The shape of our two party politics is clear. When Democrats are in charge in Washington efforts are made to use governmental authority, legislation, judicial decisions, etc., constructively, to put together programs and initiatives that make sense, that are helpful to the people, specific groups and the country as a whole, the environment and indeed the rest of the world. There’s a basic understanding as to why we have government – the Democrats put ours to those purposes.
The Republicans come in and make every effort to water down and even undo the previous administration’s accomplishments. Then it’s the Democrats turn again and they put them back together.
So, as is throughout history, civilization in the United States progresses in fits and starts.
Until the second Trump administration, which has gone far beyond chipping away, modifying or even neutralizing the Democrats’ achievements. Instead, they’ve not only actively destroyed what has been recently done but any and all things that are constructive or worthwhile, whether it’s lending a helping hand to the less fortunate, fostering education and science, slowing the existential threat of climate change to the planet, shoring up democracy, supporting a rational economy and strengthening the rule of law. But they’ve gone even beyond that. They have dismantled the machinery by which these things were achieved. The federal government as we have known it for two centuries no longer exists.
Yes, various departments are still there on paper but they are headed by individuals committed to their dissolution and most of those who kept things moving have been fired, leaving us an empty shell.
Unprecedented in the vicious severity of Trump upon anything good or worthwhile is its breathtaking comprehensiveness. From funding research into Alzheimer’s to the voice of America’s speaking up for America’s democracy throughout the world. They have now been eliminated.
Another distinctive feature is the absence of any discernible rationale, whether it be political, common interpretation of the evidence, philosophical, right or wrong, red white or purple, liberal or conservative, an indiscernible plan or strategy. If it’s visible it gets mowed down. No distinction is made between the flowers and the weeds, the bushes or the trees. It’s all leveled, leaving a wasteland.
Assuming the planet survives, one can imagine good people coming into power again and the pendulum swinging toward constructive activity, but it will be many generations before what we once had can be restored, let alone further progress.