The Art of the Con

By Ruth A. Sheets

I support several threads on the Substack platform and regularly respond to people’s comments.  I responded to a recent comment by Mary Trump on her Substack thread “The Good In Us,” about people being conned into supporting Donald Trump, who has no clue.  I wrote the following (with a few updates).

It is truly sad so many Americans would prefer to blindly follow an old man with dementia than stop to think  then ask, why.  Trump has been a con artist all his life, nothing new. 

I suppose the conning art has been with us from the beginnings of humanity.  We learn about it over time through actions we would consider ridiculous.  But, the cons got more sophisticated over the centuries, or rather  the artists procured more assistants who can modify the message to suit the tastes of whoever is being targeted.  Right now, Trump’s targets are vulnerable people being used by corporations, men of wealth, and a political system that promotes grift that catches people in its nets set out here to snare those who have grievances. 

The “catch” happens often when power resides in the hands of totally unqualified folks who have been supported and popularized by men who have an agenda that includes power for themselves.  Those folks want an ignorant con artist, Donald Trump, to procure what they want.  Today's actors include the members of Trump's "cabinet," none of whom is qualified for the job they hold and none have the interests of the American people in mind.  Joined with them are the Steves, Miller and Bannon, JD Vance, and the rich fools:  Theil, Vought, Musk, and a bunch of other billionaires who believe themselves entitled because of some kind of brilliance they believe they have, also wanting a gigantic slice of the American pie. 

With so much control of our media held by wealthy corporate America, that vulnerable crowd can be courted hour after hour, with lies, disinformation, and gaslit to the Con's heart's content.  Those folks have been permitted to gain far too much wealth for their own good and ours.  They buy seats in Congress often for ignorant or inexperienced white folks who will do the bidding of the far too rich.  They have even gotten their supporters on our courts since there are no real qualifications for seats in our critical judiciary system or anything else related to our government.  Heck, they don't even have to know our Constitution, something we see proven daily.  

I wrote this response, wondering if there were anything we could do to cut the reach and power of the wealth being used against the American people for the benefit of some kind of oligarchic system that lets rich white men rule.  Such a system should be acceptable to no one!  However, over time, we have been courted with a host of programs glorifying rich folks, even their criminal behavior as though it were an entertainment in real life as in our media. We are not amused! (or entertained) 

Happy Halloween!  We certainly do have “evil” ghouls and goblins haunting our congress and nearly every part of our government right now.  It’s too bad we can’t just exorcize them!

MESSING WITH OUR HIGHER EDUCATION

 

By Ruth  A. Sheets

You have probably heard that the Trump Regime is asking nine U.S. universities to sign an agreement pledging to uphold the regime’s higher education priorities, or risk losing out on a range of grants and other financial assistance for the university’s research and other programs, and it is likely those are just the first.  That is a kind of blackmail and totally unacceptable. 

So far, 5 universities have said “”NO,” but 4 still have not responded.  I just learned Vanderbilt, my alma mater,  is one of those universities being “offered” this compact and has not responded.

The major stipulations are not items any government should be demanding of any educational institution at any level.

According to Wikipedia, Key Demands of the Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education include:

• Capping international undergraduate students at 15% of the total student body.

• Freezing tuition rates for five years. (the only one that could be good)

• Adopting policies that prevent the belittling of conservative ideas and ensure First Amendment rights are upheld on campus.

• Implementing admissions practices that do not consider sex, ethnicity, race, nationality, political views, or other similar factors.

View source at wikipedia.org …

I had heard, but not been able to confirm that Vanderbilt was talking about ditching their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in student acceptance.  I received an email from Chancellor Daniel Diermeier this evening.  Here is the final paragraph of that email.

Vanderbilt believes deeply in the power of constructive dialogue, particularly among people of differing views and perspectives. This is often how the greatest progress is made.  We look forward to continuing the conversation—on our campus and with leaders in government and higher education—as we work toward our shared goal of restoring public trust in higher education and ensuring that America’s universities remain the best in the world.  

It sounds to me as though compliance is in the offing.  The following is my response to the email.  
 

Hello Vanderbilt Administration” 

I noticed in this email that students were only mentioned at the very end along with parents and alumni as commenters.  It seems to me that there should be some students involved in the compact discussion.  I am sure you are aware that this is not a compact at all, but a desire of those who have no idea what they are doing, to force colleges and Universities to do the bidding of those who have no clue but want power over and compliance in advance from those institutions. 

