Angela's Rants

Everyone is entitled to my opinion.

The Witch Hunt Begins
December 10, 2016

In my opinion, we’re headed toward Donald Trump’s total warfare on this nation, and people need to recognize that. An attack on the Federal government is a good place to start.

Under our constitutional government, the Executive Branch headed by the president implements the laws created by Congress. The Federal Departments under the president are subject to the president’s will. ​

​Many people think that Federal employees as civil servants have special protections for their jobs.

But most people don’t know that many protections, which exist for employees in the private sector, do not exist for Federal employees. Federal employees can be fired, harassed, hunted down and cast from their jobs with little or no protection. 

This is how I see it playing out. All Federal employees who have knowledge, science, or perceptions that conflict with DT’s beliefs will be purged. The process has already begun. This is not the first time. I’ve seen it happen under other administrations. 

The difference today is that, unlike previous administrations, an open government where people could share differing views will disappear. Instead, a closed government will emerge. Civilian employees will be called upon to break the law, fudge the regulations, or just ignore them. One of the first laws to go will be the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the right of citizens to request information about their government. 

You can be sure that Trump’s administration will usher in a reign of terror. Individuals are already being targeted. Hitmen will implement a winning strategy: lies, propaganda, public or social media thrashings and threats. Individuals who refuse to retract their findings or reverse decades of work, will be fired for minor infractions, others will be discredited, their scientific or professional credentials will be challenged or falsified, they will be suspended or receive disciplinary action, face jail terms, etc., until they leave the government, and even beyond—especially if they speak out. 

Furthermore, Trump’s minions will institute a system of internal spies: people who are willing to snitch on their colleagues for favors. Spying creates an environment of cannibalism and fear, effectively paralyzing all but those who march in lockstep to achieve Trump’s mission.

I also expect that, despite the Civil Right’s Act of 1964, white-supremacist henchmen will purge most Federal departments of non-whites and women, and will feast on legal immigrants.

It will be painful to watch the disintegration of the only protections people have against despots and raw greed. One of the saddest will be the collapse of the Department of Housing and Urban Affairs (HUD) headed up by Ben Carson, a man, who in my opinion, is too ignorant to realize he’s been backhanded by this appointment. Who else but an inept token black could dismantle programs so important to people of color? 

Updates:

• December 9, 2016: The Washington Post article by Steven Mufson and Juliet Eilperin: Trump transition team for Energy Department seeks names of employees involved in climate meetings
  

• December 22, 2016: The Los Angeles Times article by Tracy Wilkinson: Trump's transition team asks State Department to detail programs that helped women around the world. The request al seeks names of staff who worked to reduce gender-based violence and promote women in the workplace.  

• January 24, 2017. Federal Employees Gagged. Employees of several Federal agencies including EPA, DoAg, HHS, et al, have been barred from providing information to the press or the public in any form. 

• January 27, 2017: State Department heads roll. So far, a number of people in senior roles have left. As noted above, I suspect that people of color, women and immigrants would be kicked out of Federal jobs. I wonder how many of those leaving the State Department fall into these categories. I find it interesting that one gal, was on Russia’s “hate list.” Maybe Trump works for Putin after all.
  

• November 24, 2017: Diplomats Sound the Alarm. The purge continues as Tillerson is now removing top diplomats who are African-American, Latino, and women. Those people have years of experience with other countries. They know the cultures, languages, the history of US relationships, the internal politics, resources, and economic challenges facing our partners. They will leave behind  a group of people more aligned with views held by Neo-Nazi's and ensure our retreat from the world. Putin will be pleased.