Elon and the four freedoms

The American public is being choked with lies by a government of the people, by the people, for the people that has been seized by a demagogue, and turned over to the richest man in the world.

Elon Musk is a cancer with an agenda.

He is a rolling Reichstag fire, who is much less interested in finding waste, fraud and abuse in the United States government than controlling the government. His ruse is simple.

In fact, it is the oldest trick in the book.

Elon Musk is trying to make an emergency out of something that wasn’t and isn’t. He is using the power of the algorithm and the predictable cycles of outrage to create the feelings of an emergency when none exists.

Suddenly, the reality that America is $36 trillion in debt is the killer comet headed for Earth. The truth, however, is that there is no secret, no emergency, and no reason to obliterate the Constitution to face the irresponsible choices of the people’s representatives and the people themselves.

Tough choices under a transparent process are the American way to deal with the issues surrounding America’s bipartisan spending addiction. The institution in the United States of America that decides national spending is the United States Congress — not Elon Musk.

I want to write something as simply as I know how.

There is no reason — and has never been any reason — in our history to obliterate the US Constitution and the law to solve problems.

We did not do it in the Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Cold War or War on Terror.

We did not do it during the Great Depression or Great Recession.

Instead, the United States stayed true to our founding North Star.

When decisions were made that strayed from the path of justice because fear prevailed in a moment and the US Constitution was desecrated and injured, it was always redressed when calmer winds prevailed.

Trump has manufactured a crisis from nothing, and created the conditions for it to become a conflagration that will allow him to assert more power, and ultimately, more control.

The least compelling discovery in world history may be the United States government in the world’s epicenter of ludicrous spending.

Let me explain what $36 trillion dollars is.

Twelve days from now is one million seconds.

One billion seconds is 33 years from now.

What is a trillion seconds?

It is 33,000 years from now, and to put that in perspective, the very oldest sign of human civilization is 36,000 years old.

$36 trillion is 1,188,000 years old.

My friends, the emergency is a ruse to take power in the name of fighting ghosts that in reality are the longest running problem set in 21st century America: the wild profligacy and spending of the modern Republican Party.

America doesn’t need Elon Musk. It needs a functioning Congress.

The fact that we don’t have one, or have one stuffed to the rafters with weaklings, cowards, ne’er do wells, crooks, imbeciles, self-interested loons and ‘look at me’ narcissists is nothing new.

The Congress of the United States is not St. Peter’s choir in heaven. It is a reflection of the people, and the people have shown that, despite it all, they can summon something ethereal when it is needed and manifest an indomitable strength that is as wondrous as its dissipation and following indifferences.

The dictator will always preach the necessities of their power as being a new form of air or water upon which the people are suddenly dependent. It is always nonsense, yet it almost always succeeds.

Elon Musk didn’t discover wasteful spending. The wasteful spending has existed in plain sight — and grown without anyone in America caring or complaining — for the last 25 years.

Fixing a political problem requires a political solution, not a revolution.

There is no cause to discard the Constitution so that Elon can become a Congress of 1 and Citizen 1, while the American people slip from being masters of their fate to serfs in a new order where technology fences them in, and manipulates their moods from morning tonight, while controlling what they see and what they know. Make no mistake that this is the proposition that Elon Musk is advancing.

There is a debate underway in the shattered Democratic Party about what comes next.

It must be an embrace of the four freedoms.

These freedoms are the foundation of the modern Democratic Party and the modern world. These are the cornerstones of the titanic vision of humanity and the possibilities of peace that came from the ashes of war put forward by the “Apostle of Peace for all mankind” Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the president who saved capitalism, democracy and the world.

Freedom of Speech.

Freedom of Worship.

Freedom from Want.

Freedom from Fear.

His vision and the world it built are what is being burned to the ground by Trump, Musk and Secretary Little Marco.

Norman Rockwell famously depicted these four freedoms in a series of paintings.

I asked ChatGPT to update what these four freedoms might look like in the 21st century.

Here is what ChatGPT envisioned for the scene for a new painting about Freedom of Worship:

Concept:

An inclusive interfaith gathering in a modern urban park that merges tradition with technology.

Composition & Elements:

Foreground:

• An open, sunlit section of a modern park with minimalist seating.

• Small circles of people are arranged in relaxed, informal groups. Some are meditating, others quietly praying, and one or two consult a digital device displaying a sacred text or inspirational quote.

