The one serious “accomplishment” that Trump still has going for him — and one that appeals especially to many who are retired or near retirement and are at least middle class — is the still booming stock market. Most people these days don’t get traditional pensions but receive funds from 401(k)s. Powell seems to be doing a magnificent job at maintaining the market.

The question is: how, in the light of the disastrous economy, is the market faring so well? Is it just that interest rates are so low there is nowhere else to put one’s investments? Is it that companies that were doing well before the pandemic are still doing well, thanks to infusions from the government or (in the case of companies like Amazon and Zoom) actually making a fortune because of the needs they serve during this catastrophe? Is it just that the companies that are failing are those that are smaller businesses that are not part of the stock indices? A combination of high markets and fears of violence in the streets could indeed be Trump’s “legitimate” path to victory this November.

Those people who claim to represent BLM and who support looting are working either knowingly or unwittingly to help Trump get re-elected. As a member of the FB group “Women’s March Chicago”, I have seen posters who support these activities. Several of us engage with them but they persist. Some of them want a real revolution, thinking that they will be the ones victorious — that the whole system needs to be thrown out. They don’t understand in that scenario the fascists will be the ones emerging victorious and there will be no coming back.