From this excellent comment this sums up the problem succinctly: "It’s about us. Are we prepared to acknowledge that our institutions—the courts, Congress, the media—aren’t designed to handle someone like Trump? That they crumble under the weight of a man who wields chaos as both shield and sword?"
From this excellent comment this sums up the problem succinctly: "It’s about us. Are we prepared to acknowledge that our institutions—the courts, Congress, the media—aren’t designed to handle someone like Trump? That they crumble under the weight of a man who wields chaos as both shield and sword?"
Until 2017 we didn't realize how much the system of government that has developed in the US rests on the basic assumption that people in public service will behave honorably and will make an attempt to comply with rules, laws, and most importantly, norms. Of course not all public servants did, but the majority did. Richard Nixon, the boogeyman of my youth, honored the norms and resigned eventually. But now we are faced with a public servant who does't do any of those things, who steps around laws and rules, who uses his wealth or perceived wealth and position to bully people around, who uses the court system to avoid accountability. And this person is aided by a dedicated group of courtiers and voters. This compounded with a materialistic and indifferent group of voters leads us to this moment.
Thank you for such a thoughtful response—it captures the heart of the problem so perfectly. The assumption that public servants would uphold basic decency, even under pressure, was so foundational that its fragility went unnoticed for generations. Nixon, flawed as he was, still adhered to the norms when faced with overwhelming accountability.
But now, as you point out, we are dealing with a figure who not only rejects these principles but weaponizes their absence, wielding chaos as both shield and sword. What’s even more alarming is the infrastructure of enablers—the courtiers, voters, and indifferent bystanders—who amplify this destruction.
From this excellent comment this sums up the problem succinctly: "It’s about us. Are we prepared to acknowledge that our institutions—the courts, Congress, the media—aren’t designed to handle someone like Trump? That they crumble under the weight of a man who wields chaos as both shield and sword?"
Until 2017 we didn't realize how much the system of government that has developed in the US rests on the basic assumption that people in public service will behave honorably and will make an attempt to comply with rules, laws, and most importantly, norms. Of course not all public servants did, but the majority did. Richard Nixon, the boogeyman of my youth, honored the norms and resigned eventually. But now we are faced with a public servant who does't do any of those things, who steps around laws and rules, who uses his wealth or perceived wealth and position to bully people around, who uses the court system to avoid accountability. And this person is aided by a dedicated group of courtiers and voters. This compounded with a materialistic and indifferent group of voters leads us to this moment.
Thank you for such a thoughtful response—it captures the heart of the problem so perfectly. The assumption that public servants would uphold basic decency, even under pressure, was so foundational that its fragility went unnoticed for generations. Nixon, flawed as he was, still adhered to the norms when faced with overwhelming accountability.
But now, as you point out, we are dealing with a figure who not only rejects these principles but weaponizes their absence, wielding chaos as both shield and sword. What’s even more alarming is the infrastructure of enablers—the courtiers, voters, and indifferent bystanders—who amplify this destruction.