Defeating the Kakistocratic Kleptocracy

Plus oligarchy, plutocracy, and organized crime

Let’s begin with definitions.

Oligarchy. Rule by the few
Plutocracy. Rule by the wealthy
Kakistocracy. Rule by the incompetent and morally unfit
Kleptocracy. Rule by those who use their power to steal nation's resources

Q. I am trying hard to keep up with the outrages of the Trump administration but it seems as if every day there’s something new to be furious about and I can’t keep track of the heinous actions of the days before. How can I stay focused and respond effectively?

A: I can answer this! In my undergraduate experimental psychology course I used operant conditioning to train a pigeon. The lab experience was predictable but an interesting byproduct was that I learned how to hypnotize a pigeon (to keep it still so you can pick it up): just quickly wave your hands back and forth in front of it. The overstimulation leads to neurological shutdown and a freeze state.

Don’t be a pigeon! We don’t need to attend to every vile action of Trump and his sycophants. Pick a lane, an issue area. Become an expert with something to back up your claim of expertise. Then become a frequent correspondent with your Congressional representatives.

For example, if you’re a health care professional, focus on changes to Medicaid and how budget cuts will affect health care in this or other ways. If you care greatly and know about some aspect of the climate crisis, same deal. I’ve long been committed to being a generalist and that is problematic for this political situation. I know I need to pick a lane.

Q: What percentage of Trump voters realize they made a terrible mistake?

A: Who can say? It’s difficult for most of us to admit serious mistakes in judgement. What matters most is whether buyer’s remorse affects their behavior in the midterms, seventeen months from now. It also matters whether some show up at town halls of their Republican congressional representatives and complain about cuts to Medicaid or ongoing high prices. As those town halls get publicized more Trump voters will feel OK about expressing disappointment. The country needs only 10% of Trump voters to acknowledge, at least to themselves, that they made a mistake.

Q. Speaking of midterms, are there any Democratic Congressional candidates deserving of early support?

A: Yes, indeed!

Midterm elections usually favor the “out” party - not the president’s. Given the spectacular demonstrations of kakistocratic kleptocracy that is the Trump administration, I think Dems will do especially well and gain the majority in the House. A senate majority seems likely out of reach.

In the House there are two categories of candidates who need our support. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee will designate “red to blue” House candidates who they consider most likely to flip a seat. Similarly, they will designate “frontline candidates,” Dem incumbents who face the toughest challenges. Later in the campaign season the DCCC will direct money from their general fund to those candidates.

Given likely Dem gains I’m more interested in “red to blue” candidates who could ride a blue wave into the House. Early money is like yeast so I want to get out in front of the DCCC and contribute early to candidates who are most likely to flip a seat. I am NOT focusing on those who best represent my politics. The goal is gaining a majority in the House so the qualities of the candidate are less important than the characteristics of the race.

Three candidates poised to flip seats are Rebecca Cooke (WI-3), Manny Rutinel (CO-8), and Marlene Galán Woods (AZ-1) Cook Political Report rates all three races as toss-ups. Cook Political Report

Cooke is a small business owner and works as a waitress while running for Congress. She was raised on a dairy farm in Eau Claire, was president of her high school’s 4-H club (!!), went to college at University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN, and came back to open Red’s Mercantile, a “lifestyle shop that engages + connects women through workshops, curated events + more. Carrying made in America clothing, accessories + modern home goods.” She turned Red’s into a business incubator for women, responsible for launching fifty small women-operated businesses. Gov. Tony Evers appointed her to the state’s economic development council because she’s a hard-working genius entrepreneur dedicated to empowering women.

She tried to unseat forced birther, freedom caucus member Derrick Van Orden in 2024 and came within 2.8%. Wisconsin is a high-turnout purple state so she will need $$ - she’s off to a good start.

[You can check on a candidate’s fundraising status at the Federal Elections Commission website - FEC. It’s tricky to navigate. Click on campaign finance tab, then raising, then candidates, then to search icon at House of Representatives candidates.]

https://cookeforwisconsin.com/en/

Manny Rutinel (30) is going after freshman rep. Gabe Evans who unseated Democratic freshman rep. Yadira Careveo in 2024 by 1%. Biden won the district by 3% in 2020; Trump by 2% in 2024. It’s that kind of district. It has a Cook PVI (partisan voter index) of EVEN, one of only 7 districts out of 435 that is that purple.

CO-8 is north/northeast of Denver and 39% Hispanic. Evans, a former cop and Army officer, is of Mexican descent. Rutinel was born in U.S. but raised by single mom in the DR until 6, then Florida. In high school MR worked at McDonald’s and regularly gave blood plasma (!!) to help support his family. B.S. in microbiology from U. of Florida, M.S. in applied economics from Johns Hopkins, J.D. from Yale Law School. Appointed to empty state house seat in 2023, elected unopposed in 2024.

https://www.mannyforcolorado.com/

Marlene Galán-Woods (59) is a former, long-time broadcast journalist in Phoenix, mother of five, and wife of her late husband Grant Woods, who served as Republican attorney general of Arizona from ‘91-’98. and switched parties after Trump’s election in 2016. MGW switched parties at the same time.

Her parents were Cuban immigrants - she is bilingual, a big factor in Arizona. She ran for AZ-1 in 2024 and finished third in the Dem primary. This year Democrats seem ready to nominate her. The Republican incumbent is ultra-MAGA David Schweikert who was elected in 2022 by less than 1% and re-elected in 20204 by 3.8%.

https://www.marleneforcongress.com/

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