Lyndon B. Johnson And The Great Society

Donald Trump’s Massive Destruction Of LBJ’s “Great Society”!

Ronald 48 Comments

America is witnessing under Donald Trump in his second term Presidency a goal that the extreme right wing MAGA Movement and “Project 2025” has been working toward for decades—the massive destruction of all of the good work of President Lyndon B. Johnson and his “Great Society” in the mid 1960s.

All of the major actions of the Johnson Presidency in domestic affairs, and also of the Supreme Court led by Chief Justice Earl Warren, is being reversed in a heartless, callous, cruel manner by both Donald Trump and the extreme right wing majority of the John Roberts Supreme Court.

Among these actions of massive destruction have been the following:

Civil Rights Act of 1964
Voting Rights Act of 1965
Medicare and Medicaid
Federal Aid to Education
Immigration and Nationality Act 1965
Environmental and Consumer Legislation
Housing and Labor Reforms
Eliminating Government Funding for National Public Radio (NPR) and PBS
War On Poverty Programs, including Job Corps, Project Head Start, and Food Stamps (SNAP)
National Endowment For The Arts and National Endowment For The Humanities

Trump has attacked educational programs and cultural institutions, including the Kennedy Center, the National Museum of American History, all other museums connected with the Smithsonian Institution, and News Media.

Trump has also worked to destroy domestic initiatives of presidents after LBJ, including in particular:

Richard Nixon
Jimmy Carter
Bill Clinton
Barack Obama
Joe Biden

Once Donald Trump is out of office, and assuming that Democrats can retake the White House and Capitol Hill, it will take a massive effort to reverse the horrendous damage, and it will be more than a one or two year effort to bring back progress domestically.

“Democratic Socialists” Vs Democratic Party

Ronald 23 Comments

The Democratic Party has brought about in the past century, since Franklin D. Roosevelt onward through Joe Biden, a massive number of major reforms.

The vast number of them came under FDR and the New Deal in the 1930s, and Lyndon B. Johnson and the Great Society in the 1960s, both periods where the Democratic Party had massive majorities in both houses of Congress.

Under other Democratic Presidents, fewer reforms were possible, but there were domestic accomplishments and advancements under Presidents Harry Truman, John F. Kennedy, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden.

Now, however, so called “Democratic Socialists” are trying to turn the Democratic Party further to the left, and have succeeded in electing Zohran Mamdani as NYC Mayor and likely will elect Janeese Lewis George as Washington DC Mayor in November.

The best known “Democratic Socialist” is Independent Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who caucuses with the Democratic Party, and is seen by others as a “model”, but is not technically seen as part of this updated “Democratic Socialists”.

Also, there are three members, presently, in the House of Representatives;

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York
Rashida Tlaib of Michigan
Greg Casar of Texas

In the upcoming 120th Congress (2027-2029), the following additions are to be added to the House of Representatives:

Dairaliza Avila Chavalier of New York
Claire Valdez of New York
Melat Kiros of Colorado
Chris Rabb of Pennsylvania

There are others who are termed as “The Squad”, but do not call themselves “Democratic Socialists”, including

Ilhan Omar of Minnesota
Ayanna Presley of Massachusetts
Delia Ramirez of Illinois
Summer Lee of Pennsylvania

The “Democratic Socialists” and “The Squad” membership could be a problem if the Democrats gain the majority in the House of Representatives by only a small margin, as that could interfere with the ability of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York to become the first Black Speaker of the House.

“Democratic Socialists” promote the following:

32 Hour Work Week
Minimum Wage of $30
Medicare For All
High Taxation of the Rich
Housing Reform And Universal Rent Control
Cuts In Military Spending
Opposition to NATO and Aid to Ukraine
Replacement of Capitalism
Hostility To Israel Since Israel-Gaza War

This author and blogger, proud to be a “Progressive”, sees these goals as unrealistic or objectionable.

Lowering the work week to less than 40 hours is possible, and a minimum wage goal over time of $25 seem reasonable.

Movement toward Medicare to cover Americans over 50, and some taxation of the rich is also reasonable.

Housing Reforms including for renters in a moderate way is also reasonable.

