(Democratic Demise)
Democracy is the only form of government that champions the right of the citizenry to espouse and live in a manner that is destructive to its intentions. These intentions are affirming the equal worth of every citizen; pursuing the common good; and insisting on citizenry rule. Anything that denies these intentions is a form of despotism.
The Trump administration intends to destroy all of these intentions in favor of despotism. Here are three examples:
- It is devoted to White Male Supremacy. It is desperate to affirm the superiority of white male leadership as the essence of Americanism. Whatever Barrack Obama enacted as president, irrespective of its common good focus, Trump has assigned to destruction. It cannot stand because it affirms the equality of inferior black leadership. And it is determined to degrade Hillary Clinton as a white woman who dared to run against the superior white male.
- It is devoted to economic imperialism. Economic imperialism views monetary profit as the goal of cultural living. It converts democracy into a utility for profit-making. Trump is the ultimate economic imperialist. He sees self-good as the goal of capitalism and capitalism as the goal of democracy. All his capacities and influence are being used to empower corporate profit over citizenry benefits and rights.
- It is devoted to demagoguery. According to Merriam-Webster, a demagogue is “a leader who makes use of popular prejudices and false claims and promises in order to gain power.” Trump’s leadership lifestyle is predicated on demagoguery – professional lying, combatting all opposition, belittling the free press, aggressive sexism, winning at all costs, illusions of grandeur, unequalled, bullying, and obfuscation of reality, It is his presidential persona. It is despotism posed as democratic freedom.
Trump would not be president if he were not a master at such deception. He made despotism a democratic virtue by masking it behind those freedoms that are democracy’s avowed enemies. And we citizens will either take back the ship of the democratic state or will drown while it sinks under despotism’s weight
Robert T. Latham
We are a flawed democracy at best, but, as you say, we must “take back the ship.” Moreover, we must deal with the oligarchs and the corporatists who have bought the candidates and the system.
An appropriate quote I recently heard is: “If you don’t sacrifice for what you want, then what you want is the sacrifice.” My fervent hope is that at some point there will be a tipping point.
Is the Parkland shooting it? What will begin to expose the demonic clown posse of an administration for what they truly represent. Yes indeed Robert you nailed it.
Yes, we must answer at the polls. We must put right-thinking people on school boards, town councils, county commissions, and all elected offices. For all to see, we must continue to shine light on the warped thinking of Trump and his supporters. We can frame arguments in economic terms, in that the more we can educate and empower members of all classes, the more they can contribute to a vigorous economy. The underlying arguments are ethical, recognizing the worth of each human being and elevating that worth.