An Executive Order
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In an article in Newsweek this week, there was news about one of Mr. Trump’s seemingly endless executive orders. This one is called Restoring Equality of Opportunity and Meritocracy. Its purpose, according to The President, is to “encourage meritocracy,…not a race- or sex-based favoritism.”
It calls for a review of all pending actions under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) of 1974 which prevented the financial discrimination against women based on marital status. Up until this act, women could be declined a credit card, a home loan, a bank account without a father’s or husband’s signature. I’ve mentioned this before. We can’t go back here.
I know. The Declaration of Independence says that all men are created equal. But let’s face it: throughout the history of this country, that has only consistently applied to white, straight, men. Especially if they had money. If humankind’s baser natures didn’t need to be guarded against, we wouldn’t need the Civil Rights Act or laws like the ECOA. We wouldn’t need a special constitutional amendment to give African American men the right to vote, and another amendment for women. We wouldn’t need special laws to guarantee no discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual preference.
We aren’t expecting or fighting for special rights. Just the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. The right to have control over our own money, our own decisions, our own home. The other groups, the marginalized people, want the same thing: the right and opportunity of self determination.
Websters defines a meritocracy as “a system where social positions and opportunities are determined by individual merit, skills, and abilities, rather than by factors like birth, wealth, or social connections.” It goes on to say that in theory, in a meritocracy, one gets ahead by his own efforts. Some of that happens, true. But just look at the present presidential cabinet. Do you think RFK Jr. would be where he is, without his political and family connections? Or would Elon Musk have been the head of DOGE without his money and affiliations? It has been true through the annals of time that those in power often like to remain in power, which all too often result in those in the lower echelons of society being subjugated, time and time again. Be wary, because I have a feeling that in this case, the “lower echelons” are anyone not in the top 1%
Not enough noise is being made about this particular executive order I am here to make some noise. Open your eyes and see what is happening around you. Rights are being challenged and stripped away even as we speak. If we don’t fight for all of us now, by the tine they come for you, there may not be anyone left to help you.
Peace
Kathie