I Am Allowed To Be Sad

I Am Allowed To Be Sad

By

Leonard Zwelling

I have had serious depression in my life. Fortunately for me, I have also had terrific psychiatrists who helped me, a patient wife, and the benefits of modern psychopharmacology. Nonetheless, when I start to feel really sad, I always wonder if the Cymbalta has lost its power. This time, when I am feeling sad, it is not for lack of biochemical assistance.

I am afraid that you would have to be blind, deaf, and dumb to not understand that the United States is being guided by a group of clowns appointed by the biggest huckster in the history of the nation. It is pretty evident at this point that Mr. Trump really has no viable plan for the economy beyond advancing his own economic standing. He cannot tariff his way back to a new era of American manufacturing. If that were the case, it would have happened a long time ago. Rather the world is a global market place and many things are more cheaply made in the Far East and shipped here for use. It is efficient. That’s how Adam Smith said markets should work and they will if no one meddles with them as Mr. Trump is doing. It is sad when someone interferes with the efficiency of the market place. That efficiency tends to keep costs down.

Mr. Trump also does not believe in the rule of law. He believes that he is the law. If he wants to deport millions without due process, he will do so unless someone tries to stop him. The courts are trying, but there is no way that you can view the impotence of the judiciary branch to stop Trump without being sad.

Mr. Trump and his family are getting rich during his presidency from new hotel deals in Serbia to a proliferation of crypto-deals and meme coins, the President’s coffers are exploding. He even has people bidding for access to him at his golf club through their embracing of his bitcoin. It’s really sad to see the extent of the conflict of interest achieved by this White House in less than four months. And they accused Biden of corruption. Trump and his family put the Bidens to shame.

I do not know what Vladimir Putin has on Trump, but it must be huge in size. I suspect it’s a financial debt similar to the one Mr. Trump has with Mr. Musk. I think both the Russian strongman and the world’s richest man propped the President up until he could get his current crypto-schemes in place. It is sad to see the President of the United States use the Oval Office for self-dealing and conflicts of interest.

What I am most sad about is the fact that there are still many non-MAGA voters who pulled the lever for Trump in 2024 and who do not regret it yet. They will once the tariffs hit the grocery shelves and the car dealerships.

No matter what anybody tells you, this is exactly how democracies become autocracies. It happened in Turkey and Hungary and it can happen here.

To any thinking person, the world is coming apart, as a good friend has said. Europe may have to rearm to defend itself against Russian aggression allied with Chinese acquiescence. I do not see how Mr. Trump will keep China from taking Taiwan and with it our access to the best semiconductor chips in the world.

I am very sad that the leadership role of the United States in biomedical research is in danger because of the DOGE cuts to the NIH and the elimination of funding for a panoply of research projects throughout the country.

I am sad because I don’t see a plan. What I do see is a clown car driving in circles with no one at the wheel. I also don’t see the Democrats with an alternative plan. The Dems cannot beat Trump by just saying he’s bad. They need a positive vision like Bill Clinton had in 1992.

The answer for the Dems is not AOC or the lefties. That mindset is doomed to fail. It is a “third way.” Whoever can articulate it and communicate it can win the presidency in 2028 and maybe even Congress next year.

But, I am still sad, because, as of yet, there’s no plan and there is no planner. The Democrats better get on it.

I am profoundly sad for my country. I am ashamed of the current government. Despite that, I still believe in America and the Constitution. I only hope that my faith in our system is shared by the Supreme Court. That has yet to be proven and that is sad.