Since Trump returned to the White House, he and his enablers have created a fairytale 'jam tomorrow' narrative. A story in which the answer to 'Are we great again yet?' is always two weeks away.
When leaders respond to serious threats with endless hesitation, it is ordinary people who end up paying the price. As an Afghan partner left behind despite serving alongside US forces, I know firsthand how devastating political inaction can be when immediate, decisive steps are needed
Great explanation. You put things together so well for us.
It is not your job to offer solutions. The problems are not yours. The problems belong to the American people who rationalize when the solutions look like they will upset their lives. They only see what they will have to give up. I think the first thing we need to do is give up our dislike of anyone who is not just like us. Stop looking for the easy way out. Stop waiting for someone else to do it for us.
But, we like others to do it for us, because if it doesn't work we can blame them.
and I'm hoping it gets restacked and read by thousands of people who need to understand these truths. I've restacked your article with a note regarding its much needed truths. Thank you again for the work you do.
I really do appreciate your kind words Karen. I try not to let my periodic frustrations rise to the surface.
I’m a bit like the undiscovered indie band on Substack, those that find me generally appreciate the honesty. Unfortunately what people want to hear is more popular that what people need to hear. As I always say, ‘You can take a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink’ - Martin
The fairytale metaphor is apt, but this fairytale doesn’t just promise a future that never arrives — it rewrites the past. The propaganda signage ordered for the Smithsonian exterior isn’t a policy decision; it’s a revision project. The Smithsonian holds the historical record. Planting political messaging at its door signals that the rewriting isn’t just about what comes next — it’s about erasing what came before, and those who remember it.
Thank you for your excellent article. People may say they want solutions to problems, yet when solutions are offered people rarely take them because they see them as hard to implement. They wait for other possible solutions to come about that are easier, less complicated or less work that is needed to “fix” whatever the problem is. Case in point the advertisement for “Duct Tape”
We slap duct tape on the plumbing thinking that it will hold way beyond the expiration date for those plumbing problems. That we may need to really invest the time needed to fix it correctly. We are the bully and overreach our way into their problems without fixing our own and then we tell all our friends, those allies that they just don’t measure up to all our greatness. You know that backhand tap across the faces of all our friends. Because our house is never in the right.
We’ve postponed for way too long and remained in the “fairy tale” bubble for many situations across the board. We allow our legislators to kick the problem down the road for how many years, that ultimately result in decades that we have no idea where even the money is, but there are those departments year after year coming back for more without showing the ledger as to what they spent on in the first place with all the money given up front. Recall back in September 2025, the Pentagon spent a record $93.4 billion in a single month during its end-of-fiscal-year "use-it-or-lose-it" cycle. From Luxury Foods: $15.1 million on ribeye steaks, $6.9 million on lobster tails, and $2 million on Alaskan king crab. To Furniture & Office Gear: Over $225 million on furniture, including $12,000 for three-tiered fruit basket stands. Then there are those Tech & Devices: $5.3 million on Apple devices and $4 million on Samsung electronics. Of course the Pentagon wouldn’t be complete with the purchase of Musical Instruments: $1.8 million total, featuring a $98,000 Steinway grand piano.
Let’s face it most Americans agree that these massive surges in spending highlights the deep systemic issues with government budgeting practices as well as the decision making processes that exist as to what solutions will best be implemented without the outrageous additional costs. Yet we now have this same Pentagon going before Congress that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth demand ing a $67.1 billion supplemental funding package (included within a larger $87.6 billion administration request) to directly cover the soaring costs of the ongoing war with Iran. Guess those lobster tails, crabs and of course that Steinway Piano was well worth that spending, right? How soon do you think good ole Pete will go through that stack of cash?
Let’s not forget that the Pentagon is asking for a record $1.5 trillion for its Fiscal Year 2027 base budget, which represents a 44% increase over the previous year.
Honestly it’s not just one Department in our own government that the ledger needs to be due just as much as the other countries that are now spending their fair share into NATO. Yea we came in all huffy and puffy and demanded other nations to place their money in the NATO kitty but damn man we do the same here. Spending taxpayers dollars, like it’s a never ending gumball machine…
It’s not just the money. It’s the policies. Let’s just call out two— The primary unpassed federal measure specifically concerning gender equality in the U.S. Constitution is the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). While Congress actually passed the ERA in 1972, it failed to achieve full ratification by the required three-fourths of state legislatures before its deadlines, and subsequent congressional resolutions to remove the deadline or restart the process have not successfully cleared both chambers to become law. So it’s 2026 and this all started in 1972. Then of course The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act has been a focus of legislative debate in the U.S. Senate. While the U.S. House of Representatives successfully passed versions of the federal bill in 2021 and 2022, the federal bill has not been enacted into law. And here we are in this clusterfu€k of a mess. The holding accountable of all our legislators is well past the time. The holding accountable of all Departments spending money like it’s just nothing without any ledger should be no longer.
Honestly it’s both political parties but what has come to the top is that the Rethuglicans are just better at the corruption sometimes than the Democrats. We need to hold all accountable and as for that Supreme Court no more pay to play.. you bet term limits and if there is a sniff of bribery you get the boot just as much as anyone in Congress and the executive branch..
Wonder if we’ll ever get that “People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones," as well as “The bill always comes due, and interest accrues with every year of denial of those bad decisions.”
Problems in our democracy are becoming more apparent as the power/ powerless balance shifts.
People feel disenfranchised.
People feel the American Dream is unachievable today .
People feel frustrated that they work two or three jobs and can not get ahead .
People feel that they work hard and deserve a better life. Vacations are becoming a past luxury . And bottom line -
People feel powerless to change their lives .
Where does power come from ? Power is generated by access .
Access to control your economic success . Access to a higher education . Access to financial instruments like a mortgage, a pension , a retirement plan, stock investments . Access grows your economic power.
Economic power gives you access to people who hold power . The government uses this as a fundamental way of doing business.
Wealthy people dictate policy … PACs and special interests drive our agenda . Why ? Because money from wealthy donors sets the priorities. The squeaky wheel gets the oil .
How to balance the power ?
Even the playing field .
-Eliminate Citizens United .
-Give candidates at the federal level a fixed campaign budget . No loopholes .
-Term limits , age limits .
-SCOTUS reform … term limits and ethics rules .
-Eliminate the Electoral College - total popular vote system .
-Three days to vote … Thursday Friday Saturday .
-Mandated voting - and a $ cash back tax write off when you vote.
- Reinstate mandatory Civics class in all high schools
- strengthen labor unions
- strengthen public education
- increase minimum wage so that a
40 hr work week can sustain a family of four.
- end gerrymandering and create a grid / population based system. No squiggly lines .
That’s a start …. People need to demand a reset in the distribution of power . Money has corrupted our democracy.
Your writing is appreciated, for the most part accurate, and obviously heart felt. You do however contradict yourself during this last piece when saying ‘ you don’t agree with trump on anything ‘ and then agree his pressure on other countries to raise their defense budgets was needed. It’s difficult I know to Agree with the trumpster on anything. I have had to ignore my feelings about he, family, friends, and the pathetic Republican Party when I to am forced to admit that some of his criticisms are justified.
The first of these was when he stood on stage in front of The Bush Family during one of his last fund raisers when he first ran for office and told them that the Iraq War was a waste of lives and money.
Remember that ?
Otherwise the trumpster is a master manipulator. And although I do not believe the Christian mythology of satan when trying to understand how someone as unfit for high office as the trumpster could become president the idea ‘ the devil speaks with a forked tongue ‘ has occasionally come to mind.
I look forward to reading your attempts at creating logical alternatives. And sincerely hope the effort inspires others blogging on web media to be inspired themselves by what you write to also create their version of a new republic that limits the failings of the government system we find ourselves in presently.
If a single dollar doubles every day for 30 days, it reaches a total of over $536 million ($536,870,912) at the end of the 30th day.
So, would it follow, that a single voice that doubled everyday would become 536 million voices after 30 days? That seems doable.
Resist. Stop cooperating. Stop spending. Stop the fascist takeover. Spread the Word!
When leaders respond to serious threats with endless hesitation, it is ordinary people who end up paying the price. As an Afghan partner left behind despite serving alongside US forces, I know firsthand how devastating political inaction can be when immediate, decisive steps are needed
Outstanding article. Thank you for putting this together. Really interesting points and important information.
