The
hysteria about the election of Trump as president largely misses the point.
Yes, he is dangerously impulsive, horribly narcissistic, incompetent, arrogant
– and all the rest. Yes, he can and is already showing clear signs of actually
doing enormous harm to the people of the United States and of the rest of the
world. But, that is not the point. Many nations, in fact most nations, in the
world have had, at some point, someone like Trump at the helm. There are so
many examples in recent history and examples could be traced all the way back
into ancient times. Damage has been done, tragedies occurred. But, at some time
also, they fall from power and the people readjust, perhaps somewhat wiser—for
a time!
Trump will
do harm; the people will be watchful; some may find the means to limit the
damage and perhaps even remove him from office. Rather than ranting about how
awful he is, the people need to be paying attention to how he can be restrained
or even removed and, in the meantime, we must do what we can to protect the
most vulnerable and sustain the best of life around us.
Trump can
do enormous damage. However, after his four or eight years, life will take
another turn just as it has so many times in the past after a totally
incompetent or brutal leader has ruled. Life and the society that nourishes it
will continue.
What is
important is to pay attention to the political and cultural system that brought
him to power and to readjust that system so that there are safeguards. There
will certainly be a need to reconsider the constitutional and political
mechanisms that made the election of such a man possible.
Surely we
can deal with the long-term health of society rather than ranting about what a
terrible man he is. There is hard work ahead for all of us during these next
few years to limit the harm, protect people and prepare for what comes
afterward.
