The secret of freedom lies in educating people, whereas the secret of tyranny is in keeping them ignorant.

At this point of inflexion, I know the sense of desperation is increasing as Trump turns the screw, but goodwill will prevail over evil.

Another day, a new set of challenges for everyday Americans to face in Trump’s Hunger Games. Along with you, I’ve been dealing with this daily for a while now, and I like to think I’m pretty resilient to the challenges Trump presents. However, if you’re feeling exhausted and fearful for the future, I want you to know that you are not alone; together, we will get through this, I am sure of that. I realise it may be no consolation in moments of despair, but rest assured, I stand shoulder to shoulder with you in this fight against tyranny. I’m prepared to die on this hill because this is not just about the US; it’s about the world.

Every day when I sit down, as now, to write, I do so in the knowledge that at times my words may prove a challenge even for some who share the same liberal values as I, and I’m perfectly fine with that. My work is not behind a paywall, and my comments are open to all for a good reason. I encourage debate and conversations because I am always open to having someone change my mind. Thankfully, today I don’t think I will have that problem with my liberal friends.

So, onward and upward, as they say. Before we begin, we need to have a clear understanding of our current position. Trump will wake up today thinking he can’t believe how much winning he’s doing, while Democrats will be waking up thinking, Did we do the right thing in not supporting the Republican’s clean continuing resolution? Let me be unequivocally clear: DEMOCRATS DID DO THE RIGHT THING. It was brave, bold and, above all, principled. It was the correct choice regardless of the outcome, and I am pleased to see a united resolve that has been all too often absent recently.

The problem is not who did the right thing; it’s the information war that will ensue. Just one glance at my X FYP page and I see the clearest of indications that the MAGA messaging monster is in full swing and Republicans are all singing from the same hymn sheet. A lesson Democrats would do well to learn from. In this moment, Republicans are willing to attend the opening of an envelope to reinforce the narrative that Democrats want to fund healthcare for ‘illegal aliens’. The campaign has been long planned and is precision-crafted to lay the blame squarely at the feet of Democrats.

The counter message, as suggested by Nathan Jun, is:

‘Republicans would rather lose their own healthcare if it means immigrants can be kicked out of emergency rooms’

Let’s be clear, as reported by Lauren Villagran and Sarah D. Wire in USA Today:

[Undocumented immigrants] don’t qualify for comprehensive Medicaid coverage, Medicare or the Children’s Health Insurance Program. And they can’t purchase federally subsidised health plans on exchanges backed by the Affordable Care Act.

There are immigrants on Medicaid in the United States. So-called “noncitizen enrollees” in Medicaid accounted for 6% of the total, according to KFF, a nonprofit that conducts research and polling on health policy.

Now, here is where the misrepresentation occurs, as Moses Mike breaks the ninth of his beloved Ten Commandments, found in Exodus 20:16. Thou shalt not bear false witness, Just as a reminder, Mr Speaker, this serves as a moral imperative forbidding lies and misrepresentation that harm others, and requires honesty, fair communication, and the suppression of slander, gossip, and deceit.

Not being a citizen is NOT the same as being an ‘illegal alien’ as Moses prefers to refer to undocumented immigrants. The report continues:

Not being a citizen isn’t the same as residing in the United States illegally; there are many ways to live here as a legal resident, without full U.S. citizenship.

Republicans are rolling with the lie that only US citizens qualify. They are insinuating that lawful immigrants: legal permanent residents, refugees, people granted asylum, and those granted humanitarian parole should be regarded as illegal aliens for the purpose of their ludicrous and disingenuous LIES. I see no steps being taken to hand back the $90 billion of state and federal taxes paid by said illegal aliens, who receive absolutely no benefits from their contributions to Medicare and Social Security.

A study by Casey Quinlan released in August 2024 notes that, in a 2022 study by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy:

In 40 states, undocumented immigrants paid higher tax rates than the top 1% of the income scale in those states.

The study also noted that:

Undocumented immigrants would contribute $40.2 billion more per year in federal, state and local taxes if all of the undocumented population had access to work authorisation.

