and they’re and the right your or you’re. It’s the least we can ask for, right?

—Fighting over the fighting. And finally let’s start with a fact. In February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. The invasion, the largest and deadliest conflict in Europe since World War II, has caused hundreds of thousands of military casualties and tens of thousands of Ukrainian civilian casualties.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated yesterday that he wanted to hear what concessions the Ukraine is willing to make. I’m confused. If Japan had invaded Hawaii instead of bombing Pearl Harbor, I don’t think the U.S. would’ve been open to few if any concessions. I get pushing for peace, but why pushing for conceding ground to the Russia.

Just a few of things going through my head.

Discover more from Writing from the Heart with Brian

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

44 thoughts on “Is it just me?”

    1. The stock market likes consistency. It likes things it can track. It doesn’t like willy nilly, let’s change things on the fly. It reacts as you’re seeing with turbulence. I suspect we’re going to see a lot more days like we’ve been seeing before it gets better. I really hate writing about politics. You piss people off no matter what you write. I just don’t understand some of the things I’m seeing. I wrote the piece and I still don’t understand why we’re doing some of the things that are going on. Just sad.

      Liked by 2 people

  3. I think this article will start a stream of “Tell me about it!” responses.I feel for your work force when I read about all the firings.
    I read one stat (which I need to find and verify, I’ll admit) that showed a larger amount of fentanyl seized coming into Canada from the US last year than seized going south. So the stream flows both ways, a fact Mr Trump hasn’t mentioned. We all suffer from this poison no matter what the source.

    Liked by 2 people

  5. Oh Brian, the lunacy and darkness of these times are mind boggling and scary to read about. It’s just insanity and I’m trying to find the humour in all of it. Sending all you in the US strength through these times!

    Liked by 4 people

  6. They say the third time is a charm so I will try once more to leave a comment. They keep disappearing. I am guessing that others are having problems too.

    You certainly aren’t the only one with these questions. Makes me “smack my head!” over it all!

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Thank you, Brian. There are literally millions of us asking ourselves these questions – tens of millions, both Americans and former American admirers – and yet nobody with any clout seems to be able to cut through the bullying steamroller and his/their staggeringly cruel and poorly thought through actions.

    Liked by 3 people

  9. Brian my friend, you are dropping the mic on legitimate questions and observations. I concur with all of what you have expressed.

    💖 Love this: “If you want cut, cut, but don’t besmirch the character and honesty of the people you’re letting go. These people went to work. They performed a key service. Treat people with dignity and respect.”

    And honey, I truly love your mention of the correct usage of homophones! Damn! Drop the mic again! I ponder the very same things you do Brian. And to demonize Ukraine is a damn shame! This administration needs to be ashamed of bowing down to a well-known evil dictator in Russia. How is that American again? 😠

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I tried to keep the piece above board. I didn’t want to include lots of mud on either party. I think ultimately Russia is going to be the thing that blows Trump’s shell game. You said the thing that I keep thinking: “How is that American again?”

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Whoa…whoomp there it is Brian! Big time mic drop! 😍🎤😊 It’s interesting how with all of this rhetoric, we are weaker and more vulnerable than we’ve ever been…where’s the “great?” 🤔 Lucy, you got some ‘splainin’ to do (in my Ricky Ricardo voice!) 🤣

        Liked by 1 person

  10. Ah, so many great points, Brian. I love how you point out the inconsistencies, of which there are SOOO many. And I’m still laughing about, “Can all those people in love with this order please start to use the correct their, there, and they’re and the right your or you’re. It’s the least we can ask for, right?”

    Right!! or Write — but do it correctly! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  11. What happened to “government of the people, by the people, for the people.” I am afraid Abraham Lincoln is turning in his grave. I do not know a single person who agrees with what the Trump administration is doing. It’s time for Congress to take our Country back!

    Liked by 1 person

      1. Yes, I’m sure it depends on the area. I live in a
        blue state in a large liberal city. My hope is as Trump supporters are directly affected negatively by the Administration’s policies they will change their minds. We’ll see.

        Liked by 1 person

    1. I’ve tried to keep the politics out of it. They want to cut – so be it. My issue is that you treat people with respect, don’t lie to them, don’t try to steamroll them. Thanks Beth, I appreciate knowing that my thoughts aren’t out of whack.

      Liked by 2 people

  15. A reduction in the size of our federal government can be achieved, and waste identified, without the approach taken here…a needless chaos with extremely vague reasons given and nothing to back up their reasoning…unnecessary pain and suffering

    Liked by 1 person

    1. You said it better than me John. There’s no rhyme or reason to the cutting. No thought. No compassion. I get that Musk can cut Twitter/X like that. He bought the company. People could see the writing on the wall the minute he took over. We’re talking here about federal services that you and me want and demand. Doesn’t the Trump administration know that? Why am I asking? Of course, they know that, they don’t care, they want people gone, they want less $$$ spent, and they want it now. The sad thing is that these changes will have generational impacts. Just very sad.

      Like

  18. I’m glad I didn’t miss this one, Brian. I nodded at every point you made! So well said! Mind-blowing and head-scratching. And it’s only been 2 months. What is our country going to look like 4 years down the road? What will the world look like? He’s dragging us down and it’s downright scary.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I try to steer clear of politics — everyone’s got their own opinions — but it’s been hard lately Lauren. I hope the piece made sense. I feel like we’ve losing our humanity, empathy, and justice. And yes, I agree with you. I worry where we’ll be four years from now.

      Liked by 1 person

Comments are closed.

Website Powered by WordPress.com.

Up ↑

Discover more from Writing from the Heart with Brian

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading