"The IDEA of America" - Blowing Up Our Democracy

[PsychoBabble]

Blowing Up Our Democracy

What is most disturbing is the President’s attack on the idea of America. America is an idea, not simply a country. As some of the recent Superbowl ads showed us, we are more than the sum of our parts. Trump is succeeding in turning e Pluribus Unum into “every man for himself”; he is Closing the American Mind by using a strategy of polarization – by politicizing every aspect of government and civic life.

This is not an accident. What we see with Trump is a systematic targeting of all the institutions and policies that actually made America great. One can argue that the administration (aided and abetted by the GOP) is like a terrorist planting bombs to blow up the pillars of our Democracy.

Here’s the blueprint:

Attack the Press: By lying continuously and labelling the Press as “fake news,” Trump is making sure to cast doubt on the “truth.” He is trying to subvert the press whose job it is to hold our politicians accountable. Senator John McCain has pointed this out – “that’s how Dictators get started.”

Attack the Judiciary: When “so-called” judges intervene to stop a Trump policy, Trump and his minions attack them because the legal system is so “corrupt.” The administration is intentionally destabilizing the judicial branch of government. Government by “rule of law” would prevent Trump from making needed changes.

Attack the Electoral Process: by casting doubt on the electoral process itself, and making false claims of voter fraud, Trump is setting the stage for widespread voter suppression. This is his plan to destabilize the voting process. Twenty-one states are making it harder to vote under this false pretense.

Attack Free Speech: by muzzling dissent, Trump and the GOP are setting the stage for “rule by ideology” – where decisions are no longer made on the basis of science or evidence. He is bending the truth to benefit industry interests. Protestors are branded as terrorists. The National Parks can’t tweet freely. Elizabeth Warren is silenced in the Senate.

Attack the Intelligence Community: Trump has attacked the CIA and the intelligence community, trying to discredit them publicly. Was this done to cover-up the Russian influence on the election?

It goes on .... attack after attack. Worth the read:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/the-terrorist-in-the-white-house_us_58aa969fe4b0b0e1e0e20d50?pqcsy4tcqso8hncdi&