By R. Demilo, Arroyo Grande
For some years now, politicians, surrounded by their red MAGA-cap supporters, have been promising to “Make America Great Again,” which was the official 2024 GOP campaign platform. This platform was “dedicated to the forgotten men and women of America” and three of the highest priorities on their laundry list of promises to make America great again were these:
- “End the weaponization of government against the American people.”
- “Prevent World War III by restoring peace in Europe and the Middle East.”
- “End inflation and Make America Affordable Again.”
Woo hoo! Are we there yet? Not so much as they’ve failed miserably on number 1. Unless, of course, their idea of ending the weaponization of government against the American people is to use our Department of Homeland Security, with backup from our Department of Justice, to arrest, detain and even kill American citizens who disagree with them or say mean things about them.
How’s it going so far for preventing WWIII by restoring peace in Europe and the Middle East? Are we there yet? Not so much on number 2 either, unless we believe that this administration has been successful in ending the war between Russia and Ukraine, which Trump declared he would end on Day One if re-elected. Except he’s now been president this term for close to 500 days and still that war rages. Then there’s the genocide being perpetrated by Netanyahu on the people of Palestine. Our government, using tax-payer dollars, continues to support the Israeli war machine with funds and weapons. And not just against Palestine but also apparently any other country Netanyahu feels like bombing the crap out of. And in their zeal to do the opposite of “restoring peace in the Middle East,” this administration has begun a new, unprovoked and expensive war with Iran. But they still haven’t even decided on a reason why they started this war that is sacrificing American lives overseas and costing U.S. taxpayers billions of dollars. Since we’re the ones paying for it, both in lives and money, I think we at least deserve to know why we’re doing it.
And this last failure leads us to their promise to “end inflation and make America affordable again.” Are we there yet? Not even close. In fact, we’re headed in the opposite direction. Let’s take a look at what their platform, dedicated to the “forgotten men and women of America” and promise to end inflation to “make America affordable again” has accomplished.
Due to “volatile geopolitical tensions,” average regular gas prices across the country have risen to over $4.40 per gallon and are likely to remain at least that high for at least this year. Here at home, the average price of regular gas in California is up to $6.10 per gallon with reports projecting the average price per gallon in California could top $8. The GOP’s recent solution to this huge hit to American wallets is, “Maybe you take one less trip to Starbucks, and so that gas goes a little further.” Yeah, I guess maybe we’ll have to start taking less trips to work, less trips to buy groceries, and less trips to get health care so that gas goes even further.
Speaking of health care, the overall cost is expected to rise another 7% in 2026, which is double the general rate of inflation. And groceries have seen a huge overall spike in prices over the last year. Prices on beef are already up double digits from last year and expected to keep rising. Prices on canned goods have been significantly affected by this administration’s tariffs on steel and aluminum, and are expected to keep rising.
Tariffs have also had a big impact on the price of apparel, which is expected to go up almost 8% this year on clothes and shoes. And not to forget our smartphones, which have become just as much of a necessary fashion accessory as our clothes and shoes, are expected to jump to a $30 increase for lower-cost phones and $150 – $200 increase for premium phones. Yikes! These cost increases in smartphones, and computers, are being attributed to the frenzied expansion of AI, which apparently creates a memory chip shortage. Who knew that AI would have such negative impacts on civilization?
Oh, and it’s costing us all a lot more this year to keep our homes warm or cool, not live in the dark, keep our food refrigerated, cook, bathe, do our laundry, watch television and keep our internet streaming as the cost of our utilities has already gone up almost 10% this year.
Inflation has not ended at all no matter what we are told to believe. The current inflation rate is 3.3%. All American families are trying to survive higher prices on just about everything as nothing much is going down in price. Oh, wait . . . eggs, coffee and weight-loss drugs are expected to get less expensive this year. Yay! So we’ll all be able to eat breakfast then inject ourselves to eliminate the calories we just ate. Make America Great Again. So, are we there yet? And, if you think we are, I ask who you think America has gotten great again for? Because I’m pretty sure at this point, our government has turned all of us into “the forgotten men and women of America.”
Well done! While every thing you said is painfully obvious to sane Americans, it’s good to get it out there. And thanks for just picking 3 points. Of the hundreds (or thousands) of legitimate ones these are the ones that should top the list for the ones that voted red-hat. Ugh, such stupid dummies.
You are absolutely correct. America is objectively, by all standards, worse off now than it was 1 year ago. We are less secure and everyday life costs more with no end in sight. We live in constant uncertainty about our safety and future due to a hateful child ruining our nation and no one having the courage or dignity to stop him.
Food costs more, gas costs more, hundreds of thousands have lost their jobs, we’re pulling away from NATO, our former allies are moving on without us, we are aligning with dictators and killing innocent children in Iran and fishermen in the Pacific.
