 On April 19, 2025, voices across the U.S.A. rose in unison as part of the "Hands Off" protests opposing the political choices of Donald Trump and his unelected partner Elon Musk.
As patriots voiced their grievances, distilling America’s chaos into just a few words, I’m reminded how far a few words can reach. Thank you (thankiu!), fellow Americans, for inspiring me to share haiku again. Is the POTUS Trump? Or Felon Musk? It’s hard to tell them apartheid. Behind the satire is a deep unease. When billionaires like Musk wield influence without accountability, and when felonious politicians like Trump treat the Constitution as optional, democracy is in danger. The term "apartheid" isn't used lightly. It signals the growing divide between those with unchecked power and the rest of us struggling for equity, justice, and truth. Whether in Elon’s South Africa or the tech "broligarchy’s" Silicon Valley or anywhere else, apartheid is about separation—of power from people, of truth from media, of justice from law. The haiku asks us: Who's in charge? Who elected them? And who gets left out? The April 19 protests weren’t just political—they were poetic. They were an act of defiant clarity in a time of confusion. And sometimes, clarity starts with seventeen syllables.  How high is US inflation? According to Statista.com, month-to-month inflation was 7 percent in December 2021. Ouch! That was up from 6.8% in November, 6.2% in October, and around 5% in the summer. About a year ago, month-to-month inflation was officially 1.4%.
In many cases inflation makes sense; COVID-related production shortages and delivery delays have skewed the usual supply/demand ratio. But are some businesses taking advantage of us? Absolutely. Fortune reports that corporations are boasting about increased profits during the pandemic. Also see the NPR report at https://www.npr.org/2022/01/12/1072295047/inflation-is-still-surging-and-some-democrats-see-one-culprit-greedy-companies. Local examples: Near Fukiu headquarters in California a 7-11 is selling Crystal Geyser water for $3.49/gallon... and an Extra Space Storage raised month-to-month rent by 33% just in time for Christmas 2021. It seems that both examples qualify as price gouging, no? In most US states, laws explicitly prohibit price gouging. When a company acts illegally, the Department of Fukiu recommends that you 1) notify your county's district attorney and 2) contact your state's attorney general. Both offices may have online forms for speedy reporting. Haiku inspired by someecards.com |
