寡頭的危險

不久前，我寫了關於寡頭的危險，這是由富人經營的政府。

Not long ago I wrote about the dangers of an oligarchy, which is a government run by and for the wealthy. The dangers are found in various forms of corruption. Corruption is the great temptation of people with power.

不久前，我寫了關於寡頭的危險，這是由富人經營的政府。危險以各種形式的腐敗發現。腐敗是有權力的人的巨大誘惑。

The Founding Fathers gave us a democracy, which is especially equipped to prevent corruption through free speech, free press, and free assembly followed by election of those found to be non-corrupt and able leaders.

開國元勳們給了我們一個民主國家，特別有能力通過言論自由，自由新聞和自由集會來防止腐敗，然後選舉被認為是非腐敗和有能力的領導人的人。

Blatant and crass corruption began appearing very soon in Trump’s current presidency and it is important to make it known. Trump is offering a White House tour and private dinner to the top 220 investors in his personal $TRUMP meme coin. He launched the coin on Jan. 17, three days before his inauguration. The price of the coin initially spiked to $74, but dropped to only $8 the beginning of April. However, the value went back up upon news that the biggest $TRUMP holders get a dinner with the president of the United States.

特朗普現任總統職位很快就開始出現公然和粗魯的腐敗，這一點很重要。特朗普在他的個人$特朗普犯罪硬幣中向前220名投資者提供白宮遊覽和私人晚餐。他於1月17日開始就職典禮前三天發射了硬幣。硬幣的價格最初飆升至74美元，但4月初僅下降至8美元。但是，這個價值重新獲得了新聞，即最大的$特朗普持有人與美國總統共進晚餐。

This mind-boggling corruption tells the world that access to the president is available to anyone who wants to line his pockets. During his campaign for the presidency, Trump offered oil and gas executives to cut government regulations in exchange for $1 billion. These are examples of how power, especially the power of the head of the government, can be a means of making money.

這種令人難以置信的腐敗告訴世界，任何想在自己的口袋裡排隊的人都可以使用總統。在擔任總統的競選期間，特朗普向石油和天然氣管理人員提供了削減政府法規，以換取10億美元。這些是權力，尤其是政府負責人的力量如何成為賺錢的手段的例子。

Corruption has its effect on those least able to help themselves. In order to save money so that he can cut costly regulations on the wealthy, Trump has removed all support for USAID, which prevents poor children from starving and helps numerous people with serious health problems. Trump funding cuts are even threatening Meals on Wheels, a lifeline for many seniors.

腐敗對那些能夠自我幫助的人有影響。為了節省金錢，以便他可以削減有關富人的昂貴法規，特朗普取消了對美國國際開發署的所有支持，這阻止了貧窮的孩子餓死，並幫助許多患有嚴重健康問題的人。削減特朗普的資金甚至威脅著車輪上的餐點，這是許多老年人的生命線。

The planned cuts to Medicaid will take away health care from millions of low-income people. About 60% of nursing home residents are covered by Medicaid, and the GOP’s planned cuts will shut down many rural hospitals and clinics. Trump wants to eliminate FEMA, which was very important in aiding the recovery from Tropical Storm Helene here in Western North Carolina and will be important in aiding future areas bound to be hit by hurricanes.

計劃中的醫療補助將從數百萬低收入人士那裡獲得醫療保健。大約60％的養老院居民被醫療補助覆蓋，共和黨的計劃削減將關閉許多農村醫院和診所。特朗普想消除FEMA，這對於幫助北卡羅來納州西部熱帶風暴海倫的恢復非常重要，對於幫助未來的地區必然會受到颶風的打擊，這將非常重要。

Trump has recently shut down Head Start programs, which provide early education assistance and food for many children of low-income families, along with school lunches. All that has been said shows that corruption in the government that gives special favors and access and privileges to the rich has practical effects. These include reducing aid to those in society who need special help so they can make use of opportunities to maintain their health and obtain the integration that will enable them to rise from poverty.

特朗普最近關閉了Head Start計劃，該計劃為許多低收入家庭的兒童以及學校午餐提供了早期的教育援助和食物。所說的所有內容都表明，政府腐敗給予富人的特殊優惠，獲得和特權具有實際影響。這些包括減少需要特殊幫助的社會的人的援助，以便他們可以利用機會來維持自己的健康，並獲得使他們能夠從貧困中崛起的融合。

Because power and wealth so often bring corruption and corruption brings suffering to many, especially those least able to help themselves, our democracy is heavily dependent on the freedom of individuals and organizations to investigate and publicize the corruption they uncover.

由於權力和財富經常帶來腐敗和腐敗給許多人帶來痛苦，尤其是那些最不能力的人，我們的民主在很大程度上取決於個人和組織的自由，以調查和宣傳他們發現的腐敗。

The press and academic institutions must have freedom to find and publicize the corruption that those committing acts of corruption inevitably seek to hide. We already see the attempts of Trump to control the press and academia in their important work to publicize the truth. A major expression of opposition has already appeared in the numerous large protests to both Trump and his “first buddy” Elon Musk that are seen across America. However, individuals must also be brave to stand against both corruption and the attempts to silence exposure of corruption that people may not see.

新聞界和學術機構必須自由地尋找並宣傳那些犯下腐敗行為的腐敗不可避免地會尋求隱藏的腐敗。我們已經看到了特朗普在宣傳真相的重要工作中控制新聞和學術界的嘗試。反對派的主要表達已經出現在特朗普和他在美國各地看到的“第一個夥伴”埃隆·馬斯克的眾多大型抗議活動中。但是，個人還必須勇敢地反對腐敗和沈默人們可能看不到的腐敗的企圖。

The rise of authoritarianism in Trump’s presidency and its followers in the Republican Party is felt in the various attempts to extend control over others. It can even be felt in the supposed machoism and “tough man” expressions against those they call “radical left liberals.” The “party of fiscal responsibility” and “national security” has lost the empathy for suffering people that is necessary in a good government. Cruelty became a political strategy. The necessary strategy for Americans is elevation of the truth through the freedoms of speech, press, assembly, and in academia. In addition to making money, the corrupt seek control of the truth that exposes them.

特朗普總統任期及其在共和黨的追隨者中的威權主義的興起是為了擴展對他人的控制的各種嘗試。甚至可以在所謂的男子主義和“強硬的人”表達中對他們稱為“激進的左自由主義者”的表達。 “財政責任黨”和“國家安全黨”因遭受良好政府必要的人而失去了同情心。殘酷成為一項政治戰略。美國人的必要策略是通過言論，新聞，集會和學術界的自由來提升真理。除了賺錢之外，腐敗還尋求控制暴露它們的真理。

The Rev. Robert L. Montgomery, Ph.D., lives in Black Mountain.

羅伯特·L·蒙哥馬利牧師（Robert L. Montgomery）博士居住在黑山。