MAGA Democracy in Five Words: 1. What's 2. In 3. It 4. For 5. Me

I have stopped paying attention to Trump supporters who claim to like what Trump is doing but not the way he's doing it. Just a gentle suggestion: what he's doing and the way he's doing it are the same thing.

Look at a recent incident involving the Emmitsburg (Md.) National Fire Academy, where DOGE cuts have eliminated in-person instruction for prospective students. Now they'll learn from home unless funds are restored. Firefighters. They'll learn from home. I believe they generally fight fires in person--often where the fire is actually burning. Does some DOGE tech expert need to be reminded?

The mayor of Emmitsburg and many of the firefighters voted for Trump. When asked if they would vote for him again, they said yes—if he restores funding. 

This then is the new MAGA version of democracy—take care of me and to hell with everybody else.

African droughts and famines will doom tens of thousands of children deprived of USAID, but if I get my funding....

Research to alleviate or eliminate cancer, Alzheimer's, ALS, etc., will be halted, but if I get my funding....

Our food supply will be less safe because of less oversight of food suppliers and toxic chemicals. Legally documented citizens will be deported without due process. Grocery prices, automobile prices, home prices, all prices will rise, and the country will suffer as a whole...but if I get MY funding....

No one is more selfless and courageous than a firefighter, but they can be as dead wrong as anyone else incapable of seeing beyond one's self-interest. 

And separating the man from the way he does things is not incisive. It's delusional. Worse, in a country that still purports to be a democracy, it's unsustainable...and despicable.