Some Cuts in Military Spending, but support of NATO and of Aid to Ukraine in its war with Russia is the proper way for the future.

Capitalism will not be replaced, but could come under greater regulation and controls.

Criticism of Israel, and ending military support of the government due to its actions in Gaza and the West Bank, can occur, but not total hostility to the right of Israel to its own nationhood.

So there is potential for reforms and change, but not to the extreme promoted by the “Democratic Socialists” and “The Squad”.

They will continue to “make noise” as their small number in Congress grows, but the Democratic Party is not going to go as far left as these groups promote, as they are totally unrealistic.

Tumultuous Time On Redistricting In The House Of Representatives, With Revival Of “Jim Crow” White Supremacy In South!

Ronald 24 Comments

The shocking series of events, begun by the Supreme Court decision in Louisiana V. Callais on April 29, has provoked other Southern States to promote similar racial gerrymandering and redistricting, favoring the Republican Party.

Then, the Virginia State Supreme Court has negated the popular referendum for redistricting, favoring the Democratic Party, upending all projections regarding the House of Representatives in the 120th Congress (2027-2029).

This is a tumultuous time that can allow for the possibility that the Republicans will be able to overcome their disadvantages, which normally, in a midterm election, would lead to gains by the Democratic party, out of power in the White House, and with many reasons why they should gain control of the House of Representatives, particularly with only a three seat edge by the Republicans, a very tenuous situation.

The idea that Jim Crow Racism of the post Reconstruction period of the Gilded Age would come back a century and a half later, and the effective repeal of the legendary Voting Rights Act of 1965 under President Lyndon B. Johnson and his Great Society programs, is extremely depressing and demoralizing.

But, there is no guarantee of what the ultimate effect of the Supreme Court decision will be long term.

But clearly, many of the African American members of Congress from the South are likely to lose their seats, and the Republicans, the party that ended slavery, now will have the reputation of being the White Supremacist party that the Democrats were for nearly 90 years until the 1960s.

Donald Trump Clearly Most Dangerous President In American History, Bar None!

Ronald 3 Comments

For many years, there have been psychologists, psychiatrists, and other mental health professionals who have warned that President Donald Trump was highly dangerous and reckless, in his rhetoric, behavior, and actions, is an incessant liar, and totally unhinged and incoherent.

Trump has demonstrated he has no ethics, morals, scruples, humanity, decency, compassion, or empathy, and he has shown clearly that he is a racist, misogynist, nativist, Islamophobe, homophobe, and despite so called “friendship” with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has strong record of utilizing antisemitism at times.

He has undermined our national security and defenses; our legal and judicial system; and the social justice state that began in the Progressive Era of Theodore Roosevelt and continued through the New Deal of Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Great Society of Lyndon B. Johnson, and beyond.

He has allowed the system of mutual security through alliances with NATO and Asian nations to be left in tatters, as he consorts with dictators around the world, including Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation, but also other authoritarian nations, while undermining democracy, and utilizing the old concept of US Imperialism, and willingness to use force against international law.

He has enriched the super wealthy, while working to undermine the middle class, and with no concern about those who are poor and disadvantaged, and has damaged our environment, health care, consumer protection, labor rights, educational and cultural institutions, and worked on wiping out immigration in a manner equivalent of the shortsightedness of a century ago.

He repesents a threat to the nation and the world, and action should be commenced to remove him from office as a danger that must be recognized by those in authority through legal channels.

Sadly, likely, no action will be taken, as the people around Donald Trump are totally sycophants, more interested in their own financial and political advancement, and they may end up responsible for a disastrous Holocaust of massive proportions, that will condemn them in history, but cause great harms to tens of millions of Americans, along with massive numbers around the world.

Speaker Of The House Mike Johnson May Lose Leadership During Unproductive 119th Congress!

Ronald 5 Comments

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson of Louisiana has been the leader of the House of Representatives (119th Congress) now for two years and one month, but his time as Speaker seems assured to be limited, and to end soon.

His House majority is becoming smaller, and after the announced resignation of Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, to take place in January, there are strong hints that some more House Republicans, sensing doom in the Midterm Congressional Elections of 2026, may opt out before then, leaving vacancies.

