The whipping boy and personal vendettas

Dear Editor,

I read somewhere years ago about a taskmaster who would whip his servants when he wanted to take revenge on someone even though they had nothing to do with whomever he was angry with. The ones who faithfully served him maintained his home and crops and livestock that made it possible for him to prosper on the land he lived on. They would get the tail end with his wrath of angry obsessions. They were ‘the whipping boy’ in this man’s life. But then if it wasn’t them it would’ve been someone else because that’s just the kind of man he was. Which brings one to what recently had happened.

Trump’s insane tariff tantrums. It’s one thing for citizens to criticize the SCOTUS but it’s stunning to hear an American president call Supreme Court Justices names and making derogatory remarks about ties with foreign countries and accusing them of being unpatriotic and disloyal to the Constitution and are an embarrassment to their families (!?!)

That’s like the pot calling the kettle black. Regardless, it’s something that’s never been done by a sitting president. But no different than what he’s been doing with lower court judges that have tried to hold him accountable with the idea that no one is above the law.

But, alas, Donald didn’t get then nickname “Teflon Don” for no reason using tactics he’s used successfully for years he’s been trying to use with the Supreme Court. Which I’ll give them some grace they’ve never encountered a setting president who says and does whatever he wants that flies in the face of our Constitution and democracy.

And although dangerous and reckless or an American president to address our Supreme Court in the way he has, ‘especially’ with the threats and physical attacks that’s been made on judges and others after the things he has said and done. Finally Chief Justice Roberts straps on some courage to push back on Trump with his ‘illegal’ tariffs.

Defeating him 6 to 3 in the Supreme Court. But like anyone who contradicts or doesn’t give him what he wants, Trump comes at them with a whip of insults and if you don’t cower there’ll be retribution to pay. But, and it’s a big but, gong after the SCOTUS is like poking the bear in the eye with conservative top honcho of the Federalist Society Leonard Leo, who’s in tight with Roberts.

However that plays out when a sitting president undermines the courts and threatens judges who challenge illegal policies that violate our Constitution we are slipping into an autocracy.

And like any true ‘taskmaster’ they’ll always have their whipping boy and the American people are Trump’s. Whomever he doesn’t like whether governors and state leaders, even though many voted for Trump, they too suffer when he refuses to give federal assistance out of spite.

Or leaders of countries who don’t grovel at his feet and act submissive enough he tariffs them to the point they take their business elsewhere. While he threatens to destroy them in whatever way he can. Like going to war.

While leaving us holding the bag. Trump takes everything way too personally while not seeing the bigger picture in how his obsessions with retaliations and retributions are hurting his own people. Punish others for the actions of another is not only unconstitutional but immoral.

While 64 percent approve the ruling and farmers and business owners and consumers applaud the SCOTUS Trump said he’ll defy their ruling and increase tariffs, just to show them who’s boss. And, once again, it’ll only hurt us. Remember he said in his recent statement to the press, “I can destroy the country.”

A threat that shouldn’t be taken lightly. His State of the Union address had only one reconfirmed this. There is more hate and division and retaliation to come.

Whether it be with those here or abroad the American people will be ‘the whipping boy’ suffering at the hands of one man’s personal vendettas.

J.M.