Let me make this pellucidly clear

[usonian]

2. The administration is erratic, changing positions constantly, since they are no more than bargaining chips.

The stock market hates uncertainty.
So do businesses.
So do ordinary citizens.
I am thinking about moving, were it not for all the uncertainty.

Of course, large numbers of people losing jobs and services is never good.

This has already filtered down to the local level, but (red) politicians are between a rock and a hard place.

The rock being the blackmail and threats from Musk and Trump and company.
The hard place being constituents up in arms over lost jobs, services and benefits.

When at first we bend the knee
Both sides treat us as the enemy

WELCOME TO HELL, ASSHOLES