Evilism is not an inevitable outcome of the Trumpzi administration if Americans will wake up and respond!

Echo essay published in Substacks:  Open Letters by Mersault

Dear Regretful Trump Voters, This letter isn’t here to judge you. It’s not about sanctimoniously wagging a finger or berating your choices—whether you voted out of frustration, party loyalty, or the dubious conviction that you were choosing the lesser evil. It’s about confronting a moment of reckoning—a crossroads where we must face the catastrophic consequences of a gamble gone disastrously wrong.

For those who clung to the hope that Trump’s presidency might soften his extremism, or dismissed warnings as partisan hysteria, the past eight weeks have stripped away every illusion. If you thought it couldn’t possibly be worse than before the election—if you dared to hope for moderation or reason—those hopes have been obliterated. His actions since November haven’t just continued down the same perilous path; they’ve accelerated with a fervor that lays bare the authoritarian playbook in stark relief.

The evidence is overwhelming, stacking up faster than lawsuits at Mar-a-Lago. Every word, every policy, every unchecked outrage confirms the grim trajectory ahead. The stakes have never been higher, and the truth has never been clearer: the danger is not hypothetical; it’s here. Your response to this moment won’t just define your own moral compass—it will shape the future of our democracy.

Rhetoric Turned Darker: Since the election, Trump’s rhetoric has spiraled from divisive to downright apocalyptic, a dangerous escalation even beyond his pre-election excesses. His recent Truth Social posts exemplify this unraveling. The day after Christmas, in a message that should have celebrated unity, Trump instead unleashed a tirade—railing against political opponents, the justice system, and even President Biden. What could have been a moment of holiday cheer became another battle cry steeped in paranoia and vengeance.

In just weeks, Trump has gone further than ever before. He’s proposed using the military to suppress domestic dissent, a suggestion so chilling it reads like the rejected plot of a dystopian novel. He’s called for imprisoning journalists who dare to report the truth, sought to sue or jail political opponents, proposed extreme voting restrictions based on fabricated fraud claims, and emboldened violent extremists by casting their threats as justified outrage. These aren’t just inflammatory words—they’re calculated moves to undermine democracy.

For those who hoped his post-election presidency might bring moderation or reason, the evidence couldn’t be clearer: it’s worse. These actions aren’t isolated—they’re part of a deliberate strategy to destabilize democracy and consolidate power. Trump’s chaos is by design: sowing fear, attacking institutions, and presenting himself as the sole savior in a crisis of his own making. The consequences of this path are deliberate, dire, and demand a reckoning.

Pay-for-Play Corruption on Display:  The corruption we’re witnessing under Trump isn’t a deviation from his promises—it’s the realization of them. What was once hinted at in shadowy whispers has now become an unashamed spectacle. Since the election, the already glaring pay-for-play system has grown even more brazen, transforming governance into a grotesque auction where power and influence go to the highest bidder. Corporate leaders are now funneled into closed-door meetings, not to collaborate on policy, but to pledge financial fealty in exchange for favorable treatment. Under the guise of “support,” loyalty isn’t earned—it’s coerced.

Inauguration donations have become open displays of transactional politics, with pharmaceutical giants, tech firms, and Wall Street executives tripping over themselves to secure Trump’s favor. Charter Communications quadrupled its contribution to curry favor for regulatory rulings. Big Pharma pledged over $10 million to stall generic drug approvals, effectively holding affordable medication hostage to protect their profits. Even Uber’s CEO dropped a cool $1 million to the inauguration, seeking an edge in labor and regulatory battles. These aren’t outliers—they’re features of a system unapologetically transactional, corrosive, and profoundly undemocratic.

It’s worse now than ever before. During the campaign, such practices might have been dismissed as exaggerations. Now, they’re undeniable facts of Trump’s governance—a model where public trust is auctioned off to the highest bidder. For voters who believed Trump’s promises to "drain the swamp," the evidence couldn’t be more damning. Far from cleaning house, he’s thrown open the doors and handed over the keys to the vault.

This isn’t governance—it’s an auction block where democracy itself is up for grabs. If this is what we’re seeing before he’s even sworn in, the implications for the future are staggering. For those beginning to regret their choice, it’s not too late to reckon with what’s unfolding and to act before the system, designed for the few at the expense of the many, solidifies. As corruption becomes normalized under Trump, the next logical step in his playbook emerges: surrounding himself with a cabinet engineered not to govern, but to dismantle democratic institutions entirely.

Evilism in a villians cabinet

Cabinet of Cartoon Villains:  If you thought Trump’s pre-election rhetoric was troubling, his post-election appointments should set off sirens. What began as a campaign of divisive bluster has metastasized into a calculated assault on democratic norms, human rights, and public trust. Trump has surrounded himself with a motley crew of extremists, opportunists, and sycophants—each handpicked not for their qualifications, but for their unwavering loyalty to his authoritarian agenda.

