Donald Trump's Approach Pose a Threat to Civilized Society.
The internal and external initiatives – ranging from the effort to overturn the election five years ago to latest actions and threats – undermine not only domestic and international jurisprudence. But that’s not all.
These actions jeopardize the core idea of what we mean by.
The guiding principle of a functioning society is to stop the stronger from preying upon and using the less powerful. Without this, we could find ourselves trapped in a brutish war where survival of the strongest could survive.
This concept lies at the center of the Declaration and Constitution. It is equally the foundation of the global system established after WWII championed by the America, which stresses international cooperation, popular sovereignty, human rights, and the supremacy of law.
Yet, it is a vulnerable ideal, frequently ignored by those who seek to abuse their influence. Upholding it demands that the those in charge have a sense of duty to refrain from seeking short-term wins, and that the public demand responsibility if they don't.
Absolute power does not equal right. It makes for uncertainty, upheaval, and hostilities.
Every time people or corporations or countries that are richer and more powerful attack and exploit those that are weaker, the framework of our shared norms weakens. Should such behavior are left unchecked, the fabric unravels. If not stopped, the world can plunge into disorder and conflict. History provides ample precedent.
Today, we live in a international landscape marked by extreme inequality. Political and economic power are increasingly centralized than in modern history. This invites the privileged to leverage their position against the less fortunate because they act with a sense of omnipotent.
The wealth of a small group of ultra-wealthy individuals is almost beyond comprehension. The power of major corporations in technology, energy, and aerospace extends over much of the globe. AI is poised to further concentrate resources and influence to a greater degree. The offensive capability of the world's largest nations is unprecedented in recorded history.
Supported by political allies and an accommodating supreme court, the highest office has been turned into the most dominant and unchecked entity of state power in recent memory.
Combine these factors and you see the looming crisis.
A clear connection links previous lawless actions to current menaces. These were premised on the hubris of omnipotence.
One observes parallel dynamics in the actions of other powers: in wars of aggression, in coercive diplomacy, and in the worldwide exploitation by powerful corporate entities.
Yet, strength without restraint does not create right. It makes for uncertainty, upended order, and bloodshed.
The lessons of the past reveal that laws and norms to check the powerful also shield them. If these guardrails are removed, their relentless pursuit for more power and wealth ultimately cause their collapse – taking down their corporations, nations, or empires. And risk global conflict.
This blatant disregard for rules will plague the nation and the world – and indeed civilization – for the foreseeable future.
