Is American Democracy, Check and Balances Strong Enough

Is American Democracy, Check and Balances Strong Enough

---

As a fiscal conservative with liberal views, I have followed the U.S. election with great concern over the past two years, culminating in the presidency of Donald J. Trump. I’ve witnessed a disturbing deterioration in values and the alarming rise of anti-Semitic, racist, and misanthropic rhetoric, penetrating the heart of democracy.

Francis Fukuyama’s article, “Is Democracy Strong Enough to Resist Trump?” deserves attention, and I have taken time to reflect on it. Only time will reveal the answer, but I am not optimistic and believe a second term would be disastrous.

Historically, our democracies have weathered many storms, but today’s environment is vastly different from the times of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, or Winston Churchill. Our world is more interconnected, requiring pragmatic realism. In our multi-polar world, facing problems with China and Russia necessitates cooperation. Despite efforts by the Bannon-Trump alt-right to undermine international structures, globalization is here to stay.

Thoughtless decisions now have immediate and profound impacts. Like an expanded mind, our world will never return to its original state. Technological advancements, particularly in AI, outpace human education and development, demanding intelligent, thoughtful, and humane leadership. Sadly, Donald J. Trump, a pathological liar with no legal, moral, or ethical standards, poses an enormous security risk to the U.S. and the world. His incoherent thought process, unhinged from reality, is a grave concern given the immense power he wields.

Since Trump’s inauguration, the foundations of free society and American exceptionalism are under attack. Unless civil society unites aggressively to defend free society, free trade, human rights, and combat climate change, the destruction of American democracy’s foundations is imminent. Beyond democracy, the global order, which has served us well since WWII, is at risk.

With the Republican Party in control, relying on them to resist Trump is risky and dangerous. GOP representatives’ lack of serious response to the appalling “Muslim” ban is troubling. However, the initial reactions from the people and the courts are reassuring; the road ahead will be long and arduous.

The only answer to this repulsive “evil” is united, continued opposition to Trump in Congress, at state levels, in courts, and climate change bodies. We Europeans know the early signs of authoritarian regimes; Trump is using the first chapters of their playbook. His rhetoric and methods echo those that enabled Hitler and Mussolini, leading to WWII. While not minimizing the atrocities of the Nazi regime, there are alarming similarities to the early 1930s. Steve Bannon, a white nationalist with an apocalyptic view, resembles a modern-day Joseph Goebbels.

In Germany, not all supported the Nazis, but complicity grew. The Holocaust began with hate, much like the patterns at Trump rallies, where people were attacked, and the press victimized. Hitler’s speeches often hypnotized listeners, who later couldn’t recall what was said or how they behaved. The Nazis seized power as a minority party. Trump’s gradual process has already begun, based on fear and lies. His tweet storms aim to exhaust critical thinking and annihilate the truth, which can only be countered by a free press, critical thinking, and truth. Yet, the free press has, to some extent, normalized Trump.

On November 21, 1922, Cyril Brown wrote in the New York Times that “Hitler’s Anti-Semitism wasn’t so genuine or violent.” That line couldn’t have been more wrong. Those complicit in 1932 came to regret it. Today, with our knowledge of history, complicity with Trump is inexcusable and will be remembered.

Since the 2016 election, Trump has been obsessed with legitimizing his victory, undermining free society by crossing legal boundaries and blaming enemies. Autocrats always attack the weak, not the strong. It starts with limiting the free press, modifying libel laws, and calling serious press “fake news.” He seeks to change press conferences’ format and limit them, emulating President Putin’s yearly press conference format. Civil opposition will be labeled unpatriotic, and free protests will be limited or forbidden.

The Republican Party plays a leading role in this, clinging to outdated rhetoric and “law and order” ideas from 1968. Society’s divisions are reaching a breaking point. Deficits have grown over the last 15 years due to a lack of consensus or compromise in Congress and the Senate. New laws limiting civil liberties, privacy, and freedom will be passed under the guise of patriotism and protecting the people. Opponents will be prosecuted, echoing Newt Gingrich’s suggestion to reactivate “The House of Un-American Activities Committee,” reminiscent of McCarthyism and the start of a fascist state.

Albert Camus wrote, “The welfare of the people in particular has always been the alibi of tyrants.” Long-held values are being destroyed, setting the GOP back for years. In their hunger for power and hatred of the Clintons, the party has been corrupted, endorsing populism rooted in ignorance, prejudice, fear, and isolationism, killing conservatism from within.

Supporting Donald J. Trump is not in the Republican Party’s or democracy’s interest. Trump is an affront to human decency, insulting our intelligence. Xenophobia and Islamophobia are permitted by a person who has committed acts of violence against women and discriminated against many. The question is, “When will Republicans say enough?”

In his first week, Trump has already lost credibility with the people and confirmed that, like all demagogues, we should take him at his word. This is only the beginning. America has gone from “tear down the wall” to “build the wall,” but isolating itself will imprison America.

Trump’s presidency shows great ignorance, leading to antagonistic relations with the rest of the world. His dismissal of the European Union is already creating doubts about the transatlantic relationship that has brought peace and stability since WWII. What remains of American exceptionalism, despite its strategic mistakes, may be discarded.

With Trump’s delusions, it seems we are entering George Orwell’s “1984” dystopian world. Dissent will increase, and leaders may resort to nationalism and “diversionary” wars to distract from instability. This scenario is not surprising.

In conclusion, the United States, under Trump, seems subservient to Russian interests, posing an immediate threat to U.S. independence and democracy. This internal weakening is a dream come true for Al-Qaeda, ISIS, or Russia, and a disaster for world order, peace, and stability.

WJJH- 29.1.2017

Musings: The rise of anti-Semitic, racist, and misanthropic rhetoric in the U.S. under President Trump is deeply concerning. Since Trump’s inauguration, the foundations of free society are under attack. Unless civil society unites aggressively to defend free society, free trade, human rights, and combat climate change, the destruction of American democracy’s foundations is imminent.