The news is so full of questionable actions that if known by our founding fathers they would be grieving at a failure of our democracy. Suddenly there is no rule of law, and you have to scratch your head about how the Supreme Court lets it happen...
Never mind, as we common folk who believe in democracy have no say in the matter and the fickle finger of blame doth knows where to point.
Americans who made that choice a year ago surely must wonder what they did. There always is an accounting so keep that in mind.
Right under our nose are some really cheap commercial SSB radios designated for Maritime use that are usable "as is" on our ham bands. Let's perk up your interest as these can be had for under $100. Here is a prime candidate the Stephens SEA 222
This particular unit tunes through the 15M Band, USB at 150 watts out. Philips has a radio product which is essentially a stock SEA222 but added a front panel switch to provide USB/LSB functionality.
Before you hit Buy It Now, that $100 could buy 20 Turkey Day Dinners at one of the relief agencies sponsored events. Feel good and avoid spending another $100 on a radio you don't need and instead feed some hungry Americans.
Things are very interesting for six of the current top government officials. Citizens outraged at these officials have made it impossible for those six to live in regular homes like you and me. They are now hiding out at undisclosed locations on military bases. Someone suggested it is like being in prison on a work release program where you go to work during the day but are behind the locked gate at night. Also reported but not verified is that we are paying for their "safe houses".
Them that know can make things go.
If being out of a job or having to float a home loan to buy a pound of hamburger requires a diversion, then read about the 31st President of the USA, a Republican who was highly unpopular for what he failed to do. POTUS Thirty-one (31) had two sons one of which that had a direct connection to ham radio. This son, the eldest, even sported a prestigious 1X2 call with a 6 in it sort of like some of us. Another clue is that 31 was only one of a few presidents who had an engineering degree... from Stanford no less. Another one was Jimmy Carter, a Democrat and US Naval Academy grad who also had popularity issues.
73's
Pete N6QW