Russell Vought is a major dick.
Back in October 2024, Russell Vought said his goal was to “traumatize” government workers and institutions. That stuck with me. I happen to know a thing or two about trauma. What did he mean?
What does Traumatize mean?
Duckai says: “Traumatized means being severely shocked or upset due to a distressing event, which can lead to lasting emotional pain. It often refers to individuals who have experienced significant trauma that affects their mental health.”
Trauma for me in my personal life has stunted growth. That is perhaps the main thing it has done. It shifts focus from things like learning and practice to survival. It’s hard to shift back, can verify. I can say, if your enemy is traumatized, they are not learning much.
With trauma comes thoughts of danger, mortality, morbid choices, and unpredictability. You’re not just going to write a tune exploring a different culture or whatever you do without serious work getting “un”-traumatized. For me, it’s a weakened state. Instinctual, not a lot of brain power. Glad for it years ago for helping me survive, but don’t need it that much these days.
Until some fucking republicans say they want to traumatize folks.
Before all this, I might have wished for republicans to be traumatized back. But I feel like if everyone could relax and learn some shit, we’d be fine. But there’s the rub, many folks are experiencing trauma. It ain’t gonna’ happen. Thanks, Russell Vought.
Russell Vought came by it honestly. He worked with a ruthless maverick senator from here in Texas named Phil Gramm. Then he turns around and works for Chuck Hagel from Nebraska. These were not nice dudes. I don’t think Russell is coming back from a dark place. But what about the rest of us?
Their plan, boiled down.
What they do, in a nutshell, is dumb you down and dope you up. Much like veal used to be, we’re fed, fattened, and caged. They don’t even need drugs. They just take our money and hand us one of these phones. Travel becomes almost impossible. Learning dies. Trauma is a state of immobility for me, often. Like a deer in the headlights. Much like looking at a phone. They tell you it’s a window to the world but I find it to be just a mirror of my preferences.
The struggle is real.
I’ve tried to get rid of mine, but I’m so lonely as it is. I already feel largely untethered. But I know it wastes time, energy, brain power. I’ll think of something. Has to change.
I think we all should be thinking about things to do besides protest, or get revenge (total fantasy, btw). What if we tried getting our mind back and our bearings out at sea here? I think that’s worth something. It’s funny how much more tolerable enemies are when I see them as victims too.
This goes back.
Politicians go back a long time with education and subjugation. They are not only happy to hack away at education for years and years ‘til folks can barely sign their name, now they’re adding trauma. One side does it, one side allows for it. If people were important to either side, this wouldn’t have happened for so long. People of the south, I mean. Inner cities too. Ironic those two groups historically don’t get along isn’t it?
Even in the Civil War, effort was made to traumatize slaves and not educate them. Their playbook is old as hell. But they know they do not stand a chance with a well-educated population. Rich white guys have been working for this a long time. Remember Gramm and Hagel I mentioned earlier?
The sad thought to me.
What’s sad to me is thinking about if both sides valued education for poor southern folks and inner city kids. What would that be like? Instead of a boot to the neck, we all got a leg up?? What if everyone could read? I’ve met lots of illiterate folks and it just breaks my heart. How could I wish that on strangers?
They’re fucking ruthless and tell them to quit it.
I don’t know why fascists are so ruthless, but they sure as shit are. Denying access to education for poor folks is their major bag. All other programs, plans, bills, press conferences, and appearances hinge on the audience not picking up things or having a frame of reference. That works for them. So they instill it.
If someone is in your corner…
If someone wants what’s best for you, they’ll help you go to school or improve your situation somehow. That’s the nicest thing they can do. Good luck getting that from fascists. They send you to therapy or the grave, and charge you out the nose for it.
Return to home.
I am including some pics of the new music space we have been working on. It’s the nicest place to make an album I’ve ever had. Music is buzzing right now. Glad for it.
Next time..
I am working on a review entry of “things I bought for bandcamp friday”.. might be today or tomorrow. It was a lot this time and there’s some really good stuff. I don’t want to miss anything. Take care -Kelly