Trump’s rambling wreck
The “fine-tuned machine,” as President Donald Trump calls it, is a thin veil of delusion and wishful thinking. Why else would he make such a defensive remark unless some level of truth underlies the allegation?
Regardless, the indisputable resignation of Gen. Mike Flynn as national security adviser followed by Retired Vice Adm. Robert Harvard’s refusal to take the position along with the withdrawal of Andrew Puzder’s nomination for labor secretary is better defined as “machinery malfunction.”
Along with his persistent attacks on the “dishonest media,” one can only surmise that Trump’s thin skin now can be measured in nanometers. Hardly a desirable or sustainable attribute for a newly elected president of the United States and leader of the free world.
Speaking of which, it now appears that the United States for the first time has been demoted from being a “full democracy” to a “flawed democracy” according to the Economist Intelligence Unit. According to the EIU, this is defined as a country with low voter participation, weak governance and underdeveloped political culture, and includes nations such as South Korea and India.
While Trump certainly cannot be blamed for the rating given his short term in office, his White House team’s performance and policies to date do not build confidence that the U.S. will climb higher in the index anytime soon. Full free democracies do not flourish in an environment of rabid nationalism, xenophobia, criticism of a free press or persistent insults directed toward the leadership of competing political parties.
Much has been made about media coverage being skewed, that critics aren’t allowing the Trump administration to become adequately grounded or learn the ways of government. Yet if I recall, his campaign platform was precisely predicated on not becoming one of the Washington elite and instead eliminating selfserving bureaucratic inefficiency and red tape that has strangled businesses and citizens alike.
Instead, Trump has ushered in an era of the new elite: Billionaires and cronies who are similarly disconnected from working class Americans and who, like Trump, are focused on deconstructing government for their own benefit.
Deregulation of Wall Street, repeal of universal health care and reversal of environmental regulations appear to be the Trump and Co. version of the “New Deal.” But unlike President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s strategy to stabilize the economy during the Great Depression, Trump’s current course will do the opposite, given the global market and security implications of his misguided pursuits.
There are indications that Congress on both sides of the aisle is recognizing the folly of our current commander-inchief. Constant solicitation of personal validation as he does during press briefings speaks more of an underlying insecurity and authoritarianism than a reflective disposition and a consensual yet firm demeanor.
Those are leadership requisites for a full and robust democracy as well as becoming a strong and engaged international ally and economic partner.