A sad irony

There's a particular irony in Trump's reelection; he will only exacerbate the problems that got him elected.  In large part, the country is fed up with globalization and the "international order" the US established and has been largely responsible for maintaining for three quarters of a century. Globalization may have gotten us cheap goods from China but at the expense of middle class jobs. Cheap shit is all very well but doesn't make up for having to have two jobs to stay afloat. And many American's are tired of being asked to sort out every global conflict even though it's often not because to export American values but for economic self interest.  

The federal government's inability to address these fundamental questions (and the left's preoccupation with perceived inequality) has led to a decline in trust in the government.  Congress has not only been effective, but it's increasingly hyperbolic partisanship has undermined trust in the institution.  The executive branch hasn't helped by politicising the judiciary and most visibly the supreme court which has undermined trust in that institution, aided by a fragmented and increasingly partizan media.

It is that disillusion and mistrust that propelled Trump into office. Twice.  The irony is that Trump will only make matter worse.  His lies further erode trust in politicians in general. ANd his public disparaging of any institution that doesn't kiss the ring further undermines public trust in the institutions that are essential to a well ordered society and effective governance. 

While the Democrat's hair-on-fire warnings about the end of democracy are probably over-blown - we would only have known had Harris won the last election - the status quo is not anything we should be proud of.  The concentration of post and influence in the hands of a tiny group of the most wealthy individuals in the country has echoes of the robber barons of the 19th century.  And while the oligarchy persists and becomes more entrenched as it organizes society in its own interest the disconnect between the electorate and the government will only widen. 

Let's not forget Trump's pardons of the Jan 6th insurrectionists. These are people who Trump encouraged to break the law on his behalf. They are not "patriots" or martyrs. They all knew (or had no excuse for not knowing) that Trump had lost the election and therefore their attempt to install him as president was an attempt to overturn an election through subterfuge (the fake electors scheme) and violence (the Jan 6th "protestors").     

The "whataboutism" for Biden's pardons is a complete red herring. Biden was protecting some people from Trump's vindictive abuse of tje DoJ to punish his political opponents as ill advised it was. Trump by contrast is endorsing and legitimizing (literally) law breaking when it's done in his interests.  That further undermines confidence in the judicial system and the institutions of government.  

Sadly, Trump's BS also diverted attention away from a fundamental problem; campaign finance. Until elected officials don't need to rely on big money donors, we will never had a democracy that more closely reflects the needs to voters rather than those of the people writing the checks. But thanks to Trump (and to  a degree, those who preceded him), we haven't had any conversation about campaign finance reform for almost a decade.