You are very kind. Thank you - Martin
Great explanation. You put things together so well for us.
It is not your job to offer solutions. The problems are not yours. The problems belong to the American people who rationalize when the solutions look like they will upset their lives. They only see what they will have to give up. I think the first thing we need to do is give up our dislike of anyone who is not just like us. Stop looking for the easy way out. Stop waiting for someone else to do it for us.
But, we like others to do it for us, because if it doesn't work we can blame them.
I just want that corrupt old bastard dead & gone.
Thank you, Martin, for another excellent article
and I'm hoping it gets restacked and read by thousands of people who need to understand these truths. I've restacked your article with a note regarding its much needed truths. Thank you again for the work you do.
I really do appreciate your kind words Karen. I try not to let my periodic frustrations rise to the surface.
I’m a bit like the undiscovered indie band on Substack, those that find me generally appreciate the honesty. Unfortunately what people want to hear is more popular that what people need to hear. As I always say, ‘You can take a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink’ - Martin
Thank you, Martin. I understand what you are saying.
The fairytale metaphor is apt, but this fairytale doesn’t just promise a future that never arrives — it rewrites the past. The propaganda signage ordered for the Smithsonian exterior isn’t a policy decision; it’s a revision project. The Smithsonian holds the historical record. Planting political messaging at its door signals that the rewriting isn’t just about what comes next — it’s about erasing what came before, and those who remember it.
You’ll get no pushback from me Carol. - Martin
Looking forward to your next piece - thank you 💙
Thank you for your excellent article. People may say they want solutions to problems, yet when solutions are offered people rarely take them because they see them as hard to implement. They wait for other possible solutions to come about that are easier, less complicated or less work that is needed to “fix” whatever the problem is. Case in point the advertisement for “Duct Tape”
https://youtu.be/6CV_igvk28k?is=GF7nkIy94Oa1C09a
We slap duct tape on the plumbing thinking that it will hold way beyond the expiration date for those plumbing problems. That we may need to really invest the time needed to fix it correctly. We are the bully and overreach our way into their problems without fixing our own and then we tell all our friends, those allies that they just don’t measure up to all our greatness. You know that backhand tap across the faces of all our friends. Because our house is never in the right.
We’ve postponed for way too long and remained in the “fairy tale” bubble for many situations across the board. We allow our legislators to kick the problem down the road for how many years, that ultimately result in decades that we have no idea where even the money is, but there are those departments year after year coming back for more without showing the ledger as to what they spent on in the first place with all the money given up front. Recall back in September 2025, the Pentagon spent a record $93.4 billion in a single month during its end-of-fiscal-year "use-it-or-lose-it" cycle. From Luxury Foods: $15.1 million on ribeye steaks, $6.9 million on lobster tails, and $2 million on Alaskan king crab. To Furniture & Office Gear: Over $225 million on furniture, including $12,000 for three-tiered fruit basket stands. Then there are those Tech & Devices: $5.3 million on Apple devices and $4 million on Samsung electronics. Of course the Pentagon wouldn’t be complete with the purchase of Musical Instruments: $1.8 million total, featuring a $98,000 Steinway grand piano.
Let’s face it most Americans agree that these massive surges in spending highlights the deep systemic issues with government budgeting practices as well as the decision making processes that exist as to what solutions will best be implemented without the outrageous additional costs. Yet we now have this same Pentagon going before Congress that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth demand ing a $67.1 billion supplemental funding package (included within a larger $87.6 billion administration request) to directly cover the soaring costs of the ongoing war with Iran. Guess those lobster tails, crabs and of course that Steinway Piano was well worth that spending, right? How soon do you think good ole Pete will go through that stack of cash?
Let’s not forget that the Pentagon is asking for a record $1.5 trillion for its Fiscal Year 2027 base budget, which represents a 44% increase over the previous year.