The 119th Congress already stands out as the worst, least productive Congress, possibly going back to the early 1930s, and the 71st and 72nd Congresses (1929-1933), as the Great Depression overtook the nation under Herbert Hoover!

That led to Democratic dominance for the next six decades from 1932-1994, and helped to bring about the New Deal of Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Great Society of Lyndon B. Johnson.

If more House Republicans decide to take an early exit, suddenly, the House of Representatives could fall into the control of the Democrats, dislodge Johnson, and make Hakeem Jeffries Speaker of the House.

Even if that does not occur, there is a lot of discontent in the Republican Party with Johnson, who is seen as having “caved in”, being a sycophant and obsequious to the demands of President Donald Trump, and not concerned himself enough with pleasing his own House majority.

Hard to believe, but many think of Johnson as the worst Republican Speaker of modern times, which is saying a lot, when one considers his competition is Kevin McCarthy, his direct predecessor; Paul Ryan, who preceded McCarthy; John Boehner, who preceded Ryan, and even Dennis Hastert, the longest serving Speaker from 1999-2007, who ended up in federal prison on charges of sexual abuse of teenage boys.

By comparison, Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (2007-2011, 2019-2023) shines as a brilliant House leader, regarded as one of the top few of all time, and now choosing to retire at the end of the 119th Congress at the end of 2026!

Chief Justice John Roberts: A Total Disappointment And Disaster!

Ronald 1 Comment

Chief Justice John Roberts has been the leader of the Supreme Court now for 20 years, fourth longest service of the 17 Chief Justices since 1789.

Roberts came on the court as a “moderate conservative”, appointed by George W. Bush in 2005 right after Chief Justice William Rehnquist died, and the day before Roberts was to begin hearings to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, replacing the retiring Sandra Day O’Connor.

Fate would have it that due to the death of the Chief Justice, suddenly Roberts would be elevated to a special status of being the leader of the Court.

Roberts came across for many years as “reasonable”, including when he “saved” the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) in a court decision in 2013.

Roberts always spoke of the need for balance and reasonableness, but in reality, that was a false, misleading image of him.

Now, 20 years in, Roberts is revealed as a phony, who has moved the Court toward the extreme Right, and shocked people with statements in recent years that reveal just how Right Wing he is.

For instance, he has said that racism is no longer an issue, which is totally preposterous and outrageous.

He has led a Court that has brought Donald Trump to have awesome power and has undermined the separation of powers, and he has contributed to what is becoming an authoritarian and Fascist Presidency, undermining American democracy and the rule of law.

So Roberts will go down in history as a tragedy and disaster, and his reputation long term will be in tatters!

And now, the Voting Rights Act is being challenged in the Court, which could destroy the idea of representation for minorities, and making the possibility of a white dominated House of Representatives, that could make the Republican Party dominant into the future.

And if that happens in this Supreme Court term, the Roberts Court will have sealed its reputation of returning American to the time of JIM CROW, and white supremacy, which was overcome by the Civil Rights Movement and the massive positive contribution of President Lyndon B. Johnson and the “Great Society” in the 1960s!

Trump Systematically Destroying All Reforms From Progressive Era Onward!

Ronald 26 Comments

Donald Trump is systematically destroying all reforms from the Progressive Era onward, with particular attention to the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

The Supreme Court under Chief Justice John Roberts has been a willing participant in this reversal of all of the great changes that promoted equality and justice, which became about after nearly a century since the Civil War of continued violation of basic human rights to African Americans and other minorities, including women and gay and lesbian Americans.

This is a very emotional time, as Donald Trump is moving full stream ahead, to return America to the late 19th century Gilded Age, where multi millionaires dominated the economy without any government regulation, and where racial discrimination and lack of basic human rights to anyone other than white male Christians predominated.

Trump and his supporters in the most despicable and corrupt Cabinet in American history are actively destroying

the legacy of Theodore Roosevelt and the Progressive Era reforms that he initiated, through his Square Deal and New Nationalism proposals and actions.

the reforms of Woodrow Wilson’s New Freedom legislation.

undermining the social justice reforms of the New Deal of Franklin D. Roosevelt ;

and the Fair Deal of Harry Truman;

and the civil rights advancements of Dwight D. Eisenhower;

and the ideals of the New Frontier of John F. Kennedy;

and the overwhelming reforms in so many areas of public life of the Great Society of Lyndon B. Johnson;

and the many initiatives of Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, George H W Bush, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden toward major reform initiatives.