I am sure you know this, so I don’t understand this talk about sharing different points of view.  When, in a democracy, one side wants to take over the universities, media, education in general and pretty much everything else, that is not differing points of view, that is “Truth” in the face of autocracy which is made up of lies, cheating, fraud, and dismissal of the thoughts, needs, and beliefs of others.  In this case, for this regime pumping out something as appalling as this “compact” the only folks worth listening to are rich, white, pseudochristian, “straight” men.  To the regime, the rest of us are irrelevant, worthy of only being bossed around by and made subservient to those rich white etc. men.  If you are not sure of that, this Saturday’s “No Kings” rallies and marches should have let you know. 

 I admit I will be very disappointed, perhaps even quite angry if Vanderbilt submits to this undemocratic, unamerican nonsense by Trump and his project 2025ers, all done for their own gains and the gains of their billionaire sponsors, and election buyers. 

Signed, Ruth Sheets, Vanderbilt 1975 & 1988         

 I don’t know if this will have an impact, I’m guessing not because it seems only the Administration and a few department heads will be making the decision.  I hope enough students, parents, and alums have told them we do not want compliance; We want defiance!

WHAT DEMOCRATS ARE UP AGAINST AND CAN DO!

By Ruth A. Sheets

Have you noticed that Trump is pumping up hatred even beyond what he has done in the past?  I suspect it is because he and his crew are recognizing that people are not supporting him 100%, even mocking him. 

Trump’s toddler pool of some of the worst of America: Steve Miller, Russell Vought, the incompetent cabinet, congressional AND STATE Republican LEGISLATORS, and the Supreme Court Roberts 6, are trying to steer this ship to fascism with them in charge. That way, they and their billionaire string-pullers can get even more power and money.  Unfortunately, they are proving they’ll do whatever it takes to get it (except actual work on their part).  One of their current weapons is using Trump's known hatreds to do actual harm to our nation’s Democratically run cities and states.

Trump’s “crew” is a cesspool of whiny white boys who must not have had enough bullying in their lives already and at a high enough level that they have to make sure they get a lot of practice for their Baby Donnie, a bully who like many bullies is a coward.

For the toddler pool, it's like playing a war video game with no actual risk to themselves. However as anyone who is paying attention can tell you, if it were a real video game, their character would be dead from incompetence.

In real life, the REGIME KEEPS on keeping on because they have a lot of MAGA sympathizers, people who choose ignorance, compliance, and subservience, to thinking, considering, and principles. OK, a moral compass is also missing and that is pretty important for navigating politics and well, life itself.

The old Democratic structure and practices will not work in the face of this onslaught.  We need a strong different, positive  approach with ideas and practices that will catch the attention of people who don’t like what is going on AND KNOW THEY DESERVE BETTER. 

• We will benefit from a shadow government with those “fired” federal experts, keeping track of what the Trump Klan does not want known.  These are enormously talented people who  could step in to monitor what is HAPPENING, with systems they previously USED.
• Follow court cases and provide information to those standing for clients against the regime. 
• There must be young people and some older folks too who know computer systems and can counter some of the damage being done to our government systems.  Get them involved!, 
• We will benefit from a powerful media online and over the airwaves who will get the truth out to people across the country, countering the constant lying of this regime.  We can use some catchy tunes promoting our democracy and scorning/MOCKING the regime. 
• We need more anti-MAGA artwork everywhere with a clear purpose.
• More people need to visit museums and historical sites that celebrate the people Trump and his Klan hate.   
• Teachers must tell students the truth carefully while encouraging the students to research and think for themselves when they hear something said then recognize the students’ efforts.
• Push civics lessons from kindergarten onward that teach about rights and responsibilities in a democracy using cartoons, movies, graphic and other novels, plays, books, art, and more, culminating in a high school course that ties together what has been learned throughout the public school years, MAKING IT INTERESTING AND IMPORTANT.
• Buy “banned” books and get reviews out everywhere of those books
• Show up next Saturday for the “No Kings” rally #2 wherever you are or are willing to go!  It is important.  Help others to get out there too.
• Keep going with the petitions, phone calls, in-person connections with representatives, and anything else that comes to mind to let folks know how we feel and what we think should be done.  Maybe post this list asking for additional ideas for things we can do.

We can do this if we have the will and choose to find people to provide the leadership (or step UP ourselves), and look for support at all levels.  The leaders are out here and they are of all ages and backgrounds!  We need you, “Come out come out wherever you are!”