POLITICS

Make America Weak Again?

A slogan by any other name would still smell foul

Photo by Yassine Khalfalli on Unsplash

Republicans have a long history of naming things the opposite of what they are.

The USA PATRIOT Act was unpatriotic. The Defense of Marriage Act harmed marriage.

More recently, the One Big Beautiful Bill is ugly as sin and is now branded as the Working Families Tax Plan although it is harmful for working families and benefits the ultra-wealthy.

But the clearest example is Donald Trump’s signature slogan: Make America Great Again.

It sounds strong. But it should be: Make America Weak Again.

Weakened Global Leadership and Alliances

American strength depends on alliances, diplomacy and global credibility. That’s what keeps conflicts contained and influence intact.

But under Trump, we’ve seen repeated withdrawals from international cooperation. He threatens to leave NATO and to seize Greenland. He’s cozier with Putin than he is with our European allies. He’s pissed off Canada by suggesting it become our 51st state. And he’s even picked a fight with the Pope.

Cuts to international aid and disengagement from global institutions has destroyed much of our soft power.

That weakens us.

Economic Instability and Tariff-Driven Uncertainty

Economic strength requires predictability. But Trump has given us volatility.

He has imposed tariffs carelessly and inconsistently, creating uncertainty across industries.

Meanwhile, the basic promise of lower costs hasn’t materialized. Quite the opposite — prices are increasing. His ill-advised war on Iran, begun without Congressional approval, has sent gas prices through the roof and threatens the world’s economy and stability.

Non-wealthy Americans are struggling to afford basic costs.

Erosion of Public Health and Institutional Trust

Strong countries rely on functional institutions, including public health.

We’ve switched the guidance on vaccines to suit the beliefs of quacks instead of the recommendations of respected medical authorities. In some areas, we’ve removed the fluoride from public water systems.

Hundreds of thousands of people are dying around the world because Trump decided to end USAID — which isn’t only tragic for the humans losing their lives but also ends a highly effective form of soft diplomacy. China has noticed and probably can’t believe we’ve provided it with such an opening.

We’ve dropped out of the World Health Organization.

We’ve ended significant important medical research.

Due to his hatred of all immigrants except the two he personally married, millions of people who are here legally — including some citizens — risk being beaten, arrested and deported. And yes, some are being killed.

He’s ripping apart the U.S. Forest Service.

None of this makes us a stronger country.

Misplaced Priorities and Symbolic Excess

Strength is also about priorities. Trump demolished the East Wing of the White House without clear plans for the replacement, tried to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America for no good reason and forced his name on the Kennedy Center.

It’s hard to take someone who does such things seriously. But his actions are deadly serious.

At a moment when the country faces real economic pressure and institutional strain, that’s where he directs his energy and attention?

Gains Concentrated at the Top

If this were about making America stronger, the benefits would be broadly shared.

They’re not.

Policies consistently tilt toward those who are already positioned to gain, like wealthy individuals and major donors. Instability and risk are pushed downward, onto our most vulnerable people.

It’s increased economic inequality by design.

The Pattern Behind the Slogan

This isn’t an exhaustive list. It would take a book to document every bizarre thing this administration has done.

But the pattern is consistent, and no slogan can override reality.

Can we simply undo all his actions and restore the country to something approaching normalcy after he’s gone?

Historians detail the rise and fall of countries; the American Golden Age was not going to last forever. But it would have lasted far longer if a destructive toddler had not been allowed to go on a rampage — and if his party did not consistently back him up.

Here’s a very detailed analysis of how America’s decline is being hastened by this clueless administration.

Nothing he’s doing will Make America Great Again.

He’s making it weaker and hoping we don’t notice.

About Michelle Teheux

I’m a writer in central Illinois. If you like my work, subscribe! I also have a Substack about economic inequality called *Untrickled and another aimed at authors who want to self-publish books called[ The Indie Author](https://selfpublishingbookauthors.substack.com/). My new book is[ Strapped: Fighting for the soul of the American working class](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DJNRCQSJ). And yes, those are my husband’s actual boots on the cover! My most recent novel is[ The Trailer Park Rules](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CTHT43L9).* Tips joyfully accepted via Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/michelleteheux

**All wealthy families are alike; each poor family is poor in its own way. ** — Leo Tolstoy, if he had written about a trailer park

For residents of the Loire Mobile Home Park, surviving means understanding which rules to follow and which to break. Each has landed in the trailer park for wildly different reasons.

Jonesy is a failed journalist with one dream left. Angel is the kind of irresponsible single mother society just shakes its head about, and her daughter Maya is the kid everybody overlooks. Jimmy and Janiece Jackson wanted to be the first in their families to achieve the American dream, but all the positive attitude in the world can’t solve their predicament. Darren is a disabled man trying to enjoy his life despite a dark past. Kaitlin is a former stripper with a sugar daddy, while Shirley is an older lady who has come down in the world and lives in denial. Nancy runs the park like a tyrant but finds out when a larger corporation takes over that she’s not different from the residents.

When the new owners jack up the lot rent, the lives of everyone in the park shift dramatically and in some cases tragically.

Welcome to the Loire Mobile Home Park! Please observe all rules.

**Click to get your copy**