Donald Trump's Actions Present a Threat to Our Social Fabric.
The internal and external policies – from the attempted coup five years ago to current incursions and warnings – undermine both national and global jurisprudence. But that’s not all.
They jeopardize the fundamental meaning of what we mean by.
A moral purpose of any advanced culture is to forestall the more powerful from harming and taking advantage of the vulnerable. Failing that, we risk being trapped in a conflict of all against all where survival of the strongest wins.
This concept lies at the center of America’s founding documents. It is equally the core of the postwar international order advocated by the US, which stresses international cooperation, democratic governance, human rights, and the rule of law.
Yet, it is a vulnerable principle, easily violated by those who would exploit their power. Maintaining it demands that the powerful have enough integrity to refrain from seeking temporary advantages, and that society demand responsibility should they falter.
Absolute power does not make right. It leads to uncertainty, upheaval, and hostilities.
Every time entities that are wealthier and stronger prey upon those that are weaker, the structure of civilization unravels. If these actions are allowed to continue, the fabric unravels. If not stopped, the world can fall into chaos and war. We have seen this pattern previously.
Today, we live in a society and world with deepening divides. Authority and resources are more concentrated than ever before. This encourages the powerful to exploit the less fortunate because they act with a sense of omnipotent.
The wealth of a handful of billionaires is difficult to fathom. The reach of global industrial giants covers numerous countries. Artificial intelligence is poised to consolidate resources and influence to a greater degree. The military might of the world's largest nations is without parallel in the annals of time.
Empowered by a compliant faction and a sympathetic supreme court, the executive office has been transformed into the supreme and answerable-to-none instrument of government in history.
Put it all together and you perceive the threat.
An unbroken thread links past breaches of norms to ongoing menaces. Each were premised on the hubris of invincibility.
One observes a similar pattern in the actions of other powers: in wars of aggression, in strategic threats, and in the worldwide exploitation by powerful corporate entities.
Yet, strength without restraint does not make right. It produces fragility, upheaval, and bloodshed.
History shows that rules and conventions to limit the influential also shield them. If these guardrails are removed, their relentless pursuit for increased control and resources ultimately cause their collapse – taking down their corporations, nations, or empires. And threaten global conflict.
This kind of disregard for rules will cast a long shadow over international stability – and indeed civilized conduct – for a long time.