The bottom line is that Moses Mike and his blasphemous acolytes, who live to misrepresent scripture and are the antithesis of Christian values, are collectively breaking the ninth commandment repeatedly in this disgraceful propaganda campaign, suggesting Democrats want to fund healthcare for undocumented immigrants. It is an egregious lie, as they well know, but that will not stop them on their quest for absolute power.

In a report published by the policy research company KFF, written by Justin Lo, Larry Levitt, Jared Ortaliza, and Cynthia Cox released on September 30th, it’s noted that:

Since the introduction of the enhanced premium tax credits, enrollment in the Marketplace has more than doubled from about 11 to over 24 million people, the vast majority of whom receive an enhanced premium tax credit. If enhanced tax credits expire, many Marketplace enrollees will continue to qualify for a smaller tax credit, while others will lose eligibility altogether and be hit by a “double whammy” of losing their entire tax credit and being on the hook for rising premiums.

To give you a better idea, see the list below:

The bottom line is:

Expiration of the enhanced premium tax credits is estimated to more than double what subsidised enrollees currently pay annually for premiums—a 114% increase from an average of $888 in 2025 to $1,904 in 2026

This is in addition to the 10 million Americans who are expected to become uninsured in 2026. Does anyone want Democrats to sit around and not fight this? It is absolutely a fight worth having, and I believe it’s a fight Democrats can win, because the Republicans know there is a BIG economic storm coming. I also think that this is the perfect moment for those unaffected by the shutdown to participate in a campaign of strategic economic disengagement (a spending strike). The shutdown can be an even more powerful tool. Call it a spending strike in support of federal workers if you like.

In an excellent piece in the Guardian by Robert Reich (who has himself been directly involved in a couple of shutdowns in the past), which I highly recommend you read, he rightly points out that of the eight shutdowns that have taken place since 1990, Trump has presided over HALF of them. He notes:

The big ugly fundamentally altered the priorities of the United States government. It cut about $1tn from healthcare programs, including Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, meaning that health insurance premiums for tens of millions of Americans will soar starting in January.

Never forget that 11 of the last 12 recessions have been presided over by Republicans, and one president added 20% of the current $37 trillion national debt. Donald J Trump.

The reason Republicans were able to pass the Big Billionaire Bailout Bill, as I prefer to call it, is that they utilised the reconciliation process, which requires a simple majority. Yet, even in that process, it required the Speaker of the House to cast the casting vote to allow the bill to pass into law. There was no mandate for it. To continue funding the government, however, they do not have that luxury; hence, they need Democrats to facilitate continued government funding.

Usually, in these circumstances, compromise is required, but Trump and his acolytes have decided they will not compromise with ‘the enemy’. This, therefore, means as noted in Robert’s report:

Most federal workers are not being paid – as many as 750,000 could be furloughed – including those who are required to remain on the job, like air-traffic controllers or members of the US military.

The arrogance of Trump shines through again; he does not give a damn about people losing their jobs. It distracts from the Epstein files and means there will be no jobs report after a poor ADP jobs report yesterday, which showed that 32,000 jobs were lost in the private sector, following a revised decline of 3,000 from August. Payrolls are declining in the leisure and hospitality, business services, and financial activities sectors. Trump wants your eyes well away from the growing economic peril—a subject I will be covering in my next post. He can continue with his daily proclamations and continue building his ballroom, but he can’t stop what is coming down the economic track.

The objective of the Democrats in this fight is to FIGHT FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, not the top 10% who now account for 49% of consumer spending in the US. Their spending has been made possible by the money Trump stole from middle and lower-income earners, the working poor and the disabled. This is not a battle between right and left; this is a battle between fairness and greed, between right and wrong. Do not let the Republican messaging machine’s lies deceive you. Democrats have no option but to fight for what’s right, and I am absolutely in their corner on this, and so should you be.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my thoughts and observations. I hope you feel it was worth the investment of your time. I deliver a post to my community most days. If you appreciate my work, please consider becoming a paid subscriber to help offset some of the associated costs. It really does make a big difference.