How to Turn a Democracy into a Dictatorship:

(Song by Donald Trump with V. Putin, X. Jinping, and
Kim Jong Un as Backup Singers to the Tune of
“This Train is Bound for Glory”)

January 20, 2025 will mark the beginning of the new Presidential cycle in the US. It normally lasts 4 years. This cycle is likely to be as different from all others as we can imagine. That is because the Republican Party will control both houses of Congress, the Presidency, and the Supreme Court. Moreover, President-Elect Trump has vowed to make the most massive changes to our government since we became a nation. He and all Republicans in the three branches take their orders from about 100 of the wealthiest US citizens, who foot their election campaigns, and guaranteeing them millionaire status. All are also ultra conservatives. Hold onto your seats because the coming four years are likely to be the most scary-daring ride of your life.

For starters, Trump has vowed to fire all US government employees who will not sign a loyalty oath to him. We have 2.95 million federal employees, nearly all of whom have already taken a pledge of allegiance to the US Constitution, not to the President. Trump wants to abolish the Constitution. Another change that is apparently high on his list is to replace the present aging Supreme Court members with new members who will get their seats if they show their fealty to him and to his desires. I feel certain that a $4 or $5 million going-away bonus will get their attention. After all, thanks to the Supreme Court, he can do no wrong when acting in an official capacity.

Then, of course, he intends to fill every high-level position in government with loyalists who haven’t a clue about their intended positions. Imagine Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. running the office of the Surgeon General. This guy is as far-removed from the medical profession as his worm-infested brain will allow.

Then there are more than 1,500 persons who are either in jail, or are awaiting trail, in the January 6, 2021 uprising. They are all likely to find that the charges have been dropped, or their sentences truncated. Of course, all members of the Trump family will receive blanket pardons, especially for their taking several billions of dollars from Saudi Arabia as gifts attached to secret quid pro quos.

And, of course, there is that immigrant from South Africa, Elon Musk. I believe he has 3 ex-wives and 13 kids to support, so he is a natural for being put in charge of all US spending programs with an eye toward cutting those that make no sense, notwithstanding the fact that he has some 15 separate contracts with the US government. You may recall that he is the richest US citizen who pays no income taxes. My suspicion is that each of his 13 kids has a couple of homes, a couple of jet planes each, chauffeurs, maids, gardeners, etc.

Finally, you and I need to keep an eagle’s eye on our Social Security, Medicare, and a free telephone for the hard-of-hearing. I mean, somebody’s got to pay for all those toys. All aboard! This train is Bound for Glory...