What Happened?
When we look back we will likely find it difficult to determine exactly when it happened. When did the United States replace democracy with an authoritarian regime? The event is happening now, but just as the frog sits in the water that slowly heats up until it is boiling and the frog is dead, many Americans ignore the changes happening in our government and blithely continue their daily habits. Authoritarianism occurs when the government limits freedoms and enforces strict obedience. Authoritarianism occurs when all the power is held by one institution or in the hands of a few individuals. Witness now, how in the United States, the U.S. Congress looks away while the Executive Branch of the government cancels programs and funding that was appropriated and controlled by Congress.
Witness now, how in the United States, U.S. Senators and Representatives in the same party as those in the Executive Branch are openly threatened with being forced out in their next primary if they speak up against any action taken by the Executive Branch.
Witness now, the boldness and audacity with which newly installed heads of departments fire thousands of people they have never met, eliminate funding for programs they know little about, and send emails and letters using threats and intimidation to try to obtain the obedience they seek. It is obvious that those newly in charge are drunk on power, and couldn’t possibly have taken the time to consider the ramifications of their actions.
To participate in government no longer requires knowledge of the constitution, nor adherence to the accumulated body of laws and regulations used to governing our country, including its system of checks and balances to prevent any person or group from taking Democracy away from the people. To participate in the new government you need only express your blind loyalty and devotion to the man in charge. Why are so many government employees being fired right now? It is not to reduce costs, it is merely to clear the way for filling government positions with people loyal to Trump, not loyal to the country. Most alarmingly, competence and experience are neither needed nor expected to assume even the highest ranking jobs in the new government.
What can we do?
Most will accept their fate. Hundreds of millions of people live in Russia today and most accept that Putin is their dictator and they can either praise and laud him in attempt to acquire some of that power for themselves, or they can lay low and make the best of the life they have. We, in America, will do the same. Oh some will resist. Some will speak up. Some will try to put into Congress people that will restore the separation of powers and Democracy. Some states will bear the brunt of Trump’s wrath when they dare question his authority or criticize his childish demands. To express displeasure with The Authoritarian is to risk, “he will punch back 10 times harder” in the words of his current wife.
Trump is incompetent at negotiating.
Negotiators use both carrots and sticks to work with potential partners, allies, and cooperative to reach an agreement. Trump knows only the sticks by which he can force others to his will. His only carrot is to offer to remove the punishment he is applying. He will weaponize government agencies to arrest, harrass, harm, and intimidate those who rebuke him. When he can’t weaponize government he will assault them with lawsuits of ridiculous quantities and amounts in an attempt to force his allies to come to obey him. And if these tactics fail, he will use his favorite tactic of ad hominem attacks whereby he disparages his opposition because his arguments lack logical or moral ground to stand upon. But the ad hominem attacks have a sinister purpose that he knows well. He hopes to incite his followers to make attacks upon those enemies in ways that Trump cannot. And if those ways include violence, as they almost always do, Trump will be pleased with that result. Again we need to remember that many of Trump’s followers worship the man and desire to obtain his blessing and as a result will take any action to receive his notice and favor. Many now believe, perhaps rightly, that Trump will pardon them for their acts of violence against others if the acts of violence helped to further Trump’s goals.
There is the possibility that Trump is not directly the worst aspect of our new government, rather it is the lengths to which his followers will go to ingratiate themselves to the man. It is very obvious and clear that the path to higher office and more power in Trump’s regime is to show your loyalty to the man above and beyond the ways of others. That is why you see ridiculous bills in Congress such as H.R. 1395 to designate his birthday as a federal holiday, H.Res 129 to establish a “Gulf of America Day”, H.R. 792 to carve a figure of Trump on Mount Rushmore, H.R.692 to rename Washington Dulles International Airport to Donald J. Trump International Airport and many more. When you have a narcissistic authoritarian running the country, flattery will get you everywhere.
Perhaps you are inclined to think we should let Trump and his fellow oligarchs take what they want, and when they have enough they will go away happy. But that belief reveals you don’t understand what motivates the rich and narcissist. They can never have enough. They always want more and will take more and keep taking more until someone stops them. If not stopped, they will take all they can from our country, and when the country falls apart, they will simply move to other countries, where they have already established themselves with properties, resources, businesses, and government contacts.