Middle Ground:

• Participants wear a mix of contemporary clothing with subtle cultural or religious accents, emphasizing diversity.

• The gathering is harmonious and intimate, showcasing a peaceful coexistence of varied faith expressions.

Background:

• A modern multi-faith center with a striking glass-and-steel façade serves as a backdrop.

• The building might incorporate universal symbols of unity or abstract art that hints at shared values.

Lighting & Atmosphere:

• Warm, natural sunlight enhances the serene and inclusive mood.

• Soft shadows and gentle highlights give the scene a calm, meditative quality.

Additional Details:

• Small digital screens or signage in the park display rotating inspirational messages or interfaith dialogue quotes, subtly integrating technology with spirituality.

Freedom of Speech:

Concept:

A vibrant urban plaza where modern technology and civic engagement merge.

Composition & Elements:

Foreground:

• A small, raised platform centered in the scene.

• A dynamic young speaker stands atop it, holding a sleek, portable microphone and gesturing passionately.

Middle Ground:

• A diverse crowd of onlookers — men and women of various ages and ethnicities.

• Many in the crowd hold smartphones; some are recording or live-streaming the event.

• Visual cues such as subtle digital overlays (e.g., floating chat bubbles or hashtags) emanate from several individuals, suggesting active online discussion.

Background:

• A bustling urban plaza framed by modern architecture.

• A large digital billboard displays a mosaic of user-submitted messages, hashtags, and symbols of social media, reinforcing the interplay between traditional public speaking and digital expression.

• Contemporary street art or murals add to the urban vibe.

Lighting & Atmosphere:

• Bright daylight with crisp shadows, creating a dynamic, energetic ambiance.

• The scene should feel alive with the immediacy of modern communication and civic engagement.

Freedom from Want:

Concept:

A contemporary communal dining space that celebrates abundance, diversity, and technology’s role in connecting communities.

Composition & Elements:

Interior Setting:

• A bright, modern dining hall with clean lines, large windows, and tasteful decor.

• A long, sleek dining table occupies the center, laden with an array of dishes that blend traditional comfort food with fusion cuisine — think organic farm-to-table salads alongside innovative global flavors.

Foreground:

• Family members and neighbors of diverse cultural backgrounds gather around the table, engaging in lively conversation.

• At the center of the table sits a digital tablet displaying real-time updates on local food cooperatives, farmers’ markets, or sustainable agriculture initiatives.

Background:

• Modern art, subtle technological accents (like digital menus or smart lighting), and a backdrop of large windows that let in natural light.

Lighting & Atmosphere:

• Soft, warm lighting creates a welcoming, cozy environment.

• The overall feel is one of abundance, community, and the seamless integration of technology with everyday life.

Freedom from Fear:

Concept:

A secure, community-oriented urban park at dusk where technology and thoughtful design foster a safe environment.

Composition & Elements:

Foreground:

• A lively park scene at dusk with a gentle glow from modern, energy-efficient streetlights.

• Children of diverse backgrounds play on interactive, tech-enabled playground equipment that sparks creativity and physical activity.

Middle Ground:

• Parents and community members are seated on modern benches, some casually checking their smartphones, perhaps reviewing community safety updates.

• The layout emphasizes open sightlines, reinforcing a sense of security.

Background:

• An expansive view of the park that integrates discreet security features — a few subtle digital displays or smart sensors might be visible.

• Urban elements such as well-planned pathways and landscaped areas contribute to a feeling of organized safety.

Lighting & Atmosphere:

• The scene is bathed in the soft, warm light of dusk contrasted against a deepening blue sky.

• The interplay of light and shadow should evoke both the calm of evening and the reassurance provided by modern safety measures.

Additional Details:

• Integrate small, modern touches like a faint overlay of a community safety app interface in one corner of the illustration, suggesting that technology is part of the public’s everyday experience of safety without intruding on their privacy.

This is what I fear.

This is dystopia.

When considering Freedom from Fear, Rockwell depicted American parents looking at contentedly sleeping children during a time of war in 1943.

This is how a human being sees the world.

ChatGPT and the men behind the machines have a different painting in mind, and they intend to make it real.

It is their cure for fear we should all fear.

It is them we should fear.

Fearing something and being afraid are different things.

Americans must face what they are afraid of.

This is what courage is, and no people or nation can survive without it. It is not the absence of fear, but rather the belief that there is something more important than fear that is worth facing.

America is worth fighting and standing up for. The last election made Trump president, not Elon king.

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