Honestly it’s not just one Department in our own government that the ledger needs to be due just as much as the other countries that are now spending their fair share into NATO. Yea we came in all huffy and puffy and demanded other nations to place their money in the NATO kitty but damn man we do the same here. Spending taxpayers dollars, like it’s a never ending gumball machine…
It’s not just the money. It’s the policies. Let’s just call out two— The primary unpassed federal measure specifically concerning gender equality in the U.S. Constitution is the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). While Congress actually passed the ERA in 1972, it failed to achieve full ratification by the required three-fourths of state legislatures before its deadlines, and subsequent congressional resolutions to remove the deadline or restart the process have not successfully cleared both chambers to become law. So it’s 2026 and this all started in 1972. Then of course The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act has been a focus of legislative debate in the U.S. Senate. While the U.S. House of Representatives successfully passed versions of the federal bill in 2021 and 2022, the federal bill has not been enacted into law. And here we are in this clusterfu€k of a mess. The holding accountable of all our legislators is well past the time. The holding accountable of all Departments spending money like it’s just nothing without any ledger should be no longer.
Honestly it’s both political parties but what has come to the top is that the Rethuglicans are just better at the corruption sometimes than the Democrats. We need to hold all accountable and as for that Supreme Court no more pay to play.. you bet term limits and if there is a sniff of bribery you get the boot just as much as anyone in Congress and the executive branch..
Wonder if we’ll ever get that “People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones," as well as “The bill always comes due, and interest accrues with every year of denial of those bad decisions.”
Problems in our democracy are becoming more apparent as the power/ powerless balance shifts.
People feel disenfranchised.
People feel the American Dream is unachievable today .
People feel frustrated that they work two or three jobs and can not get ahead .
People feel that they work hard and deserve a better life. Vacations are becoming a past luxury . And bottom line -
People feel powerless to change their lives .
Where does power come from ? Power is generated by access .
Access to control your economic success . Access to a higher education . Access to financial instruments like a mortgage, a pension , a retirement plan, stock investments . Access grows your economic power.
Economic power gives you access to people who hold power . The government uses this as a fundamental way of doing business.
Wealthy people dictate policy … PACs and special interests drive our agenda . Why ? Because money from wealthy donors sets the priorities. The squeaky wheel gets the oil .
How to balance the power ?
Even the playing field .
-Eliminate Citizens United .
-Give candidates at the federal level a fixed campaign budget . No loopholes .
-Term limits , age limits .
-SCOTUS reform … term limits and ethics rules .
-Eliminate the Electoral College - total popular vote system .
-Three days to vote … Thursday Friday Saturday .
-Mandated voting - and a $ cash back tax write off when you vote.
- Reinstate mandatory Civics class in all high schools
- strengthen labor unions
- strengthen public education
- increase minimum wage so that a
40 hr work week can sustain a family of four.
- end gerrymandering and create a grid / population based system. No squiggly lines .
That’s a start …. People need to demand a reset in the distribution of power . Money has corrupted our democracy.
You’re like a window into my mind Bonnie.
😂😂😂😂… I’ve been walking around inside your brain … planting seeds from my garden of life experience. 🤣🤣🤣
Built on STOLEN LANDS!
Thank you sir.
Your writing is appreciated, for the most part accurate, and obviously heart felt. You do however contradict yourself during this last piece when saying ‘ you don’t agree with trump on anything ‘ and then agree his pressure on other countries to raise their defense budgets was needed. It’s difficult I know to Agree with the trumpster on anything. I have had to ignore my feelings about he, family, friends, and the pathetic Republican Party when I to am forced to admit that some of his criticisms are justified.
The first of these was when he stood on stage in front of The Bush Family during one of his last fund raisers when he first ran for office and told them that the Iraq War was a waste of lives and money.
Remember that ?
Otherwise the trumpster is a master manipulator. And although I do not believe the Christian mythology of satan when trying to understand how someone as unfit for high office as the trumpster could become president the idea ‘ the devil speaks with a forked tongue ‘ has occasionally come to mind.
I look forward to reading your attempts at creating logical alternatives. And sincerely hope the effort inspires others blogging on web media to be inspired themselves by what you write to also create their version of a new republic that limits the failings of the government system we find ourselves in presently.
I think I used the word but
A clarification: “remove the option to vote by mail” ONLY IN BLUE STATES AND WASHINGTON DC. Red states can vote by mail as much as they like.
A FAIRYTALE IS A FICTIONAL STORY LIKE CHARLOTTE WEB 🕸!!!?.
By n out