The list of things Trump has not debased, defaced, or destroyed shrinks daily.
On Tuesday, September 29th, America and the world saw the real Donald Trump. Saw him exhibit typical top 1% arrogant, brutish rule-breaking.
In the 1950’s famous “McCarthy-Army” hearings, attorney Joseph Welch asked demagogue Joseph McCarthy: “At long last, Sir, have you no sense of decency.” This is one question, YOU, as an ordinary American citizen are entitled to ask Trump: “At long last, Sir, have you no sense of decency?”
YOU might also ask “your” president: “Are you a Russian agent – a ‘Manchurian candidate?” Because – Trump in 4 years has done more damage to America, democracy, the world than any ‘normal’ Russian agent could possibly have done.
YOU are now also entitled to begin entertaining this question: are we entering territory where we think of Donald Trump as “evil?” Reflecting on Trump’s 4 year record of 20,000 lies, his rhetoric encouraging extremism and racism, his overall ‘presidential’ pattern of action – does this add up to “evil” more than just plain stupidity, ignorance, and incompetence?
Trump has debased, defaced, destroyed the concept of “truth,” the ideal of competence, the American public’s trust, the democratic integrity of elections, the American justice system, the tax system basic fairness, individuals in contact with him, the public health system, and most of all – the American “brand” at home and abroad.
The first, most tragic Trump casualty, was the very concept of “truth.” Very early we were introduced to “alternative facts – said with a straight face. Then, during the 20,000 lies barrage, a daily demonstration. Slowly, the drip…drip…drip of lies drained away that basic element of democracy. Now, the the emphatic assist of September 29th’s “debate,’ we find the emperor has no clothes and feet of clay. BUT – it might be too late. The length of any democracy is not guaranteed. Famously, Ben Franklin answered a 1787 question: “A republic, if you can keep it.” IF.
On of the great tragedies of the Trump era is willing suspension of disbelief by millions of otherwise decent Americans. Some have been lazy searching for truth. Some willingly drank “the Kool-Aid.” Some have been taken in by poisonous propaganda spewed from the infamous far right “echo chamber” of one TV station, right-wing talk radio and far right internet. The result5: millions misinformed – yet so far gone, they angrily say: ‘you’re wrong, I KNOW the truth, YOU are the misinformed one.”
Another Trump casualty is competence. Government needs to display competence, to solve problems. The Trump regime has displayed incompetence on a scale seldom seen. It started with high-level appointees “leading” departments they opposed, even hated. This is the 40-year Republican plan of sabotaging government. America muddled through the first 3 Trump years, her basic strength carrying through.
Then – COVID-19. This crisis required a Washington, Lincoln, FDR, Eisenhower. Instead, we are cursed with an ignorant, incompetent, immature child. South Korea and America first identified COVID-19 cases on the same January day. Since then, Korea applied serious science, serious government-led effort safeguarding their people. America did not. Now ,like “our” president, America is in chaos, people and businesses suffering.
Our “leader” from the very beginning denied it was serious; said it would all magically go away; said his government had “everything under control.” Later Trump passed all responsibility off to states – like FDR telling Hawaii after December 7, 1941 – fighting off Japan was Hawaii’s responsibility.
Trump compounded this by attacking his own medical staff; and saying only he [without medical training] knew the answers. Then worsened things by not taking advantage of federal buying power – and – told states they were on their own for medical supplies!!!!! Their competition then drove up YOUR tax cost.
9 months later, medical personnel still short critical supplies; America doesn’t have the testing program other advanced nations do; and – because Congressional Republicans say “we can’t afford it” {but COULD afford top 1% tax cuts] – no financial relief for bankrupt states-cities-schools-small businesses-workers.
Another casualty of the Trump cult’s reign is trust. Because of the war on truth, and its own incompetence – theAmerican people have no trust in Trump. Trust is another vital democratic ingredient. Good leaders inspire trust. FDR inspired 1930’s Americans by proving he’d try anything to help them. Churchill inspired the British to resist Hitler..
Since Trump doesn’t know truth – which most Americans have figured out – he can’t inspire trust. Without trust we’ll not successfully work together.
Tragically, some Americans distrust other Americans. We’ve seen some in streets, under various names, in pickup trucks, often armed, claiming to be “helping supply law and order. Their concept of “law and order” is suppression of those they don’t like.
History has shown us this many times, often in nations that end up with dictatorships. The “brownshirts” don’t always wear brown shirts.
“Our” president has refused several times, the latest on September 29th, to criticize these armed vigilantes, saying infamously, “there were fine people on both sides> One of these “fine people” is now charged with murdering two people – recorded on film.
Another Trump casualty is the integrity of America’s electoral system. Trump has denied his own government’s repeated reports of Russian interference; and has tried to obstruct any investigation.
To win the 2020 election – Trump has sabotaged the U>S, Post Office; sabotaged the census; sabotaged the election itself by claiming if he doesn’t win it will have happened because he was cheated {with no evidence].
Trump has also suggested it might be “necessary” for bully-boy supporters to act as “poll watchers” to prevent massive “fraud” designed to cheat him. Apparently, Republicans are right now mobilizing and training an army of 50,000 “poll watchers>” Normal people see this for what it is: a repeat of previous Republican efforts to intimidate voters
Trump has suggested he might refuse to honor the 2020 election results. Other than his previous threat in 2016 – this is unprecedented since 1789. The American military is now discussing how to respond.
Another Trump casualty is justice. The only justice in 2020 America is what Trump, his ethics-challenged Attorney General, and the ethics-challenged Roberts Supreme Court define it to be. American 1789-2016 norms, values, laws are of no consequence. Legal reasoning and laws have been radically twisted to do what the Republican economic-political-religious-social “base” wants. In your face, America, WE decide what ‘legal’ is.
Another Trump casualty is corrupt use of the tax laws. Wouldn’t you like to pay $0 or $750 per year on your federal taxes? Sorry – YOU don’t have a corrupt Congress critter writing loopholes, or creative lawyers and accountants. This privilege is reserved for the top 1%.
Another Trump casualty is people. The dead and sick from Trump’s COVID-19 incompetence; people debased by having anything to do with him. “As many people are saying” you cross over a moralRubicon working for Trump. “Few people come back normal.” But many are debased.
The last Trump casualty might be America. As many foreign observers have stated, 2020 America is a mere shadow of what it used to be in world opinion. There are serious doubts American democracy, let alone civility, will ever fully recover. YOU should have no doubts why Putin wants Trump as “our” leader. Toxic Trump has done more damage to America in 4 years than any nation or person – EVER. Not even close.
With Justice For All 