Why Trump Can’t Quit Tariffs
by Ross DouthatNYT, July 28, 2018
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/28/opinion/sunday/trump-tariffs.html?comments#permid=28037535
This interpretation points to what I consider a possibly fatal flaw in US governance - politicians are violating their oath of office to protect the Constitution in favor of protecting their political party and their own political futures. Douthat's analysis indicates that, by and large, GOP politicians understand that Trump's policies endanger the wellbeing of America and Americans, but that in spite of that, they support domestic policies (e.g. tariffs, massive tax cuts for the rich) which are self-evidently hurtful to Americans.
This, of course, ignores the disastrous effects which Trump's foreign endeavors (I cannot in good conscious call them "policies") has on the US position in the world - Canada and the EU are "foes," which endanger US national security? Really??!!
So on both counts, domestic and foreign affairs, the GOP controlled Congress is collectively violating its oath of office and willfully supporting what, for the most part, they probably see as detrimental, even catastrophic US policies to save their own political skins rather than working for the benefit of "the people".
Once the surge of Trump is over, it will be difficult to re-establish vital American institutions, which Trump, and by gutless acquiescence, the GOP have severely damaged - a significant minority of Americans have been brainwashed to be willfully ignorant. Democracies fall because ignorant minorities follow autocratic leaders, and apathetic majorities allow it.
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