Saturday, September 20, 2025

Half of Republicans want a strong man president: imagine that, but got a beef? Lots of luck.

Half of Republicans want a strong man president: imagine that, but what if you got a beef? (not the kind you eat; you can't afford that; but a gripe.) You are out of luck if Trump had already achieved that goal to be the strong man he craves to be, and imagine this is what happens if you no longer have freedom of speech or to gripe, if grocery prices do not go down but government figures claim otherwise, if the president or his family get rich you suspect because of corrupt practices, or that someone in your family is laid off due to Trump's tariffs,   you would either be ignored or told to shut up for fear of looking disloyal to Trump himself.  Whatever you do, do not put it on social media or in writing. It may haunt you later.

There is a libertarian streak in the right side of the political spectrum that would like to object to government suppression of even hate speech. That was one of Charlie Kirk's main positions: freedom to even to use hateful speech toward those of which you disapprove.  If Trump had his way, if you were one of those who objected to Trump's suppression of such freedoms,  you would either be ignored or told to shut up for fear of looking disloyal to Trump himself.

If you believe that Trump will lower grocery prices, and then tells you he has already done it,  when you darn well know how much stuff once cost and now what it costs, and you want to object, you will either be ignored or told to shut up because you would look disloyal to Trump himself. Fooling yourself, the alternative becomes that you will keep the faith that prices and inflation will decrease in 6 months to a year, even though the policies that caused the problem will remain unchanged.   That takes a heap of faith so long as tariffs remain on imports, and vegetables rot in the field for lack ot migrant farm workers, or the cost of coffee goes wild, or parts for an ailing imported car go nuts, don't dare complain, for fear of looking disloyal to Trump himself.

If you start complaining about the burden of student loans, and Trump opposes any relief, don't you dare complain for fear of looking disloyal to Trump himself.

If you grumble that Trump seems to be enriching himself and his family,  using his pwerful position to market and coherse or bribe with state national security computer chips thrown into incentives, or it appears that your tax break is a laugh while those who do not need a break get a big one, don't you dare complain for fear of looking disloyal to Trump himself.

If you grumble about the closing of a plant and got laid off or removing a space command facility to a more loyal state due directly to Trump's policies, don't you dare complain or fear of looking disloyal to Trump himself.

For God's sake, do not put your disloyal gripes on any social media. It will come back to haunt you, as Trump believes in revenge and retribution for anyone who dares to disagree, whether you are a bigwig, an elected official, or a little guy. The favors only go to the loyalists.  The fear goes to those who are only thinking of complaining. You will have to put up or shut up. Loyalty to Trump is first and foremost.

Then welcome to the brave new world of Trump, the strong man.  You may already be there.



Survey data on "strong man" leader preferences

Bright Line Watch/Washington Post poll (February 2025): Accelerated transgressions in the second Trump presidency | Bright Line Watch  Summary courtesy of Google AI

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