False Alarm, Fire Drill, or Fire

Yesterday (Wednesday), the alarm sounded at my condominium. The residents knew this was not a fire drill, since the announcement would have noted, "This is a drill." So we assumed the alarm was real. We evacuated, somewhat confused, into the unseasonably hot day. Typical in these situations, neighbors chatted nervously. Approximately 20 minutes later, we received the "all clear" from the fireman.

The United States has not received an "all clear." The alarms are ringing. A deepening crisis afflicts our democracy; our republic is not discerning the meaning of the alarms. A felon for a president; insurrections after which the perpetrators are pardoned; conflicts of interest never seen in my lifetime; wars and military action ordered by a man who seems to misaprehend the consequences; a partisan judiciary; increasing hatred for minorities; singling out of brown and black people for deportation; false--often crude--remarks, that would be preposterous in normal times, sent every night by the president of the United States. Anything else I forgot? Oops, everyday Americans deprived of voting rights and women's freedom of choice for their bodies. Our status and respect in the world slips away daily. One forgets the constant threats of fire alarms in an environment so chock-filled with news headlines. A day is a week; a week is a month; a month is a year, or so it seems. We are inured, immobilized, and injured in constant chaos and corruption. Each time, a new injustice is invoked, my anger and stress level increase. My instinct is to act; but, I cannot, other than protesting, writing letters, signing petitions, and venting with those I trust. A well known political writer said that we all have PTSD.

Is this a drill, a false alarm, or a fire? Are we practicing and adapting to life in a true autocracy? Or is this a false alarm? When Trump leaves office, the country regains its strength, proper functioning, and place in the world order? Is the Trump administration a glitch in our country's history?

The worst case scenario is a huge blaze, in other words a dictatorship--basic rights abrogated for the majority of citizens and legal residents. Smaller fires have been extinguished, for example Jan. 6, 2021. When has the threshold for extreme danger been reached? I do not think the brightest thinkers know for certain. We have been challenged in the 20 teens and 2020's by unprecedented threats from within, including corruption and attempts to overturn a presidential election.

I am angry because this is the worst of an "I told you so moment." Those who did not vote for Trump in 2016 knew we were headed for serious trouble. Nonetheless, after a rocky four years, including a pandemic which killed thousands in the U.S. alone, we experienced normalcy again. Biden's deteriorating medical condition was unfortunate, and hiding the truth from the public did everyone a disservice.

Nothing can compare to our present situation. Another "I told you so," moment sickenly occurred on November 6, 2024. Too late. We were headed for a disaster we could not yet conceive. How do Americans vote for a scoundrel two times? I may live in an elite bubble, but I am able to see, read, and think. I repeat. How do Americans vote for a criminal for a second time? I try to be respectful, listen compassionately, and understand. I have never received the actual answer from his voters, other than more lies, misconceptions, and illogical thought processes to justify themselves. I wish more individuals who voted for Trump in 2024 would assume responsibility for the consequences of their actions. I would definitely respect their honesty. Seriously, they cannot say they did not know what they were doing!

The latest conflagration is the slush fund, which would compensate Trump's cronies. It is the deal resulting from the Trump government's case against Trump and family for not paying taxes. Trump heads the government, so he is technically part of the prosecution. He and his family are also the defendants. A whistleblower leaked the Trump family finances--including the president's.The latter sued and were rewarded with a slush fund and still do not file tax returns. Rewarded for not paying taxes. As of today (Thursday), some Republican senators finally showed courage and would not approve the deal. Then they ran from D.C. to their home states for a recess. Lest we forget the Epstein files and the unauthorized Iran War in limbo, causing more inflation and egregious spending by the military.

And Congress? I am lucky to live in a county and state represented by sensible legislators who maintain a majority. I certainly do not always agree, like, or are pleased with my representatives. Now their hands are tied at the federal level, since presently they are in the minority, essentially powerless. The republican representatives in the U.S. Congress and in state legislatures fear for their jobs and safety, rightly so; we have seen the consequences of disagreeing with the man who would never be King. Yet, they must be braver; so should the Democrats. We have would be heroes--Alexandra Ocasio Cortez, Bernie Sanders, Thomas Massie, Marjorie Taylor Green, Adam Kinzinger, the ACLU, Indivisible, and numerous celebrities. There are millions who are tirelessly protesting the current situation. I hope our numbers increase, and we maintain our focus to finally stop the dangerous grasp of our government by trillionaires, billionaires and their foolish synchophants.

©Karen Levi 2026