THE SUMMER OF OUR DISCONENT
Now is the Summer of our discontent.
Begin with the end in mind...
The time has come to act upon our concerns regarding the autocratic intentions of our 47th President, and the shameless supportive invertebrates within this current version of the Republican Party. Remaining silently complicit at this crucial moment in our nation’s history is not an option. I implore all of us to approach this with a Gandhian intensity for nonviolence.
The Essence of Gandhian Principles:
Non-violence (Ahimsa): Gandhi's unwavering commitment to non-violence goes beyond physical harm; it extends to avoiding emotional, psychological, and societal violence. It emphasizes resolving conflicts through dialogue and understanding rather than resorting to aggression.
Truthfulness (Satya): Truthfulness forms the bedrock of Gandhian philosophy. Embracing honesty and transparency in our personal and public lives can help build trust and promote genuine dialogue.
Simplicity (Simplicity): Gandhi's advocacy for simplicity reminds us to live with fewer possessions and a smaller ecological footprint, reducing stress and promoting meaningful experiences.
Self-Reliance (Swaraj): Gandhi championed self-reliance as a means of empowerment. It encourages us to take charge of our own destinies and be resilient in the face of challenges.
Compassion and Service (Seva): Compassion and service to others lie at the heart of Gandhi's teachings. Embracing these principles can foster empathy and unity.
Civil disobedience may be required, but violence against another person or their property must not be tolerated but arrested. We must all seek to advance the actions of our evolved decency and fairness and not flaunt the reptilian instincts of fight or flight.
One aspect of the set of objectives I am advancing is to hold every Republican representative to account for not living up to their oath of office:
"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God."
Every Republican member running for the House of Representatives and the Senate in 2026 need to consistently be asked and pressed to answer a few basic questions.
Did Joe Biden win the 2020 election? (And to be clear, the answer is not that Joe Biden was sworn into the presidency; the question is, did he win that election fair and square?) [2020 United States presidential election - Wikipedia]
What did you do to hold Donald Trump responsible for the attack on our nation's capital whose clear intention was to overthrow the 2020 presidential elections and resulted in the deadly January 6, 2021, insurrection attempt? [House members who voted to impeach; Senators who voted to convict President Trump]
What is your opinion of the Trump administration’s cabinet selections; and for Senators, how did you vote in your role in advising and consenting to their appointment? [Evaluating President Trump’s second term cabinet selections.]
How did you vote on President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill? [Full List of Republicans Who Voted Against Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' - Newsweek in the House; three Senators voted “NO”] Why did you put the financial interests of the wealthy over the quality-of-life interests of your constituents?
The political makeup of the House of Representatives has been near even for the past three election cycles. However, given the Republicans Trumpian priorities, 2026 needs to look much more like what we saw in 2019 (the first election cycle after Trump’s first two years in office). A clear and unambiguous message must be sent.
My urgent appeal is that average Americans and the media need to do their job in showing how these Republican representatives have sold their political souls to greedy corporations and their super-wealthy campaign donors. This current 119th Republican-led Congress has demonstrated a disdain for the American middle class, senior citizens, the environment, the economy and the future of our children and our children’s children. This is not about political affiliations, this is about beginning the repair of our nation’s social safety net which was already pitiful in many states.
Every indication by our political punditry is that the 2026 Senate races lean significantly in favor of the Republicans, even though Republican-leaning states have 20 Senators up for election and Democrat-leaning states have only13 seats up for election.
This analysis, of course, takes normal times and a 50-50 political environment into consideration. This Summer of our discontent is an extremely abnormal time and nothing about the 2026 election cycle will be normal. We have a disenfranchised middle/working class in America today, and all normality has been sacrificed by this vindictive Trump-led Republican Party. A political declaration of interdependence is now required.
Over this next 16 months, all of us who care about rebuilding a strong and vibrant middle class have a responsibility to one another to shine the light of discontentment on a Republican Party that has gorged their wealthy donors. Of course, not all extremely wealthy individuals are greedy and uncaring; in some instances, it’s quite the opposite. It is incumbent upon them and us to clarify and act to support a strong working class and expose through boycotts and other means those who have kissed the ring of authoritarianism.
Let this Summer of discontent fuel every hour of these next months leading up to implementing our Declaration of Interdependence. I will explain this idea in the next post; stay tuned.