The Oxford English Dictionary recognizes roughly 171,000 words in the English language. The term kakistocracy refers to a system of government run by the worst, least qualified, or most unscrupulous citizens. It is not to be confused with kleptocracy which is a government ruled by thieves with a primary goal of stealing the state’s wealth. We also find oligarchy where the government is run by a small elite group of people determined by wealth or family ties. This is similar to plutocracy where all power is concentrated in the hands of the richest class.
So many words to choose from and all would fit POTUS 47 and his political dynasty of family members, misfits, cronies, and sycophants. Never in the 250 years of this great nation’s history has the world seen a more openly corrupt group. The door was first cracked open and then it was removed from its hinges by a corrupt Supreme Court operating under the written guidebook of Project 2025. Through that gaping hole paraded Donald John Trump and his band of merry thieves.
Even JD Vance mused that today, an event like Watergate might not even make the evening news. He argued that if the Watergate scandal happened today, it would be "like a 12-hour news story". He added, "The idea that it would have taken down a presidency is crazy". Vance blamed Nixon’s downfall on his favorite bogeyman, the “deep state”. It’s good to be able to explain everything with the nebulous conspiratorial term, “deep state”.
That Nixon tried to use the C.I.A. to block an F.B.I. investigation of the Watergate break-in of the DNC headquarters is seen by Vance as a big nothing burger. It the nation of Trumpistan, neither the C.I.A. nor the F.B.I. would be bothered as both are ultimately controlled by the president. Vance’s statement serves to only shine a spotlight on the corruption of this administration and how its corruption is accepted by the current GOP. It is business as usual.
Sadly, the current corruption is so common that the perpetrators feel secure in the fact that they can steal as much as they want and the presidential pardon pen can wipe the slate clean. The Trump sons are wheeling and dealing their little hearts out with investments, paid board appointments, and financial maneuvering in advance of high-level government decisions that benefit the companies with which they coincidentally have connections. It will take an army of accountants and lawyers to untangle and prosecute this mess while trying to get around the pardons we know will be coming.
Nothing is more telling than the ongoing disaster we are witnessing for our 250th birthday celebration. It was to have been a bipartisan, decentralized, nationwide grassroots set of events called America 250. Congress approved it and appropriated money for it. That plan has been co-opted by Donald Trump because it was too much about America and not enough about Trump. He has set about rebranding the bipartisan event to be more partisan. He has not only diverted the $100 million of congressional funding for the bipartisan America 250 for his use, but he has also taken their private donations as well.
So far, Freedom 250 has been a bust. Plagued by sparse crowds, state withdrawals, and performer cancellations, pavilions are empty, vendors are confused, and power outages have rained on Trump’s parade. He did manage to book Milli Vanilli. If you forgot, they were the 1998 German pop group who were plagued by scandal when it was discovered that they were lip syncing vocals sung by uncredited session artists. He almost had Vanilla Ice perform but the that performance was cancelled due to bad weather. With Trump’s affinity for his Immigration Customs Enforcement goon squad, I’m sure he was disappointed that he didn’t hear Robert Matthew Van Winkle sing his famous “Ice Ice Baby”.
Yes, Freedom 250 has begun like the destruction of the East Wing of the White House, the war in Iran debacle, the algae-laden reflection pool with peeling blue liner, a couple of failed New Jersey casinos, and a joy ride on Trump Shuttle rolled into one. We are on day 5 of this 16-day celebration. If anyone could screw up a birthday event with a $150 million budget, it’s Donny. Welcome to the kakistocracy.
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