by Noah
For today's meme comment, I'm just lifting the statement below from Jon Stewart. In general, I have mixed feelings about Stewart because of a tendency he's recently shown to wander down the path of "both sides-ism" when it's least appropriate. This time, however, he's hit a nail on the head and kept it simple and direct. Here's Jon:
Donald Trump is making a move to seize power. Let’s not mince words—what we’re watching is the most dangerous assault on American democracy in our lifetime. Trump’s decision to pause all federal grants and subsidies isn’t just another bad policy; it’s a calculated power grab that undermines the Constitution and puts the livelihoods of millions of Americans at risk.
Here’s what’s happening: Trump has declared that he alone will decide who gets federal money. Not Congress, not the people’s elected representatives—just him. This is blatantly unconstitutional. Congress controls the budget in a democracy, not the president. But Trump doesn’t care about the Constitution. He’s decided to play king, hoarding taxpayer dollars to punish his enemies and reward his friends.Â
This isn’t governance. It’s authoritarianism. It’s corruption. And it’s terrifying.
He’s been setting the stage for years. He’s pardoning violent rioters to normalize political violence. He’s firing inspectors general so there’s no one left to hold him accountable. Now, by freezing federal funds, he’s putting himself in total control of the country’s purse strings. Piece by piece, he’s dismantling our democracy.
If we don’t push back now, we may lose the very freedoms that make this country what it is.
Congress must act. The courts must intervene. And the American people must wake up to what’s happening. This is a moment of reckoning, and we cannot afford to ignore it.
Could Stewart have said more? Sure he could have and he does so on his show, but he's smart enough to know how to make an easily absorbed point or two without offering too much at once. He knows the importance of focus and he knows how to concisely make a point without insulting the audience he wants to reach. Thank you Jon