Commentary

Opinion: Trump Wants to Take the Constitution, Fold it Up and Make Himself a Crown

On Oct. 14, two people got sick at a Donald Trump Town Hall in Pennsylvania. But Trump seemed indifferent — to either the people who fell ill or the voters in the room. In fact, Trump prompted the DJ to turn up the sound and show off his dance moves. With less than three weeks to go, Trump showed a level of cluelessness and apathy unbefitting of the presidency. How would he act in a crisis?

Published

1 year ago

October 22, 2024

Oakland Post

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By Emil Guillermo

On Oct. 14, two people got sick at a Donald Trump Town Hall in Pennsylvania. But Trump seemed indifferent — to either the people who fell ill or the voters in the room.

In fact, Trump prompted the DJ to turn up the sound and show off his dance moves.

With less than three weeks to go, Trump showed a level of cluelessness and apathy unbefitting of the presidency. How would he act in a crisis?

“Hope he’s okay,” Vice President Kamala Harris commented on X.

At a Pennsylvania appearance in Erie, Harris expressed concern for Trump’s overall health, but especially his mental health.

Harris played a clip of recent Trump statements. It was clear from the reel that he man who wants to be president again started talking like the man who wants to be America’s first dictator.

“I think the bigger problem is the enemy from within,” Trump said on Fox. “We have some sick people, radical left lunatics, and I think, and it should be very easily handled by, if necessary, by the National Guard, or if really necessary, by the military.”

Most Asian Americans know of this talk.

Filipinos escaped the Dictator Marcos and started coming to America in the 1970s. They saw what happened when opposition leader Benigno Aquino, exiled to the U.S., returned to Manila, and was gunned down at the airport in 1983.

Asian America is full of those yearning for freedom. Chinese left mainland China to flee persecution. Koreans fled to the U.S. to escape the threat of North Korea. The Vietnamese fled Communism. Since 2000, more than 188,000 Burmese refugees have resettled in the U.S.

And that’s just a partial list.

Trump is showing off his authoritarian desires to take the Constitution, fold it up and make himself a crown.

And his targets are set: Immigrants and the political Left.

HARRIS’ BLACK MALE PROBLEM

While the overwhelming majority of Black, Latino and Asian voters are supporting Harris, the number of Black male supporters for Harris is much less than it’s been in previous years.

In such a close race, that slim margin of Black males for Trump is all it takes to make him the winner.

Former President Obama was trying to get at the reason for Trump’s appeal.

“Part of it makes me think that you just aren’t feeling the idea of having a woman as president,” Obama told a small group in swing state Pennsylvania recently, suggesting that men of color have a misogynistic streak.

Some Black critics say Obama was bullying and lecturing men of color, an approach that could backfire.

Maybe the best way to overcome 2024’s intractable male syndrome (be they Black, Latino, or Asian for that matter) is not persuasion.

Simply go around them and register more voters who understand what’s at stake.

We all know enough to vote now. Vote by mail or vote early in person.

In California, time is running out. The deadline to register on-line is Oct. 21.

You can do so by mail if the registration form is postmarked by Monday, October 21, 2024.

And if you miss the deadline, there is redemption for the procrastinators. You can “conditionally” register up to and including on Election Day itself.

You have to show up and vote for America’s sake.

About the Author

Emil Guillermo is a journalist and commentator. He does a micro-talk show on www.patreon.com/emilamok

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Oakland Post: Week of March 18 – 24, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of March 18 – 24, 2026

Published

1 week ago

March 22, 2026

Oakland Post

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Advice

Financial Wellness and Mental Health: Managing Money Stress in College 

While everyone’s financial situation is unique, several common sources of stress have the potential to strain your financial health. These include financial and economic uncertainty, existing debts, unexpected expenses, and mental or physical health changes. Financial stress may differ from situation to situation, but understanding the factors contributing to yours may help you begin to craft a plan for your unique circumstances.

Published

2 weeks ago

March 17, 2026

Oakland Post

Sponsored by JPMorganChase

As a college student, managing financial responsibilities can be stressful.

If you’ve found yourself staying up late thinking about your finances or just feeling anxious overall about your financial future, you’re not alone. In one survey, 78% of college students who reported financial stress had negative impacts on their mental health, and 59% considered dropping out. While finances can impact overall stress, taking steps to manage your finances can support your mental, emotional and physical well-being.

When it comes to money, the sources of stress may look different for each student, but identifying the underlying causes and setting goals accordingly may help you feel more confident about your financial future.

Consider these strategies to help improve your financial wellness and reduce stress.

Understand what causes financial stress

2. Determine your financial priorities

Start by reflecting on your financial priorities. For students this often includes paying for school or paying off student loans, studying abroad, saving for spring break, building an emergency fund, paying down credit card debt or buying a car. Name the milestones that are most important to you, and plan accordingly.

3. Create a plan and stick to it

While setting actionable goals starts you on the journey to better financial health, it’s essential to craft a plan to follow through. Identifying and committing to a savings plan may give you a greater sense of control over your finances, which may help reduce your stress. Creating and sticking to a budget allows you to better track where your money is going so you may spend less and save more.

4. Pay down debt

Many students have some form of debt and want to make progress toward reducing their debt obligations. One option is the debt avalanche method, which focuses on paying off your debt with the highest interest rate first, then moving on to the debt with the next-highest interest rate. Another is the debt snowball method, which builds momentum by paying off your smallest debt balance, and then working your way up to the largest amounts.

5. Build your financial resilience

Some financial stress may be inevitable, but building financial resilience may allow you to overcome obstacles more easily. The more you learn about managing your money, for instance, the more prepared you’ll feel if the unexpected happens. Growing your emergency savings also may increase resilience since you’ll be more financially prepared to cover unexpected expenses or pay your living expenses.

6. Seek help and support

Many colleges have resources to help students experiencing financial stress, like financial literacy courses or funds that provide some assistance for students in need. Talk to your admissions counselor or advisor about your concerns, and they can direct you to sources of support. Your school’s counseling center can also be a great resource for mental health assistance if you’re struggling with financial stress.

The bottom line

Financial stress can affect college students’ health and wellbeing, but it doesn’t have to derail your dreams. Setting smart financial goals and developing simple plans to achieve them may help ease your stress. Revisit and adjust your plan as needed to ensure it continues to work for you, and seek additional support on campus as needed to help keep you on track.

 JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC