BILLIONS AND BILLIONS AND BILLIONS...

Is the United States Turning Into A Third World Autocracy?

So I wrote a post in the morning a few days ago on Facebook (which, my son tells me, is for old people, and I guess he must be correct) I had about ten minutes and just wanted to get something off my chest… and it went a bit viral. Which always happens when I’m not thinking about it, of course, and writing fast and sloppy. I’ll share it here. Forgive me if you’ve read it already. There’s also an update at the end.

Here’s the original post, both on Facebook and the text below. I kept the grammar errors, too, because, hell, it’s too late now.

Tourism brings the United States about 100 billion dollars a year. Yeah, 100 billion. The economies of many of our states are centered on tourism. Right now, reports say it's already falling about 70 percent—yeah, 70 and climbing.

It's not simply that outsiders are deciding to spend their money elsewhere; they are, but many are also being denied tourist visas (especially from South America). That's a lot of money.

Student visas bring approximately 50 billion dollars a year to the USA. People who wish to come here to study at our schools and learn about us and our culture. That's cratering, big time.

I mean, would you feel safe sending your kid to a nation where masked Nazi ICE agents could snatch them off the street with no explanation and send them to El Salvador?

You know those college sports teams YOU LOVE. That you build your life around? How many of those teams have students here on a student visa? Many. Not for much longer.

That doesn't even factor in the foreign students who come here to study and stay to devote their lives and careers here, becoming doctors, lawyers, engineers, pilots, and teachers. They make a lot of money here that gets taxed and spent here. Billions more.

Let's not forget talent visas. Many of your favorite actors come from other nations. The first actor to get paid 20 million dollars for a movie was Jim Carrey, a Canadian. Now, there are reports of actors going back home and being held by ICE simply because they're Canadian. I don't think folks comprehend how many of our favorite performers, athletes, and artists are from there.

America is a brand that says anyone can come here and build a beautiful life and make money. It's a land of gorgeous scenery and amazing opportunities, which is how we became such a wealthy nation. People believed that because it was true.

That brand is being destroyed in a very short time—all because a couple of news channels lied to you about the price of eggs. All because too many were pot-invested in a convicted fraud. You were lied to, and I suggest you cease paying attention to those news sources who lied. Fox News. Newsmax. Rogan.

From an ethical point of view, all of the above is awful.

But from an economic point of view, for those who claim it's all about good business and the economy, it's also awful. You (those who support these policies) are destroying your own economy.

Yeah, the tariffs are going to do that, too, but the above is also happening now, in real time. It's not too late.

There's a narrow majority in both houses. The GOP controls it, yeah, but only by a slight margin. You must convince two or three of them that this madness must stop now. They have to impeach him because he won't listen (he's never, ever listened to anyone about tariffs, which he's always had wrong), so get a couple of them to sack up, and he can be gone. Flood their offices with calls and protests, keep telling them (as I know many are) to do their jobs. Swing them. Many want to be swung. They just need to be assured that they won't lose their voters.

But it's on those of you who voted for the GOP.

They won't listen to us.

Also, those of you who want to use this as a chance to bash Dems, do it somewhere else; I'm not interested. Yeah, there are issues and problems, but they're not the party responsible for what's happening right now, and when they are, I'll listen.

Otherwise, keep it on your page. I will hit back hard.

For better or worse, that’s what I wrote.

As far as I can tell, it went a bit viral, and I wanted to add to this. People in my life have already told me about friends and relatives who want to visit them here, but they have been turned back and denied a tourist visa. Denied. From Canada. And other nations. It’s pretty awful and nasty. And then we have this story below:

DO YOU REALLY WANT TO GIVE YOUR MONEY TO THIS COUNTRY RIGHT NOW?

Read that story. Unbelievable. And there are plenty of other stories like hers.

So now we’re locking up cartoonists, actors, and tourists for weeks for no reason whatsoever? This is some sick Orwell shit, right here.

I don’t want this space to be about politics; it’s the last thing I’d like to write about and share with you. Usually, I keep that on FB, if at all. But this is horrifying. In three months, we’re tanking the respect our nation has around the world and punching ourselves in our own dick in the process.

I know that two or three GOP senators aren’t enough to remove an impeached president, but two or three GOP reps in the House can get it started, and given the failure of this tariff weekend burn trillions party, more are likely to want to jump on.

Because not EVERYONE in that party is stupid enough to keep punching themselves in the dick, over and over again. And that’s what the USA is doing right now.

I want to return to sharing Jean Claude Van Damme's stories, discussing martial arts, and writing movies. I really do. Don’t you?

Stay safe out here, friends. Look out for your friends and neighbors. They’re all we have.

Also, if you can, please tip whatever you can spare to keep me writing. I’d appreciate it. These are challenging times for everyone, I know. If you can’t at this moment, just leave a comment wishing me well; that’s as valuable as cash. Take care.