With Donald Trump battering away at the value element in the American political system, one is tempted to believe that the erosion of norms in US polity is nearing completion. But it would be an error to fall for such a simple generalisation, given the strength of the complex electoral system envisaged by the Founding Fathers of the US constitution. The document is revered across the world — among political scientists and politicians alike. University departments from Washington to Wellington swear by the charter that has become a guiding principle of many a nation that obtained freedom in the 20th century.
The tragedy of Trump is the tragedy of the Republican Party, which is grappling with an unprecedented crisis as its varied constituencies pull different ways. The Grand Old Party has been virtually hijacked by Trump’s divisive agenda — from the outlandish idea of a wall along the Mexico border to the travesty of courting China, a historical US rival.
The Republican crisis has swaddled the nation — intensifying the finger-pointing at what many nations call a compromise on values social, economic and political. But the GOP doesn’t represent America and America doesn’t represent the party of figures like Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon.
The US is an idea that has emerged out of a social, economic and historic context. The Declaration of Independence signed in 1776 states: “…we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…”
So, the repudiation of American political fairness is not a crisis the nation is passing through, but a reassertion of an idea in which imperfections lend a semblance of reality. Americans proved yesterday that there is more to life than the brand of politics that Trump propagates. Americans are generally happy with their home and work life, but are overwhelmingly angry with the federal government, an AP-GfK poll has found.
About 78 percent Americans are dissatisfied or angry with Washington. However, 84 percent respondents are enthusiastic or satisfied with their personal relationships, and 77 percent are happy with their career. America, like most healthy democracies, has an inbuilt system of checks and balances in its constitution. So does the Republican system. GOP leaders, most of whom have turned against Trump, are likely to throw him out at the Republican convention. And US polity would never let another Trump raise his head again.
With Donald Trump battering away at the value element in the American political system, one is tempted to believe that the erosion of norms in US polity is nearing completion. But it would be an error to fall for such a simple generalisation, given the strength of the complex electoral system envisaged by the Founding Fathers of the US constitution. The document is revered across the world — among political scientists and politicians alike. University departments from Washington to Wellington swear by the charter that has become a guiding principle of many a nation that obtained freedom in the 20th century.
The tragedy of Trump is the tragedy of the Republican Party, which is grappling with an unprecedented crisis as its varied constituencies pull different ways. The Grand Old Party has been virtually hijacked by Trump’s divisive agenda — from the outlandish idea of a wall along the Mexico border to the travesty of courting China, a historical US rival.
The Republican crisis has swaddled the nation — intensifying the finger-pointing at what many nations call a compromise on values social, economic and political. But the GOP doesn’t represent America and America doesn’t represent the party of figures like Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon.
The US is an idea that has emerged out of a social, economic and historic context. The Declaration of Independence signed in 1776 states: “…we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…”
So, the repudiation of American political fairness is not a crisis the nation is passing through, but a reassertion of an idea in which imperfections lend a semblance of reality. Americans proved yesterday that there is more to life than the brand of politics that Trump propagates. Americans are generally happy with their home and work life, but are overwhelmingly angry with the federal government, an AP-GfK poll has found.
About 78 percent Americans are dissatisfied or angry with Washington. However, 84 percent respondents are enthusiastic or satisfied with their personal relationships, and 77 percent are happy with their career. America, like most healthy democracies, has an inbuilt system of checks and balances in its constitution. So does the Republican system. GOP leaders, most of whom have turned against Trump, are likely to throw him out at the Republican convention. And US polity would never let another Trump raise his head again.