Trump has declared war on common decency and humanity, and has ushered in an American Fascism, reminiscent of Benito Mussolini, Francisco Franco, Juan Peron, and other right wing dictators.

The danger that there will not be free and fair elections, and the attempt to promote midstream Texas gerrymandering to weaken an opposition Democratic Party challenge to the authoritarianism taking place, is totally horrifying and depressing!

Donald Trump Has Set Out To Destroy “The Great Society” And “The New Deal”!

Ronald 32 Comments

Clearly, Donald Trump and his “Project 2025” has set out to destroy “The Great Society” of Lyndon B. Johnson, and given time and ability, the next goal is to wipe out “The New Deal” of Franklin D. Roosevelt!

IF the Democrats do not win control of the House of Representatives in the Midterm Congressional Elections of 2026, nothing will stand in the way of further destruction of federal agencies and programs.

The ability to win the US Senate is a tall order, but Democrats must find a way to flip four seats, and not lose any of their members.

Otherwise, the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare), already under attack, will be also under threat, as well as environmental reforms promoted by Theodore Roosevelt, Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and Joe Biden!

The last century and more of reforms will be under danger of total destruction!

Are There Enough GOP Votes To Kill “Big And Beautiful Bill” Attack On Medicaid?

Ronald 19 Comments

It is still possible that a few Republican Senators and or Republican House members could kill the “Big and Beautiful Bill” of Donald Trump, and in the process, save Medicaid!

ALready, North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis and Kentucky Senator Rand Paul have made it clear that they will not support the legislation, Tillis because of the Medicaid cuts that would affect so many North Carolinians, and Paul, because he does not want to add trillions to the National Debt, already 36 Trillion!

But what about Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski and Maine Senator Susan Collins, who have both expressed dismay at the Medicaid cuts, that would hurt so many of their constituents?

And also, similar thoughts have been expressed by Missouri Senator Josh Hawley, and also, to some extent, Kansas Senator Jerry Moran.

In the House of Representatives, with Nebraska Congressman Don Bacon deciding not to run again for his Omaha seat, and already seen as the most moderate, centrist Republican who might refuse to support such legislation, since his seat was won by Joe Biden in 2020 and Kamala Harris in 2024, there could be another vote.

California Congressman David Valadao has also spoken out against Medicaid cuts, and is one of two Republican Congressmen to have voted to impeach Donald Trump in the second impeachment effort following the January 6, 2021 US Capitol Insurrection.

Kentucky Congressman Thomas Massie and Ohio Congressman Warren Davidson haver voted against the House bill already, and New York Congressman Nick LaLota, Maryland Congressman Andy Harris, and Texas Congressman Chip Roy all have different reservations.

Also, the members of the Republican House Freedom Caucus are not guaranteed in any sense to support the complicated legislation.

This horror of a bill will do such heavy damage to the American people at large, while the corporations and Billionaires will gain major tax cuts that will add many trillions to the national debt.

It is a repudiation of much of the mid 20th century “Great Society” of President Lyndon B. Johnson, a totally horrendous attack on common decency and compassion for those among us less fortunate!

Trump Cancellation Of Federal Funding Of National History Day Contest A Step Too Far! :(

Ronald 12 Comments

Donald Trump cannot go low enough, as now National History Day, a contest that involves hundreds of thousands of students in a competition for the best history project, conducted annually in June, is no longer being financially supported by the federal government

This is part of the gutting of the long operating National Endowment for the Humanities and National Endowment For The Arts, first initiated 60 years ago as part of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s Great Society!

It is clear that nothing is too low for the Trump Administration in the mad dash to cut spending through Elon Musk and the Department Of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and allow massive tax cuts fot the wealthy to go through to law!

The 119th Congress, with a slim Republican majority, is on the road to destruction of much of federal government programs, without any regard for the damage that is being wrought!