Repetitive reprise: Can American democracy survive Donald Trump?

It is all too easy for us to be lulled into the idea that Donald Trump is just a boorish, narcissistic buffoon with an obvious personality disorder, with his usually daily outrageous tweets and lies. However, he and his administration pose real and very disturbing threats to our democracy on many levels, as well as to our position in the world. 

Unfortunately, his words and actions already have and will continue to probably permanently damage the prestige of the presidency, both in this country and abroad, to an extent that we cannot yet even judge.  We have already become desensitized to his outrageous behavior that would never have been tolerated in any previous president, even by members of his own party. This is partly a reflection of our apparently ever increasing polarization as a society. 

However, the situation is much more sinister and pervasive than that. Despite his promises to drain the swamp, Trump and his billionaire minions in the cabinet and other positions of power are continuing and enhancing corruption at the highest levels of government. Many important administrative positions have been left unfilled, and many positions have reportedly been filled by completely unqualified people. The State Department is reportedly in crisis. Many other departments are likely malfunctioning to varying degrees. The consumer protection bureau is now almost sure to be castrated by the administration.  

It is clear that there has been an extensive cover-up of Russian connections during and following the campaign, whether or not there was actual collusion. Trump’s unwillingness to even admit that there was Russian interference in the 2016 election process may stymie any administration efforts to prevent future interference. AG Sessions admitted in his recent congressional testimony that the Justice Department has so far done NOTHING toward that end, nor has congress.

Trump’s shameful relentless attacks on a free and independent press which tries to hold him accountable for his incessant lies and actions, in conjunction with his own self-serving propaganda (the REAL fake news) are among his most insidious and damaging actions to our country. It stokes the divisions which are already threatening to tear apart the fabric of our society, and at least for many people spreads doubt and confusion about what is happening, making it easier to deflect and distract from the incriminating facts. Moreover, it provides cover and ammunition for totalitarian regimes throughout the world which are able to censor and control their own press, and can now point to American “fake news” as justification!  It is easy to speculate that some of this may stem from Trump’s desire to be more like those dictators, e.g. Putin, rather than deal with the constraints of our government’s checks and balances. This, as well as Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris accord, withdrawal from the pacific trade agreement, criticisms of NATO, praise of Russia and Putin, and lack of expressions of concern over violations of human rights around the world have all served to weaken our international stature, reputation and influence, probably to the delight of our adversaries.  

A recent tweet by retired general Michael Hayden, former national security advisor and CIA director, really says it all about the situation of our current president and presidency:  "If this is who we are or who we are becoming, I have wasted 40 years of my life.   Until now it was not possible for me to conceive of an American President capable of such an outrageous assault on truth, a free press or the first amendment."