There's always a silver lining. Imagine the import business on vodka, caviar, and Siberian tiger coats.
You won't be able to afford the coat. Who am I kidding, you probably won't be able to afford the vodka or caviar, either. It won't really matter since you'll be focused on trying to afford food, a place to live, basic healthcare, and everything else one needs to just survive.
So the oval office fraud has made it clear who he works for and who he doesn't. That's, in order, Putin and the American people for those of you in the back.
Donald Trump has been more harmful to democracy than the whole seventy years of the Soviet Union. It's not an accident he idolizes a product of the soviet system. It was Putin's data centers that fueled the MAGA movement and hijacked reality with the coordinated support of the social media oligarchs.
These are the same types of data centers and social media oligarchs that Trump's party says don't need regulation. The type of oligarchs Trump's party says should be able to buy American elections and need another tax cut so they can buy more. It's Trump's party that has fueled the doubt in our elections and continues to try to make it harder for Americans to vote.
Trump has shown his hand by limiting Ukraine's early warning system and breaking sanctions against Russia striking a deal on diesel while claiming the high prices were due to Ukraine's attacks on Russian refineries. Of course, he claimed his deal would bring prices down.
As of today's writing, regular gas is up to $4.29 and diesel up to $6.29. Actual worldwide oil experts continue to credit Trump's Iran war for high fuel prices. Trump's Russian deal will not affect any costs to Americans or anyone else, but will give Putin more money to help Iran keep fighting.
Instead of doing something to uphold the sanctions they passed or to support the democracy they once championed or to curb the war that's actually responsible for rising prices, the congress and senate aren't even in D.C. That's because the president's party, which controls all three branches of government, doesn't see a problem.
So, now that it's so clearly out in the open, might as well go with it. Unless something changes drastically soon, we'll be partners with Russia and North Korea fighting the scourge of governments of, by, and for the people. It was a silly idea anyway, says King Charles. And Elon Musk. And Kim Jung whichever.
Funny how the party of Trump tricked you into believing the government was bad so the oligarchs could steal every cent you had. Every time Elon and Mark and Jeff get another tax cut, your cost of living rises. Every time.
But at least you didn't let the government put microchips in your wrist. Nobody's going to track you. You should break out your smartphone and post a meme on your social media account to celebrate.
Disclaimer: Neither Paddling Upstream, SJ, or this newspaper endorse Siberian tiger coats or any other garment composed of Siberian tigers. Please leave Siberian tigers alone comrade!