1. United States
2. Texas
3. Letter

The Trump administration has provided a great service to America. They have exposed every single crack in our foundation that allows nefarious behavior. They operate in a world where actions might not violate the letter of the law exactly, but that definitely violate any code of fairness or moral character. The ends justify the means in any situation. Laws are just roadblocks to be gotten around. Codes of ethics are for losers. Government agencies are to be used for personal gain. Or protection. Or revenge. And we the people are just another flock to be fleeced by the ultimate cult leader. This is why we have been so slow to not believe our lying eyes. Because most of us do not operate in such a blood-thirsty cut-throat no-holds-barred environment. We assume leadership mostly tries to work within established norms. Because they are worried about appearances if nothing else. But we got what we voted for…a businessman. People don’t necessarily get rich being nice guys. And as we’re always told, elections have consequences. And we’re living those consequences. So when a scrupulous-deficient businessman, aka current President of the US, discovers that Presidents are exempt from a conflict-of-interest law that prohibits federal employees from taking action in their official roles that would benefit their personal finances-and that there is also no legal requirement requiring a sitting president to give up a financial benefit because of a potential conflict-what did we imagine would happen? We’ve found out exactly what happens. A party in the Oval. The president’s, and his family’s, wealth explodes. Insider trading. Quid-pro-quo. Nudge nudge wink wink deals. Extortion. Intimidation. And banishment, or worse, attacks by the Trump DOJ, for those who won’t play the game. And we mustn’t forget all the end runs around Congress, once a co-equal branch of government. But now just another rubber stamp office for the president. And when you do make some attempt to bring some order to chaos, he figures out how to make you lose your jobs, publicly humiliate you, or just plain ignore you. And if you don’t believe that to be true, look at the rubble that used to be the East Wing. Look at the bid for a slush fund to pay off insurrectionists. Look at the war in Iran. Look at the seizing of national landmarks and/or monuments being Trumpafied, or even built for personal aggrandizement while y’all stand around like ineffectual bystanders. Look at the multitude of things he does just because he can. And no one seems equipped to stop him. Except, hopefully, maybe, possibly, the court system that lies outside the reach of the White House. While we the people look at the giant cage fight being erected outside the front door of the White House, ostensibly to celebrate our country’s 250th BD, and despair of how cheap, tawdry, and tacky the face of America has become. A second-rate carnival with a vengeful barker. But maybe future lawmakers will have the fortitude to make sure that if another amoral person somehow is elected president, this kind of major corruption and despoiling of the country will not be allowed to happen ever again. It’s just sad that legislation is necessary in order to make a President behave. Maybe the president needs to read one of his bibles.