The Choice: Meritocracy or Mediocracy
The Trump Administration's Mediocracy Equals Incompetence
Issue #1,006 The Choice, Friday, March 20, 2026
Donald Trump, through one of his many executive orders, actually made DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) illegal. DEI initiatives worked to eliminate systemic barriers of race, gender, and ability, to create inclusive, productive environments for marginalized communities, including women and veterans.
Instead of DEI, we now have WEI: White, Entitled, and Incompetent.
The WEI people in the Trump administration claim that only “meritocracy” should matter for hiring or programs. That is ironic, since the entire Trump Cabinet is totally unqualified for their positions. According to Trump, the only “qualification” he needs to appoint, nominate, or support someone is loyalty to him.
Almost none of the members of Trump’s administration have the needed qualifications or experience for their positions, and it shows. Like Trump, they show almost no understanding of American history or how to implement actual policy besides what Trump wants.
For example, the current Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, served part-time in the National Guard. He tried to change his organization’s name to the “Department of War,” although only Congress has the authority to do so. Hegseth, who had to promise not to be drunk while on the job, was preceded by retired General Lloyd Austin, who not only saw combat many times but also commanded units at all levels throughout his 39-year military career. Austin is also an alumnus of the United States Military Academy at West Point. Hegseth was fired from two of his previous jobs and was a Fox News host before being nominated by Trump.
Not only is Hegseth totally unqualified, but he thinks that war is a video game, and is gleeful about the killing of people in boats that could never reach the United States, and the illegal Iranian war started by Trump. He said that the military in Iran should implement the policy of “no quarter.” In the context of rules of engagement, “no quarter” means refusing to take prisoners, essentially commanding that all enemy combatants be killed, including those who are wounded or attempt to surrender. This practice is a strict violation of customary international law and is classified as a war crime under the 1899 Hague Convention. So he and Trump are deliberately committing war crimes and laughing about it.
Then, of course, there is Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who is a slap in the face to his namesake and assassinated father. He is not a doctor, has no medical training, and no relevant government experience. He is also anti-vaccines, and tried to eliminate the recommended vaccination schedule for newborns and young babies. Vaccinations are the reason why we have not had the high rates of polio, rubella, and measles as before. Except now, because RFK Jr. has recommended that parents not get their children vaccinated against measles, the number of cases has risen rapidly. Measles can be deadly, and some people have died due to measles infections.
I could continue detailing the mediocracy and incompetence of members of the Trump Administration, but I think you get the point.
So, what is our Choice?
Work to implement DEI in whatever ways we can while not going against the present laws and policies put in place by Trump
Learn about the mediocracy of the members of the Trump Administration and help to ensure that the next Democratic president follows the lead of Obama and Biden when making appointments and nominations.
Call your Senators and demand that they vote against the SAVE Act.
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