America is not great, it’s devolving.
In line with #2 is this:
“In last November’s National Security Strategy, he [trump] added, “The days in which the Middle East dominated American foreign policy in both long-term planning and day-to-day execution are thankfully over.”
🤣 😭 💀
I laugh to keep from crying.
Free link to article quoted:
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/03/opinion/iran-us-empire.html?unlocked_article_code=1.gFA._RAF.GBbco5zXUcCn&smid=url-share
America Is Officially an Empire in Decline
The American-Israeli attack on Iran was more than a bad idea; it has turned into a watershed in the decline of the American empire.
Just out of curiosity, what has the writer of this opinion piece done to make it better? What have any of you done to make things better? Let’s post some positives and get the change for better started.
I will start. I volunteer locally, donate when I can, and help those who need it no matter who they voted for. Is it too little, yes, but will I work to do more, absolutely. Who’s next?
The writer wrote this article. It’s spot on and quite well done.It gives plenty of readers a reason to take pause if they lean red-hat. Wow, saying that out loud just made me laugh. The stupid dummies would only pause to listen to their dear leader. I guess it’s more for the stupid dummies that are on the line to graduate to just stupid. That could be you!! Keep it up!!!
ZEKE – merely by writing this article, the author has done something to try to make America better. As you may or may not know, the average American does not make policy, laws, or really do anything that can stop Trump from steamrolling us into a 3rd world joke. If all we can do is help others become aware of the reality of this awful situation we’re in, that is still doing something.
That’s nice of you to help others. Why do you assume no one else does? Those of us who work in certain industries, such as renewable energy, environmental law, feeding/housing the homeless, public education, etc, work every day to make this nation better, despite being shut down left and right by a traitorous toddler who has some unfounded fear of progress, safety and clean air.
Very naive and pompous of you to chastise others like this.
They provided a summary of the current administration’s broken promises and failures so that voters can be more informed in upcoming elections.
That’s off topic zeke, but we all do nice things locally, most of us anyway.
ZekeW – first, thank you for taking the time to read my article and comment. Second, I don’t typically respond to comments on my opinions because I believe that everyone is entitled to their opinions and those opinions certainly do not have to agree with mine. Your local volunteer work, donations and helping others in need are all commendable and much needed, so thank you. The one important thing that you forgot to mention, the most important thing, in my opinion, that we can all do to “make it better” is to vote in every election – local, state and federal. And not just vote but vote smart by thoroughly educating ourselves on every candidate, regardless of party. Follow the money and learn who these candidates are supported by and who they are now indebted to. Then learn about the agendas of those persons and corporations supporting these candidates and what they stand for. I am not affiliated with any political party and never vote “the party line” but rather vote for the candidate I feel, based on my research, is transparent with their donation sources and has the best interests of all Americans in mind and not only those who donate to and vote for him or her.
Voting is the only real voice we, the people, have in this country to control our futures and those of our children and grandchildren. Yes, we have the constitutional right to peacefully protest our government but my theory is to vote smart every time to avoid having to protest later when it’s too late. And our right to peaceful protest is quickly being eroded as is our constitutional right to free speech while our leaders, both Democrat and Republican, are letting it happen. And now this administration is chipping away at our constitutional voting rights. So to answer your question of “what has the writer of this opinion piece done to make it better?”, I educate myself on candidates and issues then VOTE in every single election at every level because while everything you listed is necessary and needed, unless all Americans get truly involved in our voting process by educating themselves and voting, the rest of it isn’t not going to be enough.
That’s a derailing off-topic non sequitur hostile troll comment, Zeke.
Wait until MAGAcans realize Trump is crashing the world economy – based on ego and being a fool. Most of the world’s fertilaiztion products come thru the Strait. Wait until the world food supply is in a shambles.
GT – Even if there is cold, hard proof with undeniable video evidence that Trump destroyed our nation, these stupid fools will still support him. They are either truly imbeciles or truly so evil that they accept fascism, hate and failure as long as it means “owning the libs.”
I keep waiting for that “told you so” moment, but his die hard supporters will never realize anything.
Brother, it’s all about money and destroying America. America could never be destroyed from with-out – only from within. Putin is the master and dear leader is a willing subordinate doing the masters bidding and then some. How people don’t it just makes me…. wait, duh, stupid dummies. How could I forget that for even a Planck length of time. The billionaires have already stolen all they can for now. The plan is to crash it all (depression) and then they buy it all up for pennies on the dollar. Wait, there are no more pennies – so it’ll just be free to them. I’d suggest everyone get very, very frugal and keep an eye on your retirement. In the next 6-12 months it’s all gonna hit the fan.