The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
A second revolution, but centred on just one man
Tomorrow Donald Trump is inaugurated as the 45th president of the United States. We stand on the verge of a second American revolution. Everything is new. The 21st Century so far is noted for the rejection of the old idea of states and the demand for something different.
Of this, Trump is the most exaggerated example – and also about to become the most powerful man in the world.
On Wall Street, the spiritual home of global capitalism, two buildings stand opposite each other.
On one side is Federal Hall, where George Washington was inaugurated as the first president of America and where the Constitution and Bill of Rights became active.
The original building was knocked down, and the current one is a memorial to the founding the USA, but it counts as a piece of history. Across the road is a Trump Building. I say “a” Trump Building, because there are many things branded Trump in the USA, and this is not one of the iconic ones, but part of the new president’s diverse, opaque business empire. Sacrosanct No matter the excess of Wall Street, or the wildness of American politics, it has always been taken for granted that the Constitution and Bill of Rights are sacrosanct.
Much as it has been a given that presidents defend all aspects of the American nation – they are not just patriots but staunch defenders of the structure of government.
Neither of these assumptions can be taken for granted under Trump.
The incomplete way Trump has attempted to separate his business concerns from his presidency shows no regard for the Constitution.
His belittling of people, whether based on race, gender or physical ability, suggest the essence of the Bill of Rights isn’t dear to his heart.
His trashing of the US military, US defence industry, US performance in Iraq, US security establishment, the Republican party and promising to “drain the swamp” of Washington suggests he’s no defender of government.
American polity in the 20th Century had a spine of conservatism – it built the state and protected it arguably more than it worried about the welfare of its people.
This is no longer true, which is not to say the people will fare any better, just that the idea of America is disintegrating before our eyes.
Its not clear you can have a liberal democracy when policies start and stop by Tweet.
Where’s the room for debate, newspapers, considered analysis and developed consensus in the early morning snap of social media?
Nor is it clear how representative democracy works when people are unsure of what they are representing. Military question As for economic stability, will people invest in that famous American structure, the military-industrial complex, if the President is no fan of military spending?
How do you create manufacturing jobs in the rust belt states and persuade Americans to work at Mexican pay rates, which they’ll have to do if they want to be able to buy the stuff that’s made?
Over 200 years ago America had a revolution which gave birth to “all men being created equal”.
A new revolutionary clash of ideas about what government means and can achieve is beginning, only it’s not clear what its founding principles are, or if equality is even a factor.
The clash of forces will in part come between people – non-whites and liberals taking to the streets in anger.
The greater force will be between the Constitution and structures of government and the first post-state leader in the western world. Big “if” Trump takes the idea of meritocracy to the logical conclusion of letting “top” people get on with things, removed from accountability beyond success or failure.
This can only be tolerated if people feel their daily lives are stable and getting better – that is, assumptions on quality of life are constant while government is tumultuous. That’s a big “if”. The other big “if” is can the global economy wear such a disruptive force? Trump is playing havoc with the founding principle of globalism – free trade.
We do not know how multinational corporations can succeed in a protectionist world.
Tomorrow Trump will take the stand in a cold Washington, both literally and metaphorically.
John F Kennedy used the occasion to call on people to serve the ideals of America: “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country?”
On current form, Trump will ask what American can do for him.
A new revolutionary clash of ideas is beginning