Where Have All the Democrats Gone?

 

From "Trumpty Dumpty Wanted a Crown" by John Lithgow

Last week I watched an interview with Ruy Teixeira, one of the authors of the book, “Where Have all the Democrats Gone?” on the Daily Show, with Jon Stewart. His main point was that the Democratic Party has gone from a party of the working class under FDR, to a party of intellectuals championing liberal causes and minorities, a party that doesn’t get much done. In the meantime, the unions have lost power due to globalization and immigration, and it’s the Republicans who have become the populist party, favoring nationalism, isolation, law and order, and religious fundamentalism, at least they say they do. 

Jon Stewart made the point that the Democrats were thought of as weak, because of their adherence to the rules of the system, which is making it hard for them to get anything done. He made fun of Obama for not pushing through Merrick Garland’s nomination as a Supreme Court justice, and Joe Biden’s dropping of immigration reform from his economics’ bill because of a parliamentarian’s ruling, while the Trump Republicans don’t have any qualms about pushing through their justices, and blocking said immigration bill just so they could use it as a campaign issue. 

While president, Trump trashed the nuclear deal with Iran, and threatened to leave NATO. He intends to conduct unprecedented deportation, using the military against not only illegal immigrants, but also against demonstrators who oppose him. While president, Trump used the Department of Justice as his own personal legal defense team. He disregarded the advice of experts on climate change, and on the effects and management of the COVID pandemic. He plans to eliminate regulations on industry and even eliminate large departments within the government. He’s even threatened to take away licensing from news outlets that oppose him. 

The interview seemed to conclude that the Democrats’ failure is due to their adherence to laws and tradition. Trump and the Republicans, on the other hand, are intent on getting their policies through, regardless of law and even Constitutional barriers. They now control the Supreme Court, and Trump seems well on the way to controlling both houses of Congress. Many seem to favor Trump, in spite of his scandals and frankly illegal behavior, just because he gets things done, and doesn't let laws, regulations, or science get in his way.  

Jon and the author, Mr. Tiexiera, seemed to think that the Democrats should “fight fire with fire,” to be more like the Republicans, and to fight for their policies, but I think the problem goes far beyond leadership or strategy. People are actually losing faith in our system of government. The Democrats are following the rules and the Republicans aren’t, and that couldn’t happen if people believed in the system. 

I’ve always assumed that our Constitution, our complex system of laws and regulations, and the bureaucracy that’s been built to enforce them, are what keeps our country strong, and guarantees the survival of our form of government, but that’s not it at all. It’s our belief in the system that keeps it going. Without that, the whole edifice will crumble to the ground. 

This discussion is akin to something my wise cousin Steve and I have talked about. He believes in gradual change, allowing society time to adapt. I’ve not been so patient. I’d like to see changes happen quicker, so that those who are suffering, or exploited can live long enough to see their lives improve. 

Right now there are a lot of people clamoring for change, rapid radical change. I'm not sure whether we need a change in government or just a change in attitude, but here's what Alex Hoffer (see post of August 27) said about change: “-the people who clamor for change are, on the whole, usually hostile to authority, --- Actually, in all the outstanding instances of rapid, drastic change we know of – successful rapid changes, drastic changes – occurred in an authoritarian atmosphere.” This is what scares me. Now that we’re losing patience with our system of government , we are looking for a leader. maybe it will be Trump, maybe somebody else, who will trash our republic and replace it with something else, who knows what. 

We have a choice to make, if it’s not too late: radical vs. gradual change, possibly even autocracy vs democracy. I side with cousin Steve this time, and chose the latter.

 

 

Donald and Fidel

 

                     Castro and Putin, another Trump Supporter

Fidel Castro led a popular revolution which took over Cuba in 1959. I was in high school at the time. When it became clear that Castro was a communist, many of the more affluent Cubans migrated to America. One of these was a friend of my mother’s. When she got back to the States she told my mother about how Cuba had changed under Castro. 

What struck me was what she said about the people he put into leadership positions. She said that they were the least competent, the least qualified people he could have picked. 

As Donald Trump makes his cabinet and other appointments known, I think you could describe them in the same way. From Mike Huckabee, the new Ambassador to Israel, a fundamentalist Christian who believes the Bible gives Israel the right to occupy the West Bank and Gaza, to Tom Homan, new Director of Immigration Enforcement, and author of the cruel family separation policy of Trump’s first term. From Matt Gaetz, Trump’s new Attorney General, under investigation for sexual misconduct by the House of Representatives, to Pete Hegseth, a political commentator on Fox News, now appointed Secretary of Defense, to Dan Scavino, Trump’s former golf caddie, now deputy White House Chief of Staff.    

What do these misfits have in common? They are loyal to Trump and dependent on him for their prominent positions. I suspect Castro’s appointees had the same qualifications.