Historians will have a difficult time explaining Trumpism. So much of this time is wrapped up in the spectacle of the personality disorders of one person that, as a country, we're unable to see the forest through the trees. Trump is the Republican party. The party is using this sick, weak old man to accomplish its agenda. Without a full reckoning on this premise, we'll never be able to rid ourselves of our original sin and be prone to repeat this cycle much to soon in the future, if we're fortunate enough to have a future.
For now, the GOP has a lightning rod to absorb all the criticisms of failed public policy. What often gets left out of these discussions is how long the GOP has been working at embedding these power dynamics into our body politic. Every norm, institution and electoral practice has been bent and twisted to accommodate the GOP drive for power. There is little ideological underpinning here - it's not about governance or achieving grand policy agenda. It's about holding power and using that power to exploit the weak links in the system to get more. In few words it's about unbridled lust for power over others.
At some point in the near future, 70% of the US Senate will represent just under 30% of the US population. This has been and continues to be the only GOP agenda - permanent control of the US Senate. Then, add in the occasional electoral wins for presidency and US House, and use that power mercilessly to direct the national treasure to your benefit.
We have Donald what'shisname to entertain us until January 20, and likely beyond. His misguided and mistaken election was a golden ticket handed to the best political strategists and tacticians money can buy. Quietly, behind the scenes, the GOP practiced non-democratic means to achieve power while their buffoon president provided the entertainment and distraction.
It leaves me with little hope for political solutions to our most challenging crisis. The US is a two-party system with one party interested in governance (as flawed as it might be) and the other party interested only in power and the riches that power brings. Fascism and oligarchy go hand in hand. Both are alive and well in the US, if just camouflaged enough to provide cover for respectability.
