June 26, 2026
Draconian
B
According to the Meriam-Webster Dictionary, “Draconian comes from Draco, the name of a 7th-century B.C. Athenian legislator who created a written code of law. Draco’s code was intended to clarify existing laws, but its severity is what made it really memorable. According to the code, even minor offenses were punishable by death, and failure to pay one’s debts could result in slavery. Draconian, as a result, became associated with especially authoritative actions that are viewed as cruel or harsh”. Obviously, Draco did not think his “clarifications” of laws cruel or harsh, and neither does DJT: that’s just the way he does business. America is about to enter the era of Draco the 2nd (Draco II), aka Donald J. Trump 47.
For example, some would call the family separation policy implemented in Draco II’s first administration at the southern border draconian (where many families still have not, after years of separation, been reunited). Draco II now has an even more brilliant vision: who needs immigrants when you can solve immigration and provide cheap labor at the same time. Under this scenario, Draco II will “clarify” existing laws that then in debt by law suit (see below) or force opposition folks or those on his ever-expanding retribution list into untenable or impossible financial situations from which they cannot recover so that they can then replace the immigrants he plans to deport via Project 2025. Those suffering the consequences of Draco II’s “clarifications” can be turned into modern-day slaves when they can’t pay up or now find themselves on the wrong side of his laws; they will now able to perform the jobs that the newly-deported immigrants would have held. Voila, kill two birds with one stone! Some of the new slaves will also come from 1) the previous Medicaid recipients forced off Medicaid as it is gutted by the new Draco II administration, and 2) as those remaining on Medicaid are forced into work requirements in order to receive those benefits. Ain’t capitalism great, and clarifying, and flexible.
One of Draco II’s most powerful weapons to be used against his perceived enemies (now, probably, including me) will be the power of the lawsuit, the method similar to that expertly executed by Draco II mentor Victor Orban to crush democracy in Hungary. In an updated twist to this government-welded censoring and authoritarian process, lawsuititis will now also to be carried out by Draco II-supporting rich private citizens to aid in the crippling/enslavement process. Free speech in America is in jeopardy and may be about to come to an end. When Draco II’s DOJ and private lawsuiters sue everyone peacefully protesting, printing, blogging online, emailing, publicly commenting, or holding video meetings, etc. that are “clarified” as negative against Draco II, it’s game over for democracy. The unofficial fourth branch of government – a free press – is about to be morphed into state media. Welcome to the RBC (Russia Below Canada) news.
Another draconian example of capitalism-gone-amuck in America is the private, for-profit prison system developed in the last few decades, whose spokesperson just told industry stakeholders recently at their annual meeting that the election of Draco II will allow unprecedented growth in their industry, so much so that the industry could probably double in size within just a couple of years. As Draco II’s new administration kicks into high gear with his Department of Justice (DOJ) going after political opposition, so-called “deep state” members, and a perceived enemies list of people (authored by Kash Patel, Draco II’s nominee for FBI director), there will be plenty of occupants for the new prison housing as that industry exponentially grows. Some of those new occupants will be the extremely poor people recently cut off from government protections and now forced into committing crimes just in order to survive. Draco II will determine who’s on the naughty list from here on out. Make no mistake: American taxpayers will fund this process.
Another Draco II “clarification” includes ways to re-write history. One way is eliminating the federal Department of Education and thereby returning all education to local oversight whereby local prejudices and/or majority religious thought would determine what children are taught: so much for any children in the south learning that southern states started the American Civil War to 1) maintain slave labor for economic reasons, and 2) because they refused to agree with anti-slavery northern states who believed that all men are created equal. Another way is the push from GOP lawmakers to re-write what we all saw happen on Jan 6th by calling it a peaceful gathering of patriots trying to keep an injustice from happening instead of what it was: a violent attempt to overthrow the U.S. government at the behest of Draco II. What did you see happening?
This essay could go on for pages and pages, probably as many as the 916 pages of the Project 2025 document Draco II disavowed during the campaign but is now fully embracing and planning its implementation. So, to Draco II: liar, liar, pants on fire (sorry ladies, don’t take that the wrong way)!
Oh, but if you want to say or do anything to support (the convicted felon who is) Draco II, that will be OK and you’ll be on his “nice” list. The only question at this point is whether or not his followers will start thinking independently, critically, using factual truths to guide their actions, and stop continuously piling on factual untruths to cover over or support previous factual untruths (lie on top of lie on top of lie), or will they start getting fitted for their brownshirts, ready to aid in Draco II’s political pogroms? I and some others will probably soon start getting fitted for a striped shirt, or a brown shroud. It’s going to be interesting over the next few years as we really get to experience what true division, separation, hate, fearmongering, and retribution can really do to American democracy under the faux-leadership of Draco II.
Bob Bates’ editorial is his opinion and does not reflect the opinions of the Tullahoma News or its staff.
