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Tennessee Republican State Representative Monty Fritts, who is considering a run for governor, hasproposed legislationthat would place women in such a condition who have had abortions in the electric chair. Republican policy has already resulted in the deaths of hundreds of pregnant women: those living in a red state with an abortion ban (nearly all of them) aremore than double the chance of dyingduring pregnancy or shortly after giving birth compared to women residing in states where abortion is permitted.

The core idea behind America’s establishment isfreedom, a term that has served as a guiding principle for the Republican Party since the time of Ronald Reagan. Thomas Jefferson articulated what his era meant by that term when he wrote in the Declaration of Independence:

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Nevertheless, today all three of these rights that guarantee the conditions for freedom — “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” — are being challenged by Trump and his Republican allies.

So much for “Life”: Masked, armed immigration enforcement officers havemurderedtwo American residents and several immigrants on the streets of our nation in the initial weeks of this year, and women aredyingin Republican states due to inadequate healthcare as conservative legislators replace their fixation on regulating women’s bodies with the decisions made by medical professionals.

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An estimated 50,000Americans—men, women, and children—pass away each year in this nation due to insufficient medical care (and an additional 500,000 families are)wiped outdue to bankruptcy) as Republicans are unwilling to even contemplate a national healthcare system, which every other developed nation in the world has implemented.

Or “Liberty”: Trump’s hidden police force is creating lists of individuals who have demonstrated against them, frequently breaking into front doors and car windows, and detaining people without the warrants mandated by the Fourth Amendment, and are now alsodemanding— once again, without judicial warrants — requiring all major social media companies to provide information on anyone who has criticized ICE online. It seems that all the companies are complying due to fear that Trump might take action against them.

Or “the pursuit of Happiness”Two full generations have been burdened by student loan debt since the end of the Reagan era, which eliminated free or affordable higher education in the United States; only roughly one in ten Americans are covered by union protections since the Republican Party initiated a campaign against labor unions in 1981; and while you and I face income tax rates nearing 50 percent in certain states, billionaires and major corporations pay almost nothing.

Our ability to be informed about events occurring globally and within our governmentis facing attacks from an administration that mirrors Stalin’s “enemy of the people” and Hitler’s “Lugenpresse” (“lying press” or “fake news”) rhetoric, as it sues and detains journalists such as Don Lemon for performing their duties. Support for NPR/PBS was cut, while Trump simultaneously handed over the battle for foreign information to Russia by dismantling the Voice of America.

Our right to live without being harmed is being threatened by Trump’s administration, which is weakening safeguards for clean air and water. while Bob Kennedy cheerleadsThe increasing manufacture of carcinogenic herbicides, such as glyphosate, by Trump.

Our right to vote is being directly attacked by Republicans seeking to remove people from the voter registration list.Women who altered their names upon marriage, along with literally hundreds of minor assaults on our voting rights in Red states.

Our ability to live without the fear of our homes being damaged by severe weather has disappeared., as Trump and his Republican allies dismantle our safeguards against greenhouse gases, eliminate Biden’s renewable energy initiatives, and revive costly coal for power generation.

Our ability to be represented by individuals that most Americans desire in positions of power is also restricted.: as reporter Greg Palast highlights, if the 4+ million citizens who were removed from the voter rolls or had their votes disputed and therefore not counted in the 2024 election had been allowed to vote, we would have Kamala Harris as president and a Democratic-controlled House, and possibly even a Democratic Senate.

Our ability to reside in a peaceful world has been undermined.Under Republican leadership, we were led into conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan through deception, and now they are hinting at war with Iran. Meanwhile, they continue to raise military budgets while claiming financial hardship when it comes to addressing the needs of workers and their communities.

Our right to reside in a country free from dishonestyhas been ruined by the most corrupt government in the history of the United States. Tom Homan accepting a $50,000 bribe. Pam Bonditaking a $25,000 bribe. Kristi Noem and her partner (both in relationships with others) traveling at public cost in a luxurious “flying brothel” 737 featuring two comfortable bedrooms. Trump’s and Witkoff’s childrenmaking billionsagainst corrupt agreements while “representing America” abroad.

Our liberty to have a stable economy free from the influence of the excessively wealthy has disappeared., as the tax reductions under Reagan, Bush, and Trump have led to a $38 trillion national debt. We currently pay more in interest on the national debt—over a trillion dollars annually—than it would take to address many of the issues related to homelessness, student debt, and healthcare in this country. All of this while over $50 trillion could have been shifted from the middle class to the Epstein billionaire group over the past 40 years.

The freedom of our children to have a safe and secure childhood has been destroyed.decades of Republican loyalty to their donors in the arms industry; children are frequently placed in a state of fear by active shooter exercises at their schools and the awareness that in America — and only in America — bullets could begin flying at any time, anywhere.

Our entitlement to religious liberty — and libertyfrom religion, too — faces constant daily attacksby affluent Christian nationalist zealots and double standards exemplified by “Whiskey Pete” Hegseth imposing radical Christianity on our military and states mandating the Ten Commandments in their own schools. (A list of commandments that haveall has been breached by our current president.)

Even some of our professionals are experiencing a loss of their liberties: Trump is now threateningPublicly listed Netflix faces “consequences” if they do not remove former Obama administration official Susan Rice from their board. He is demanding millions in “donations” and “gifts” from corporate CEOs while earning billions for himself and his corrupt family. Meanwhile, small businesses nationwide are being overwhelmed by monopolies that have thrived under 45 years of Reagan-era policies.

When wealthy American elites and their conservative media allies talk about “freedom,” they refer to freedom from taxes and rules so they can become wealthier and harm the planet for financial gain, while deliberately suppressing workers. They demand an end to personal and corporate accountability, but solely for their own benefit.

Freedom is not just a phrase (even though Republicans have misused it for many years): it emerges from the everyday lives of ordinary individuals.

If Americans can no longer experience safety within their bodies and homes, confidence in their votes, stability in the economy, and trust in education and healthcare, then Jefferson’s “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” will once again be seen as ideals rather than realities.

It seems to be precisely the way the neofascists who have seized control of the GOP desire.

Pass it on…

・Thom Hartmann is a bestselling author featured in the New York Times andSiriusXM talk show host. His You can find Substack here.