Fighting Deliberate Cruelty Without Losing Your Balance
"Let them eat cake!” (Not Marie Antoinette)
Even though Marie Antoinette never said the words quoted above, they stand as a good example of what the entitled noble classes thought before the French Revolution - and what our country is currently experiencing.
We have known for a while that haters abound in our country. These people hate immigrants, Jews, Black Americans, and anyone else who does not fit their vision of a white, Christian country. They are bigoted people who find the hate spewed by trump and his cult makes them feel powerful and special. Instead of working harder, they blame others for their failures in life.
The most noticeable symptom of this is the incessant cruelty. Every part of the new administration promotes it. Here are just a few of the many examples:
A 10-year-old US citizen who is recovering from brain surgery was deported with her family to Mexico, to a place that is dangerous for US citizens and cannot provide the medical care she needs.
An 8-year-old boy who moved with his family when a major university’s research department offered the mom a prestigious position. Now he is terrified that his mom will be deported because she wasn’t born in the US and has been known to criticize Trump. His mother is worried that her work, which could potentially save lives, will cease due to cuts in federal funding.
The parents of Americans born with severe disabilities fear they will be faced with cruel choices if Medicaid stops paying for the assistance they need to care for their children at home. Calvin Latham and Claire Smith are just two of the many Americans who were born with severe disabilities. Calvin’s mother, Lindsey Latham, says “He needs assistance with feeding. He needs assistance with drinking. So, he really needs day-to-day hands-on care, and Medicaid provides that for us.” Claire’s mother reports that Claire has a great quality of life due in large part to Medicaid, which covers the cost of her nurse, her wheelchair and other equipment she needs to survive on a daily basis. These families, and many more, would be faced with a impossible choice. They will have to decide if it is better to have their children in a nursing home if Medicaid stopped paying for their nurses, wheelchairs and other medical equipment.
Medicaid also pays the costs of nursing homes for elderly people. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said,
“Let's say Social Security didn't send out their checks. My mother-in-law, who's 94, she wouldn't call and complain, she just wouldn't. She'd think something got messed up, and she'll get it next month. A fraudster always makes the loudest noise, screaming, yelling and complaining."
Lutnick’s words are a prime example of the kind of arrogance and lack of humanity shown by the Marie Antoinette cake myth. Maybe Lutnick’s mother-in-law wouldn’t care, but many retired Americans are entirely dependent on their Social Security benefits for food and lodging. Missing a check would mean making difficult choices, like deciding whether to eat or renew their medication. The government would be cruelly placing dollars over the elderly and disabled.
The examples go on and on, and the trump/musk presidency is only two months old.
The US has become a darker, cruel place where the love of money and power rules over morality, empathy and human compassion. So what can we do to keep ourselves engaged in fighting, when the US is no longer the country we loved?
Here are a few recommendations:
No action is too small. Stay anonymous in your resistance if that makes you feel more secure. Send postcards, call members of Congress, participate in boycotts, attend marches, rallies and town halls (real or empty chair).
Subscribe to, and if possible, support your favorite substacks and podcasts. These creators are trying to be your voice in the battle against MAGA cruelty.
Spend “real life” time with people who share your values. They might not be the friends you’ve had forever - sadly some of those may have joined the other side - but there are places where you can meet people who will make you feel respected and heard.
As a last resort, start researching your options. Some people will feel they have no choice but to leave and move to another country. Each country has its own requirements for job qualifications and financial contributions. Some countries have a “right of return” which might make emigrating easier.
Remember, if you don’t protect yourself, and your mental health, you won’t be able to participate in rebuilding a “more perfect union.” Our time will come, and every one of us will have a role to play.