THE TASK AHEAD
by Cash Michaels
Lots of lip service since the Democrats gave the lowly Republicans a “blue tsunami” ass-whuppin’ during last week’s extraordinary midterm elections. The bottomline has been, and remains, that now that Democrats overwhelming have the power back to lead both locally and nationally, they better damn well do something with it for the American people.
I wholeheartedly agree, and further suggest that Dems don’t have a moment to spare. They don’t officially start the 120th Congress until January 3rd, 2027 (my birthday, by the way), but I pray they’re busy putting their plans together on meaningful ways to lower the cost of living for the American people.
I’m sure they are, but just in case they skip a few ideas, let me offer some elderly insight and wisdom all the way from North Carolina that can grease the skids a little bit further.
Make Sure Americans Can See It, and Feel It
The campaign is over. No more talking. Let’s make sure Americans know that Democrats are moving in the right direction when it comes to affordability and accountability.
On the affordability front, what drove up the cost of living under Trump to begin with? His dumb bunny tariffs, of course.
According to GovFacts.org, “A tariff is a tax that governments place on goods coming into their country. The process in the United States is straightforward. When a ship full of foreign goods arrives at an American port, U.S. Customs and Border Protection collects the tariff. The company importing the goods pays the tax, typically within 10 days of the goods clearing customs.
Gov.Facts.org continues, “The most immediate effect of a tariff is simple: it makes imported products more expensive for Americans to buy. This basic function drives all the complex economic and political consequences that follow.”
So if an import costs $100.00 per unit, and Trump has tacked on a 25% tariff, the American business importing the unit pays $100.00 to the foreign manufacturer, and $25.00 tax to the U.S. government.
Naturally, the American business then passes on that 25% tariff incurred to its customers, and that’s what’s made the cost of items we’ve taken for granted like electronics, toys, and even food cost more in the past year. But according to Article 1 section 8 of the U.S. Constitution, Congress has the power to impose tariffs and maintain oversight. That means Democrats can either remove or modify the high tariffs Trump has unconstitutionally imposed (as president, he only has limited power to impose tariffs to begin with, so Congress legally is the final arbiter).
That move by a Democratic Congress should have an immediate impact on the cost of things once Dems take over. Trump won’t like it, but Americans will be grateful. Dems should just make sure Americans know and understand what they’re doing, and why. And let Trump and the Republicans lie and scream all they want.
Also under the US Constitution, Congress has the power to declare war, and that’s exactly what we have going on with Iran, and in Iran right now. Congress has the power of the purse, meaning that it can cut off further funding to the war, forcing military operations to cease at some point.
Democrats have threatened to do just that during the campaign, and they can further ensure that their wishes are carried out by impeaching Trump’s so-called “Secretary of War” Pete Hegeseth without delay ( that, in fact, may be happening this week, long before Democrats take over). I think the evidence is clear that this former Fox weekend TV anchor/strong man wannabe has badly mismanaged our military.
Get rid of Hegeseth, grab the money reins of the military, and start powering down operations and bringing our brave men and women in uniform home. That will allow the Strait of Hormuz to reopen fully, and world commerce to proceed, especially the flow of oil. That should bring the cost of gasoline and diesel down and back where prices were before Trump started the war over eight months ago.
Eliminate tariffs first, wind down the war second. Trump will kick and scream at both, but the American people will love Democrats for it.
And since Democrats comfortably have both chambers of Congress, how about repealing that so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” while you’re at it, in addition to settling the Obamacare health insurance problem so that Americans can reasonably afford to depend on that again.
Killing the monster which gave big tax breaks to the rich at the expense of cutting the social safety net for the poor (reversing Medicaid and SNAP cuts) will go a long way towards proving to folks that they are being heard and listened to.
All of the above will show Americans that Democrats are serious about leadership and good governance again. And it couldn’t happen a moment too soon!
Symbolism is everything
Only after Dems kill high tariffs and start the process in earnest to wind down the war should they then go after making Trump accountable. Putting money back in people’s pockets is key to making all of this successful. Once folks feel that Dems are fulfilling their affordability promises, they’ll be open to hearing about investigations into Trump’s shenanigans while in office, and how his corruption has wasted taxpayer money, and made he and his family billions. Shutdown all of Trump's self-aggrandizing schemes and stuffs, and folks will love you for it.
Commitment
All of the above will take leadership and deep commitment. I, for one, believe Democrats in the US House have it in the person of soon-to-be-Speaker of the House Hakeem Jeffries (D- Brooklyn). Jeffries, who has earned the leadership mantle more than anyone else in the House, has promised that Democrats will “move aggressively in the first 100 days” to achieve their affordability and accountability goals for the American people, commit to “cleaning up the mess “ of corruption, and “restoring American values” to our government.
Newly minted Michigan Sen. Dr. Abdul El Sayed added that in striving to return good government to the American people, Democrats have to treat those aspirations as “the floor, not the ceiling.”
Like I said, lots of lip service coming from the victorious Democrats these days, nd rightfully so. But ultimately, they better not screw this up. The American people have ben treated atrociously under Trump. No it’s time to get things back in order so that people can go about their lifestyle. That’s what Americans want more than anything else, and I’m willing to bet that folks across the political spectrum would be eternally grateful to the Democratic Party.
Maybe even to the point of awarding the 2028 presidency to a Democrat. It’s very possible, but only if Democrats in Congress stay sharp and committed to the task ahead.
Otherwise, great job during the election, America!
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