This isn’t a team assembled to serve the American people—it’s a coalition designed to consolidate power, dismantle civil rights, and prioritize corporate and ideological interests over the public good. From climate change deniers to anti-science conspiracy theorists, corporate puppets to far-right ideologues, this cabinet isn’t about governance—it’s about demolition. For a detailed account of these appointees and their dangerous track records, see the addendum at the end of this letter. But for now, let it suffice to say: this group makes his first-term cabinet look restrained by comparison—a terrifying escalation that demands your attention and action.

Authoritarian Alignment and Global Isolation: Trump’s alignment with authoritarian regimes and disdain for NATO allies signal a troubling, and now even more blatant, shift in U.S. global standing. Just last week, he hailed China’s violent crackdown on pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong as “strong and decisive,” a chilling endorsement of state-sponsored brutality. Earlier this month, he dismissed NATO partners as “freeloaders,” proposing a reduction in the U.S. military presence in Eastern Europe—a move that weakens global alliances and emboldens adversaries like Russia and China, who have already responded with increased aggression. Recent revelations of attempts to weaken sanctions on Russia further illuminate his administration's disturbing prioritization of authoritarian interests over democratic alliances.

Incredibly, he has gone further, using his post-election platform to float absurd ideas like reclaiming the Panama Canal and annexing Greenland. These proposals, as ludicrous as they sound, are presented as grand strategies rather than the diplomatic embarrassments they so clearly are—an unsettling reminder of how detached from reality his rhetoric has become. Just days ago, reports surfaced that Trump privately dismissed human rights abuses by allied nations as “internal matters,” signaling a retreat from moral leadership with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer against a window. This new posture isn’t merely embarrassing—it’s a gift to despots worldwide, undermining the fragile balance of global stability and diminishing America’s standing as a leader of free nations.

Conspiracy Theories and Public Trust Erosion:  Trump’s penchant for conspiracy theories continues to erode public trust and endanger lives. Recently, he dismissed climate change as a “hoax,” undermining urgent scientific consensus and jeopardizing environmental policy efforts. Two weeks ago, he slashed disaster preparedness funding, dismissing climate disasters as “liberal fantasies,” leaving vulnerable communities at greater risk. His baseless claims of a “deep state” within the FDA have further sown distrust in critical health institutions, igniting fresh waves of vaccine hesitancy that have already disrupted public health initiatives across several states.

Adding fuel to this crisis, Trump’s nomination of vaccine denier Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services has alarmed experts, who warn it could bolster anti-vaccine sentiments and compromise life-saving vaccination efforts. Meanwhile, his assertion that the Department of Education is “infiltrated by Marxists” has fueled widespread disinformation campaigns about school curricula, further polarizing the public and undermining trust in educational institutions.

Each baseless assertion chips away at the foundation of institutional trust, leaving the public more divided and susceptible to fear-mongering. The ripple effects are already evident: increased polarization, reduced civic engagement, and a nation teetering on the edge of chaos.

The Path Forward: Actions You Can Take:  You’ve seen the consequences of your vote, and now you face a pivotal moment. This is your chance for “TrumPenitence.” This isn’t about switching parties or wallowing in past mistakes—it’s about reclaiming the values that truly define us: honesty, fairness, and democracy. The question now is: What will you do next?

Speak Out: Summon your courage. Speak with friends, family, and your community about what you’ve learned. These conversations don’t just exchange ideas—they change minds and shift perceptions.

Get Involved Locally: Join civic organizations, community groups, or town halls committed to pushing for change. Grassroots action at the local level creates ripples that grow into waves.

Vote in Every Election: Local and state elections often have as much, if not more, impact than national ones. Use your vote to block harmful policies and elevate leaders who uphold democratic values.

Support Advocacy Groups: Contribute your time, money, or resources to organizations fighting for civil rights, environmental protections, and voter access. Advocacy organizations amplify individual efforts into powerful movements.

Educate Yourself and Others: Stay informed and share reliable, fact-based information about the administration’s actions. Silence is the ally of misinformation; knowledge is its antidote.

History Shows That Collective Action Can Turn the Tide

Think of the Civil Rights Movement, which dismantled systemic oppression through grassroots persistence. Recall Watergate, where public demand for accountability forced even the highest levels of power to reckon with the rule of law. Remember the early labor movements that won workers’ rights, the women’s suffrage campaign that shattered barriers to equality, and the American Revolution itself, where ordinary people refused to bow to tyranny. In every instance, democracy’s survival depended not on passive hope, but on bold, collective action.

The Power to Reclaim Our Country Lies in Your Hands:  This is not about redemption—it’s about responsibility. Apologies won’t rebuild what has been broken; only action can. Your TrumPenitence is not just about rejecting the past—it’s about choosing to build a future rooted in the principles that make democracy worth defending.

History is watching, and it will not be kind to those who stood by. The path forward begins with you. Rise to the occasion. Rise to defend democracy. Prove that taking responsibility is not only possible—it’s necessary. America’s future must be built on courage, not cowardice, and your actions will define it.

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