Frank's Musings

In the 13 December 20234 NY Times Charles Blow attributes Trump’s authoritarian appeal to voters to his wish to “bulldoze” through America’s bureaucracy. Democratic institutions and the rule of law protect us from despotism.

It is not the President who normally keeps the civil service in line. Anyone who has worked for a federal Department knows that nothing, and certainly no civilian complaint, gets more attention on Washington than a “congressional inquiry.”

Unfortunately, the recent compulsion of Senators and Representatives to advance their ultimate careers in the private sector has reduced the importance of constituent service in the agendas of many of them. They often are more motivated to curry favor with their future corporate employers. Thus, liberal democracy seems to serve the interests of voters less efficiently than an appealing would-be dictator does. It is up to presidential aspirants to make this anomaly clear to the public.