Frank's Musings

Donald Trump’s Greenland Episode isn’t only the latest demonstration of his total detachment from reality; it shows how vulnerable our republic has become to the talents of a determined, wealthy, and deluded carnival barker.  We ought to have expected  him to act within his own twisted concept of reality, in which nothing of any importance exists other than himself.  However, we must recognize that he has been able to manipulate our democratic system of government to respond to insistent declaration of falsehoods instead of to our own critical analysis.

Oh, how we have fallen prey to our reliance on professionally designed media presentations for trusted commercial information and highly esteemed entertainment!  It may not require a real security threat for so vulnerable an electorate willingly to abdicate responsibility for protecting its self-interest if it allows civil society to be “run” by a single person.  Certainly, its elected representatives have already shown themselves to be much less inclined to protect the electorate’s welfare than their own.  Indeed, that is probably the main reason for the ambivalence that twice put Mr. Trump in office.

Both national political parties have decayed into mere career paths for glad handers.  The public apparently has wizened up to this, as evidenced by the growing number of independents.  Therefore, to serve the public’s true welfare and avoid the chaos of fashion, congressional Democrats and Republicans both need to remove or, at least, confine the rambunctiousness of our 47^th President.  It’s hard to believe that so unfocused and ignorant a leader could restructure our government; but his administration could seriously harm our liberal democracy, even only before the end of his current term in office.  That damage must be limited to give his successor a chance to restore America’s pride.