I Ran for Office and Won

On Friday, Donald J. Trump, liar, con man, bigot, serial assailant, former reality TV star, failed casino magnate, failed football team owner, failed airline owner, failed magazine publisher, failed steak salesman, and loser of the national popular vote, will be sworn in as the 45th president of the United States. The moment he is, the Republican Party, already in total control of 25 state governments and the legislatures of seven others, will have full command of federal policymaking.

The only check on its federal legislative power, the Senate filibuster, can be done away with more or less at will. Donald Trump may appoint as many as three justices to the Supreme Court over the course of his presidency; more than 100 vacant federal judgeships await his appointments right now. With this amassed power, the Republican Party aims, among other things, to dismantle a law that has provided health insurance to millions, deport at an unprecedented clip many millions of immigrants who have made lives in America, dramatically cut food stamps and other social services for the poorest in the country, impede access to abortions and women’s health care nationwide, continue efforts to disenfranchise black voters, and prevent the United States from making any further efforts to address a climate crisis that, sooner or later, will imperil all civilization—all while slashing taxes and regulations in legislation that will disproportionately enrich the wealthiest and most powerful people in America.

In 2009, conservatives cried that the policies of Barack Obama would bring about a fundamental transformation of American society. They did not. The policies of the Trump administration and an ascendant Republican Party may well do so. All of this has, perhaps, upset you ...

Full Story at Slate