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A Whole New World                                                                     #317

By Hank Silverberg 


We are just two weeks away from a whole new world. It may still be called the United States of America, but it's most likely going to become Trumpland. 

Every day we will get some kind of social media post from the leader disparaging someone or something, or maybe promoting some new policy that is likely to make life for most of us more intolerable.

We will hear protests from Democrats in Congress, and social media will go crazy with both compliments and harsh criticism. 

Some have wondered if the second Trump term might signal an end to what we know as the United States and turn it into something else.

I am a bit more optimistic than that. Sure, we will have to put up with an egotistical incompetent in the White House. And we will have to deal with the ideologically frigid or incompetent people he has around him in the Cabinet and elsewhere. 

But I am confident there are enough rational people in Congress to keep it from going too far, and enough people on the state and local level to stall or resist any real changes to our basic freedoms. 

The next four years will not be pleasant ones for women, who have already seen their rights restricted. And it will not be pleasant for minorities, people of color, Jews and Muslims in particular. 

Racism, sexism, antisemitism--the kinds of things that used to get you fired or jailed-- will now be tolerated by the Trump administration. And those of us on the receiving end will have to fight back in the courts, in state and local governments, and in Congress. 

But as you watch the PEACEFUL transition of power on Monday (Jan 6), remember that our Constitution still exists, our courts are not all run by ideological purists, and minorities working together can make a better life for us all. 

That doesn't mean you can let your hair down and ignore it. Watch, learn, listen and resist if the justice tree bends too far. We will stop it from breaking. 

News You May Have Missed!

Trump Furious About Flag at Half Staff

Along the lines of what I wrote above, President-elect Donald Trump is furious that the flags across the

(Flag at half staff in D.C) 
country will be at half staff during his inauguration later this month. They will stay that way because  the 30 day mourning period for former President Jimmy Carter, who died last week at 100, will still be in effect. It's a decades-old tradition reserved for the death of a sitting or former president. 

But Trump, always thinking about--Trump-- doesn't like the aesthetics for January 20th. He posted on Truth Social on Friday, “Nobody wants to see this, and no American can be happy about it. Let’s see how it plays out. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!  AGAIN!”

And then he went on to say that Democrats are doing this because "they don't love our Country and only think of themselves." 

When asked, the current White House said "no" they will not break the long-standing tradition that honors former Presidents of both parties. 

All of this reminds us of what Trump did on Inauguration Day 2016 when he didn't like the estimates of the crowd on the Mall which were placed at 300,000 to 600,000.  He said it was a "million and a half" so he could claim similar numbers to Barak Obama's 2009 crowd of 1.8 million.  

Expect more of this nonsense for the next four years. 

And for the record, Trump kept saying the flag would be at "half-mast". That only applies to ships. On land the flag is at "half staff"! He apparently doesn't know the rules about flags at all.

  

Pay To Drive Into The Big Apple

Starting this week, if you want to drive into Manhattan in New York City, it will cost you as much as $9 during peak hours, even after you have paid the bridge or tunnel toll.  

The city is now imposing "congestion pricing" in an effort to reduce gridlock. The cost to drivers will depend on what time of day you drive in and if you have an E-Z Pass, which is used by most states on the east coast. You will pay if you enter Manhattan south of Central Park on weekdays between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m., or 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. on weekends.  During off hours the congestion toll will be $2.25. 

A $15 toll was supposed to go into effect last year, but Governor Kathy Hochul paused it because of the election and then it was reintroduced at $9.

The money collected will help pay for mass transit and other transportation projects. 

President-elect Trump, whose Trump Tower is within the tolled zone, has vowed to kill the plan, though it's not clear if he has any jurisdiction. 

As you would expect, there are already lawsuits over this program, including one by New Jersey.  

Other cities around the world have such congestion pricing, including London and Stockholm, but New York is the first city in the U.S. to try it.  


https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/driving-into-manhattan-thatll-cost-you-as-new-congestion-toll-starts-sunday/ar-AA1wZrP6?ocid=BingNewsBrowse

Dumbest Quote of The Week!

This week's dumb quote comes from a man we haven't heard from in a while, Vice-President- elect J.D. Vance. He posted on X:

"Looking forward to Biden giving the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Pol Pot and Count Dracula."

It was a terrible attempt at sarcasm because the GOP did not like Mr. Biden's decision to give the Presidential Medal of Freedom to George Soros and Hillary Clinton, two people the conservatives hate. But Mr. Vance, like his Boss and most of his party, have a warped idea of what the medal is for and who should be honored by it. 

The medal is the highest civilian honor that is given "to individuals who have made a significant contribution to security or national interests of the United States, world peace, culture or noteworthy public or private endeavors." 

(Presidential Medal of
Freedom)

Here is a link listing others who received the medals from Biden. It includes Bono, Denzel Washington, Jane Goodall, Magic Johnson, and "Bill Nye the Science Guy," among others. 

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2025/01/04/president-biden-announces-recipients-of-the-presidential-medal-of-freedom-3/

Eight presidents have received the medal of freedom, either before or after their administrations.

Barak Obama gave out 118 of them. Bill Clinton gave out 89. Ronald Reagan gave out 86, and  Nixon gave out 28. 

Two people turned down the award during Trump's first term. Bill Belichick, the coach of the New England Patriots turned it down after the January 6th incidents at the Capitol. And Dolly Parton turned it down twice.

              

(You suggestions and comments  are welcome)

My recent book "The Campaign" can be purchased at the links below. Or you can buy a copy by emailing me at:  HankSilverberg@gmail.com for instructions on how to get a copy at a reduced price and with my signature)                       

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B084Q7K6M5/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-campaign-hank-silverberg/1126429796


My NEWEST book is now available. It is designed for use in Public Speaking and entry level communications classes. 


                                               

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