On the back of Trump’s gigantic tax cut and unbridled spending, federal deficit spending ballooned 42% in the last quarter, an increase of over $300 billion over the same period last year.  It’s the same old, same old – Republicans continue to slash taxes, pushing wealth further and further to the top while lying that cutting taxes magically increases revenue.  It wasn’t true in under Reagan, Bush I, and Bush II; and it’s still not true under Trump.  As we continue to war make, and increase income inequality, the American infrastructure is crumbling around our ears.  The number of Americans without healthcare is again growing, education is floundering,  gun violence is increasing, and hate groups are on the rise.

On top of all this, the tax burden that working class Americans is increasing.  As of last week, tax refunds are down almost 9%, even though revenues are flat and wages are essentially flat.  Trump’s sleight of hand is now costing more for those least able to shoulder that burden while deficit spending continues unabated.  The GOP invertebrates in Congress are doing nothing to check this president.

Eight days into The Trump Shutdown where 800,000 federal employees are either furloughed without pay or still working without pay, Trump decided to add insult to injury by signing an executive order stripping away a 2.1% pay raise that was coming on January 1.  He cited “fiscal sustainability” as his reason, this after blowing a gigantic trillion dollar hole in the budget by ramming through an unseeded and cynical tax cut for his billionaire donors in 2017.  Happy New Year.

If you’re a federal employee and voted for this carnival barker, you’re getting what you deserve.  The rest of you, I’m sorry he’s been inflicted on you and the rest of us normal people.