Aristophanes Laughs


The "No Kings" protests were ludicrous.  Those who have no love for the Greek playwright can scarcely comprehend the forces which are currently buffeting our Republic.   

Aristophanes laughs, and reminds us that "Whirl is King".  And this whirl is not the same as the whorl of a fingerprint.  Neither is it the whirl/whorl  of the current administration which has brought all of the current forces to bear in crashing and clanging manner upon our economy. That which preceded President Trump is still unleashing injurious impact across our thresholds. 

Not all of the statistics below will be current because of the government shutdown.  But 153,074 jobs were slashed by employers in October - up 175 percent from a year ago - soaring to a twenty-two year high. This will be a lean Christmas season for many Americans.  What is meant to be a joyous season will be reduced to one of great emotional distress.

Taking a look back at history, President George W Bush signed TARP legislation on 3 October 2008 to salvage failing financial institutions - hence preserving his legacy.  His father,  President  H. W. Bush also signed  significant financial rescue legislation in 1989 (FIRREA).  Father and son, both provided for robust  bailouts.  George W. never acted like he had an original thought in his head.  But I considered him a decent man. 

I do retain a distinct and unpleasant memory of being on a flight to Washington, D.C. after the Bush II bailout and listening to businessmen in front of me discussing the potential for gain.  Essentially, pull out every project ever submitted to the Federal Branch which was rejected, re-work it... and let's get our hands on that damn money.  A buoyed economy also presents as grand opportunity for profiteering.

So where do we stand today?

Real average hourly earnings for all employees increased 0.7 percent from August 2024 to August 2025. A one-time yearly COLA (cost of living adjustment) may also be insufficient to meet rising cost for housing, utilities, and food.

The news is also dismal from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.  It almost reads like we live in Burkina Faso... or Togo. Americans are suffering.

But my greatest concern is reserved for Americans who must secure multiple jobs to keep their heads above water.  Without secondary employment (what are known as "side hustles") these individuals will be economically waterboarded out of existence.  Women, are outpacing men, in seeking out a second job. How many, are single mothers?  And who is caring for their children?

I have a niece who is single and  35 years of age.  She leaves for work at 06:30 and returns home at 22:30 five days a week.  Her living space?  Five hundred square feet of "home" behind a residence in Dallas.   Once she is free of a monthly car payment she can ditch the second job.  But this has been her life for two years now.  She is being waterboarded.  Who cares about Wendy... and the other women working their way toward greater insignificance with each lousy paycheck?  And who can even think about sex, when you are worried about your nex' meal?  How many adults remain  social cadets, incapable of even considering marriage because economy does not support family? How many young adults are still living in their childhood bedrooms?

Aristophanes laughs and whirl is king.  But if Americans experience a few more "whorls" from the current administration, all of us will point at the fingerprint of the current administration as the architect of our loss of hope.  The mid-terms might prove bloody.

Unless President Trump can improve the standard of living for average Americans, and until his campaign promises step across our thresholds to improve our daily lives - Aristophanes laughs.


https://www.dailymail.co.uk/yourmoney/article-15266313/america-job-layoffs-ai-cost-cutting-holiday-sacking-taboo.html

https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2025/real-average-hourly-earnings-increased-0-7-percent-from-august-2024-to-august-2025.htm

https://www.bls.gov/news.release/realer.nr0.htm

https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/LNS12026620


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