The Billionaire’s Swamp: Trump, Greed, and the Threat to Democracy

Despite his billionaire status, Trump claims to be “a man of the people” and a fearless leader who will Make America Great Again. The question is: For who?

Donald Trump’s election is not a win for Americans but a successful attempt by the rich and powerful to maintain control in a crumbling system. It had nothing to do with an informed electorate making educated decisions, which is what you would hope for. Instead, it is the result of a heavily subsidized campaign of hate and stupidity waged by an aging impresario incapable of shame and an influential lobby of ultra-rich men who benefit from the system as it is.

It couldn’t come at a worse time in our history.

We are struggling to get by in a greedy system that has evolved to extract profit at any cost, crushing people and the planet. Instead of bringing widespread prosperity to all, it has concentrated wealth and power in the hands of a few who would like you to believe their money-hoarding aptitudes equal superiority over you.

Don’t believe me? Take a look around you.

The Earth is undergoing dangerous climate change, mass extinctions, and ecological destruction. While CEOs rake in record profits, we face stagnant wages, unaffordable necessities and the need for multiple incomes to make ends meet. Skyrocketing rents and prices force families into insecurity while investors profit. Systems meant to help the public, like healthcare and education, are underfunded or privatized to maximize investor gain. Everything is done to make more money for the wealthiest who don’t need it.

Fear and greed drive these elites to support authoritarian measures to maintain control. They know they will lose “big time” if people reject the current capitalist model. Challenges to the system—such as demands for wealth redistribution, fair taxation, stronger labour rights, and environmental regulations—will erode their wealth and influence.

Through lobbying for tax cuts, deregulation, and privatization, they weakened protections for workers and public services while profiting from inequality. Their monopolistic practices stifled competition.  Their environmental exploitation and junk “science” disinformation about fossil fuels have caused climate change and ecological collapse, endangering communities and ecosystems.

They broke the system with their greed, and yet it is this same broken system that their man, Donald Trump, proposes to fix. This is the ultimate in gaslighting. And sadly, millions of Americans can’t or won’t see it.

What’s next?

Like a bird feathering its nest, Trump is busy building the swamp he is most comfortable in. While the media and the electorate are happily chomping on the details of which cabinet pick is most outrageous – we are, once again, not looking at the more profound implications of his election.

Free speech: Trump and friends will gut free speech while platforming a resurgence of bigotry, sexism and hate. Dissenting voices will be harassed and silenced, and perceived enemies will be punished. How do you say Achtung? At the same time, they will promote astroturfing movements. They will fund and amplify fake grassroots campaigns to create the illusion of widespread support for their policies to lull the public into submission.

Social Supports: As they are not money-makers, he will dismantle the public social safety nets that protect the most vulnerable. Expect cuts or reduced funding to healthcare, education, veterans’ services, pensions etc.

Regulations designed to curb corporate excess, protect the environment, and ensure worker rights will be gutted in the name of “freedom”—freedom for the wealthy to hoard, exploit, and pollute without consequence.

Election and tax laws: Trump promised, “You’ll never have to vote again.” We could see changes to election protocols, term lengths, the court system and taxation laws that benefit the wealthy.

Women’s rights: With the Christian Evangelical movement at his side, Trump will limit reproductive freedom, roll back workplace protections, and diminish women’s ability to participate fully and equally in society. His brutish example is aleady popularizing the theme that women are property.

What about Canada?

Trump’s second term will have negative consequences for Canada. Our country is rich in natural resources (lumber, fresh water, minerals & oil and gas). Trump’s interest in Canadian resources will likely center on maximizing short-term economic benefits for the U.S., often at Canada’s expense, by pushing trade deals or policies that favour American industries. Such interests may pressure Canada to loosen environmental or trade protections, benefiting corporate elites while exacerbating climate and economic inequality.

Trump and his friends will try to bend Canada to their will. They will strongarm Canada with threats if Canada does not toe the line to their satisfaction.

Trump’s policies and attitudes don’t stop at the U.S. border; they are seeping into Canada, undermining our values of tolerance and equality. His regressive stances on women’s rights, coupled with the normalization of misogyny and bigotry, are already emboldening similar movements here. Trump’s influence is polluting Canada’s political arena as Conservatives adopt his tactics. The use of disinformation, fearmongering, and divisive rhetoric threatens to undermine our democratic processes, polarizing the electorate and weakening trust in institutions. If unchecked, his playbook could reshape Canadian politics, dragging it toward the same authoritarian and regressive tendencies seen under his leadership.

People are connecting the dots and you need to as well. Check out an LTE written by Kelly Bergeron https://theseeker.ca/2024/11/lte-vladimir-putin-donald-trump-and-elon-musk/ that looks at the troubling connections between Trump, Musk, Putin and the Conservatives.

Photo by Connor McManus