Bob Schwartz

Tens of millions of Americans have seen the vision of Trump America and don’t like it. It is a vision reflected in four years of Trump as president, four years as former president, four years coming as president again. It is also based on Trump serving with a majority in both houses of Congress and a majority sympathetic to him on the Supreme Court.

The first principle: The vision for those who don’t like the Trump vision is not simply a vision without Trump. The past election veered between no-Trump and assorted other pitches. It didn’t work.

The second principle: The Democratic Party—the only alternative in an immutable two-party system—is a valuable asset but does not seem capable of providing an actionable, effective and attractive vision. America would be far worse off without Democrats as a counterbalance. But being not-Republicans and not-Trump is not enough.

Effective and attractive leaders offering actionable strategies and vision will emerge. Eventually, sooner or later. But it cannot be stressed enough: not-this is not enough, and neither is retreading visions that will not work in these times, in this nation, for and with these people. Some principles are so basic—rule of law, for example—that they should be a part of any vision. But it is not enough.

As noted, Democrats are an essential element in a two-party system now dominated by Republicans. But the thought that if Democrats can just win a slim majority here or there, or at least reduce a Republican majority here or there, is not enough. It is not a vision.

If you discover some visionary leaders, or better yet if you are a visionary leader, come forward. Proverbs 29:18 says “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Or the wrong vision prevails.

© 2025 by Bob Schwartz

At this moment, the mountains, sun and clouds are related. Soon after, the sun rises higher and lightens the whole mountains, the clouds dissipate, and the mountains stand there.

It is an overstatement to say that any one photo captures an era.

And yet, this photo of two models and two American presidents (or to-be) is bursting with meaning.

The least recognizable person is model Kylie Bax, a long-time friend of Donald Trump.

The other three are major American figures. Donald Trump and Bill Clinton need no introduction, and Melania Knauss (later Melania Trump) is also well-known.

It is difficult, near impossible, not to interpret the photo based on everything we now know or assume. Worth way more than a thousand words.

There are many ways to point out the importance, primacy, essentiality of personal transformation.

That begs three questions: important for what, transformation to what, and how? Let me sidestep those monumental questions, saying only and simply: important to make you and others happy, in one of the many ways available.

A thing that prompts this is my observation of how many initiatives—religion, economics, politics being just a few—are devoted to engagement and practices aimed at “better” outcomes for yourself and others (going to heaven, joining a community, making money, donating money, getting a president elected), but leaving you the same as you were before. Not that all those outcomes aren’t worthy in themselves. But what about you? How would a different mind make a difference?

Above is my favorite expression of the imperative for personal transformation, equal to or better than the words of the wisest masters. It comes from the title of a 1970 Funkadelic album. The album cover is also a favorite.

Free your mind…and your ass will follow. True that.