From an Existential Threat to an Existential Disaster

Just a few short months ago, many were pointing to Donald Trump and his MAGA band as an existential threat to our democracy.  It was a common theme echoed by President Biden and Presidential candidate Kamala Harris, along with editorial boards and pundits, and millions of citizens.  A Trump presidency would perpetuate the lies that the 2000 election was stolen, that the January 6^th attack on the Capitol and attempted coup was a peaceful demonstration, that the Justice Department’s prosecution of those that broke the law was, itself, unlawful.

Some commentators were convinced that was all hyperbole.  “The country will be fine;” “what damage could Trump really do;” “could it really be long lasting;” “of course he disparaged Project 2025 as too extreme.”  The old phrase “it can’t happen here” has disappeared as fast as sky writing over a spring-training ball stadium.    

The existential threat, in just a couple of months, is now a reality.

The Democrats don’t know what to do. In fact, they are in circular firing squad mode, especially after Chuck Schumer announced he would support the horrendous continuing resolution, knowing what a shutdown would mean.  The knives are out with screaming matches behind Senate closed doors and anger coming from House Democrats aimed at the Senators.   

Despite the excellent response by Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) to the Trump political harangue at the joint session, most Democrats sat on their hands with their little paddle signs, looking more like they were at a Sotheby’s auction house. Trump has continuously upended and insulted regular order, common decency, and the fundamentals of American democracy.  The only effective and reasonable response from Democrats at the joint session would have been a wholesale walkout ten minutes into his diatribe. 

Here’s where we are:  the political leadership in Washington is paralyzed.  Democrats have no power, Republicans won’t stand up for a single principle or even cast any votes that take on Trump.  Too many are being intimidated by the bully-in-chief and fear his retribution.

Much of the press is cowering, the major law firms are caving, the money managers are frantically counting their money and urging the public to buy Tesla stock and cars. The sell-out culture is replacing the stand-up culture. 

The overriding impact of the Trump/MAGA world can be summed up by two words:  cruel and incompetent.  Whether gutting education, destroying our environment, removing health and food aid around the world, eliminating help for our veterans and seniors, and cozying up to dictators and despots, Trump has made clear he is out to destroy our government.  His main legislative achievement will be big tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans at the expense of everyone else. But time after time, this is the crew that has shown devastating incompetence.  Trump and Musk and his minions have absolutely no clue what they are doing and no understanding of government. They don’t care about the fallout or the people they hurt.  But now, as they say, the whole world is watching and Americans everywhere are noticing and fired up.

The latest national security nightmare of using the commercial Signal app to lay bare the attack plans on Houthi rebels in Yemen, while inadvertently  including the Editor in Chief of the Atlantic magazine, was possibly the most serious self-imposed security breach in U.S. history. And now they are all lying about it. The National Security Agency (NSA) specifically cautioned not to use the app in February. This all is blatant incompetence.

So, why am I optimistic, or at least hopeful, that we can turn the country around?

Here is how I believe this is going to play out.  While Congress and the Washington elite are initially unable to navigate the ongoing damage, the grassroots are rising up. Sure, the courts are going to push back and determine that much of what Trump is doing is illegal and unconstitutional.  There will be some victories for democracy, but not nearly enough. Those court decisions and the continuation of Trump as an out-of-control dictatorial  executive, wreaking havoc on the country, is pushing citizens to the breaking point.

As Medicare and Medicaid and Social Security are cut people will get angry, very angry.  As food aid and school lunches disappear, people will rebel?  As the tax breaks for billionaires are passed, people will think “I still can’t afford groceries or a new car!” As health care becomes more costly and more difficult to get, people will wonder “who would do this”?  As the chaos grows and the effects multiply, the people will become increasingly fed up.  They will pressure their elected representatives and demand action.

Just as people rose up on the issues of civil rights and the war in Vietnam in the 1960s, so too they will take on Trump and the policies that are devastating entire communities, policies that are contrary to what we believe as Americans.  This is what we are seeing in town after town, town meeting after town meeting.  People are finding their voice and it won’t be silenced. This will not stand.  And, yes, it will grow and, yes, elections are just around the corner.