Summary: Op-eds about the Trump administration discuss people and policy, as if Washington were run by Vulcans. They seldom mention the desires for revenge and to crush their foes. What role will these motives play in the actions of Team Trump? Much of the Left’s hysteria is fear that he will to do treat them like they’ve treated the Right. But the situation is more complex than it looks.
This might become conservative’s theme song for the Trump years.
“Many great ones through the ages
have attained to earthly power.
Yet they all but had their hour,
…Still the mill wheel turns, it turns forever,
though what is uppermost remains not so.
The water underneath in vain endeavor
does the work but always stays below.— From Bertolt Brecht’s “Ballad of the Mill Wheel”. See this book of his work
.
For decades liberals have maintained the moral high ground due to their hold on key institutions in academic and government. They deployed this power to delegitimize conservatives, calling them deniers, racists, anti-Semitic, and sexists — often with little or no factual basis. It worked well for years, but even the sharpest sword dulls with overuse. Liberals unleashed fifteen months of invective on Trump, a hate bombardment with few precedents in US history. It failed.
Now the wheel turns, as Trump brings new players to Washington who don’t respect the game as it has evolved since the 1960’s. Now comes the opportunity for the GOP to get payback. Much of the Left’s hysteria about Trump comes from their fear that he will do to them what they’ve done to conservatives during the past few decades. But the situation is more complex than it looks.
First, there is an element of revenge. The GOP Congress could defund the climate scientists who attacked and mocked them (leaving untouched the immediately valuable weather forecasters). Congress and the President could investigate Hillary Clinton and the Clinton Foundation as persistently and irrationally as they did the Benghazi Benghazi BENGHAZI incident. Congress and the President could uproot the social justice warriors in the Federal bureaucracy, ending their crusades (e.g., against the fake “campus rape culture”). This could be a long list.
Second, striking back at foes is sound political strategy. Game theory shows that Tit for Tat is among the most effective strategies in situations like politics. Gandhi and Jesus provide wonderful ideals, but it is not necessarily survivable advice for the life in Washington.
Third, attacking opponents is a necessary step to win. Leaving liberal apparatchiks in power, rooted in America’s government and academic institutions, means that any respite from their influence is temporary — that their work creates a ratchet. Evolution can only run to the Left unless their power is broken. Unless they are broken, as they have broken so many others.
Conservatives have a level of power in America not seen since the 1920’s. Using that to attack their enemies could have large effects both today and on America’s future. But those who will decide what to do know there is a second side to the coin. There always is a second side.
“{Wrath} is sweeter by far than the honeycomb…,
And spreads through the hearts of men.”
— Homer quoted by Aristotle in his Rhetoric.
Instead nothing will be done
The logic above is that of the political strategists whose words dominate op-ed pages and the journals of political scientists. But practicing politicians have more immediate goals. They hold office for a brief time, and have to accumulate money and influence while they can. That means giving powerful special interests what they want. More defense spending for the military-industrial-complex. Crushing unions and gutting regulations for businesses. Deregulating the banks. Even extremely unpopular policies such as privatizing Medicare. These are the actions that produce career benefits.
Revenge is fun and produces cheers from the fans. The long-term benefits to society — from shifting the ideological basis of society — accrue to others. But doing favors for the 1% pays well.
What will our new leaders in Washington choose to focus on, revenge or profits? I’ll bet they go for the money.
Explaining the results of Campaign 2016
- Resources to help you prepare for the Trump years.
- Breaking the myths about Campaign 2016, so we can prepare for 2020.
- Clinton lost because fear failed, and her SJW’s terrified voters.
- Three big things to expect from the Trump era.
- Will Trump and conservatives inflict payback on their foes?
- Trump and the 1% lead America back to its past, to its roots.
For More Information
If you liked this post, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. See all posts about the Republican Party, reforming America: steps to new politics, Campaign 2016, and especially these…
- Now is the time for America to get angry.
- In “Network”, Howard Beale asks us to get mad and do something. He’s still waiting.
- A simple thing you can do to start the reform of America: get angry.
- How can we arouse a passion to reform America in the hearts of our neighbors?
- Should we risk using anger to arouse America?
