Paul Krugman offers his explanation of our Preznit's policy atrocities this morning under the headline Manhood, Moola, McConnell and Trumpism. One of the more endearing features of liberal US political discussion is that we think bad acts require explanation. It's one of our nicer attributes.
On a day when we read the story of a Guatemalan child who died after being left without food or water for hours by the Border Patrol and US envoys try to sell the joys of fossil fuel exploitation to an international climate conference, I think it is important to add a couple of additional Ms to Krugman's diagnosis: Trumpism is enabled and empowered by a Mob enjoying its own Meaness.
Lance Mannion writes a grand rant describing a large fraction of us.
But Mannion insists that the active haters on the Trump train are not the whole of the moral catastrophe this small, damaged man spreads from his accidental perch. He is mining a familiar vein:It’s not just Trump. He is what he is, and that’s infuriating, but as I’ve said and has been said by wiser men and women, he’s the embodied expression of a general, and all-purpose hostility to having to be kind.
To having to care.
Trump’s cohorts of hideous men and women are a vindictive mob. They want to get even. They want to punish. But what they want to get even with is the world, which they have, quite rightly, recognized doesn’t care they exist. Who they want punished for this existential affront, however, is anybody and everybody they think is getting in the way of the world taking proper note of their existence and that turns out to be most of the rest of their fellow Americans and, although they’re apparently not aware of the irony, themselves as well, since the politicians they vote for to inflict the punishment don’t care about them and their existence except to the extent they are useful.
Meaness, both disreputable and respectable, is at the heart of our political sickness. As always, it is worth asking: who benefits?Trump assures his mobs that is ok to want revenge, it’s ok to hate. But he assures Republicans in general that they don’t have to care. As long as things are working out for them, whatever is happening to someone else somewhere else, everything’s fine, life is terrific, and America is great again. This is part of the essential message of almost every Republican politician since Coolidge. It will all work out if people mind their own business and others just mind theirs.
2 comments:
The child had gone three days without food and water from what I read. The border didn't recognize her dire situation-- for which they doubtless feel guilt and should. This is why those who support caravans should be working instead for better ways to deal with possible refugees. Some, on the left, don't mind using children like this. I consider both sides to be wrong where they politically profit from keeping this going to make money and get votes. Sad and poor little girl. I can't imagine taking a 7 year old on such a journey and it'll be interesting if some journalist looks at what happened there with that family.
More stories on the child and what might've led to her death. I keep following as likely do many others. I am glad they are doing an autopsy. I hope it will prove conclusive. The water at the station sounded like a potential problem but then the water they'd have had going north also could've been. It looks like the father took one child to assure getting across the border. For all the supposed dangers back there, he left his wife and other babies. Maybe the boy, who was the eldest, was not taken so he could work there. As Mayan people, their language was another barrier. I read there are 20 languages in Guatemala and many of the Natives speak only some Spanish. Difficult situation to say the least-- there, on the way here, or even once here.
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