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TRUMP – THE DEMAGOGUE

A demagogue  Definition from Wikipedia (from Greek  a popular leader, a leader of a mob, from, people, populace, the commons + leading, leader) or rabble-rouser is a leader who gains popularity in a democracy by exploiting emotions, prejudice, and ignorance to arouse the common people against elites, whipping up the passions of the crowd and shutting down reasoned deliberation. Demagogues overturn established norms of political conduct, or promise or threaten to do so.

Historian Reinhard Luthin defined demagogue thus: “What is a demagogue? He is a politician skilled in oratory, flattery and invective; evasive in discussing vital issues; promising everything to everybody; appealing to the passions rather than the reason of the public; and arousing racial, religious, and class prejudices—a man whose lust for power without recourse to principle leads him to seek to become a master of the masses. He has for centuries practiced his profession of ‘man of the people’. He is a product of a political tradition nearly as old as western civilization itself.

Demagogues have appeared in democracies since ancient Athens. They exploit a fundamental weakness in democracy: because ultimate power is held by the people, it is possible for the people to give that power to someone who appeals to the lowest common denominator of a large segment of the population.  Demagogues usually advocate immediate, forceful action to address a crisis while accusing moderate and thoughtful opponents of weakness or disloyalty. If elected to high executive office, demagogues typically unravel constitutional limits on executive power and attempt to convert their democracy to dictatorship.

Demagogy is the next topic of the NYTimes essays on the trump Administration published in Sunday’s opinion section.  Jesse Weghman wrote the essay that explores the “Violent extremists and conspiracy theorists found their tribune in Donald trump.”

This month there were 13 arrests made by Federal and state authorities charging them with weapons charges, terrorism, and conspiracy.  Six of the men are alleged to plot to kidnap, pose a trial and execute the governor of Michigan, Gretchen Whitmer.  This because the group was furious that she had aggressively perusing a shutdown in the initial phases of the pandemic.  Her actions most likely saved thousands of lives.  The men arrested were among the armed anti shut-down individuals that stormed the state capital in Lansing and closed the government.  The protesters considered her a tyrant.  Trump had tweeted ”LIBERATE MICHIGAN” as if Trump was anti-government insurgent that did not believe in  science and medicine.  He tweeted the second amendment was under siege. 

Trump’s message was clear, protesters became bolder brandishing long rifles and semi-automatic weapons in the capital.  Political leaders condemned the armed display.  Trump defended the protesters saying on twitter “These are very good people, but they are very angry.” 

The presidents words matter.  They can mobilize people for the common good if he saw fit, however this president would rather divide than unite.  They can soothe nerves, move global markets, start wars and in the worst of them embolden violently prone individuals. 

Since his introduction in 2015 Trump has upturned every expectation about how an American president should speak.  After all the public once thought the President spoke for all Americans, not now.  He revels in crude insults, trivial gripes, and mockery of anyone that disagrees with him.  He constantly projects on to others his own actions as if he knows they must be as corrupt as he is. 

The presidency is the head of state and therefore he sets norms.  When the president makes fun of the disabilities, making racist comments, or lie or assault women it makes it Ok and gets replicated in society.  Almost two months after Trump announced his presidential bid in  2015 two men with a pipe beat up a homeless man then urinated on him.   They said after the attack  “Donald Trump was right,” one of the men said according to the police and said “All of these illegals need to be deported.”  After the attack Trump said “I would never condone violence”  Anyone following his campaign can claim BS to this statement. 

He continually told his supporters to harm protesters in  his rallies.  Trump went so far as to tell them he would pay legal bills. “Seriously just knock the crap out of him, I promise you, I will pay for your legal bills.” A few weeks later at a rally he said of a protester: “I’d like to punch him in the face, I’ll tell you.”

His supporters are not the only ones that commit acts of political violence.  There have been many acts of violence that have invoked the name of Trump in committing their acts of violence and assault.  This is in accordance with a review of 5 years of criminal cases by ABC news.  Minority groups suffer the worst of the attacks which are the same groups trump attacks with words. 

Unfortunately the harm to society will not end with trump’s presidency.  His toxic rhetoric has filtered down to elementary and secondary schools where children are repeating the most vial language he has used in office over the last 4 years.  There have been hundreds of cases od children being mocked, harassed, bullied and attacked for being Hispanic, Black, Muslim in a survey by the Washington post.  Many of the incidents make reference to Trump’s border wall.

The problem is the children hear the vial smears, and ugly tone, and bullying and think the actions and rhetoric is OK.  The president says it ….why can’t they? 

With a demagogue  it is not who we are now, but who we may become as a result of his  tenure in political office and actions.