REPUBLICANS TODAY: CULT OF TRUMP

The antithesis of the American ideal: negativity empowered

 Election 2020 reminded us that, despite Trump’s loss, we are still proceeding along the path of blind negativity that has become the dominant character of the Republican Party, stifling the machinery of government and creating extreme divisiveness within the population. On January 6, it was noted on a couple of pages of this blog that the Capitol riot was the culmination of this trend.

But really, it is far from it.

Beginning of the end of intellectual dominance

Today’s Republican Party is very different from that inherited by Richard Nixon in 1969. Fiscally conservative corporate types reflecting primary Republican policy accelerated the embrace of fear, hate and reactionary cultural values to support their agenda of reversing New Deal policies that had elevated the middle class and moved toward the elimination of poverty.

Onward to the Cult of Trump

Much of the social and economic progress that had defined American politics since the Great Depression has subsequently been compromised or lost. A further result of this strategy has been the replacement of corporate Republicans who had promoted the agenda  by those they courted, those primarily motivated to promote a far right cultural program, those who reject social progress; those who focus on preservation of power while rejecting functional government. The outcome has been the domination of the Republican Party by the Cult of Trump.  

Republicans against the American ideal

With several months having passed since the assault on the Capitol, we find the transformation virtually complete. The big lie about a fraudulent election continues to be spread by members of the party while obstructing legislation that would protect people and planet. Red states are passing Jim Crow legislation to stifle voting in the attempt to quell opposition.

History of reversals

This is not the first time that the Republican Party has faced a sweeping transition. Established at a time of political turmoil in the 1850’s, it began as the anti-slavery party, espousing the noble cause of eliminating the nation’s utmost hypocrisy. Eventually domination by northern business interests pushed aside those working toward a more egalitarian nation. Described by history as Radical Republicans, the former abolitionists created programs during Reconstruction to bring former slaves into the mainstream. Terminated with the Compromise of 1876 the White House was handed to the Republicans in exchange for returning power in the South to the former leaders of the old slave holding culture.   

Government for who?

This slammed the doors shut for people of color. Brutalized in their population centers in the south, excluded and mistreated throughout the nation, results persist to this day. But neither political party at the time was at all sympathetic to the plight of the average American. Labor movements were harshly dealt with while Jim Crow reigned in the then Democratic Solid South.

Reformers

The first great reformer was actually a Republican, Theodore Roosevelt, called Trustbuster for breaking up the oppressive monopolies that dictated prices and wages in American industry. The second was his Democratic cousin, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, whose New Deal actually brought government to people, providing direct support for the first time in history.

Social and economic progress reversed

Although corporate interests, as always, have continued to dominate, through the ensuing years regulations were put in place, civil rights enacted, wealth more equitably distributed with greater empowerment for the people. And then, with the administration of Richard Nixon, the backward march began. As time has passed and anti-intellectualism and divisiveness further encouraged, the tools became the power, commanding the heart and soul of the Republican Party, placing negativity at the forefront of their agenda.

March backwards intensified

Intellectualism and unity, hallmarks of the New Deal era (1933-1969), have been replaced by negativity and divisiveness. Embrace of diversity has been replaced by displays of hate, science by superstition and myth, turning against democracy itself. This is today’s Republican Party; marching in step with the self-absorbed rantings of Donald Trump.

The party has no realistic agenda; only disruption. Positive legislation is blocked and an ultra-conservative judiciary created. In this time of overwhelming political and climate crises, it seems intent on chaos and destruction.    

A brief respite; then the ugliest of all

When The Legitimization of Ignorance was published in 2009, Barack Obama had just entered office and we were riding a wave of optimism. However, this was but a brief respite during which the American people finally received a viable, if watered down, health care plan.

But then, Donald Trump, the antithesis of the American ideal, was chosen to lead the nation. Inciting his brigades of hate and medieval superstition, stripping all regulation protective of people and planet, he and his followers have trampled core doctrines, even inciting a riot in the Capitol to prevent a legal transition of power.

Cult of Trump persists

Although no longer in office, the Cult of Trump persists, Republicans made gains in the House and are close enough in the Senate to block viable legislation (see Election 2020). Republican controlled states are intent on restricting voting to prevent opposition; the ugly discrimination of Jim Crow intensified.

And the Cult of Trump continues its devastating path with the destruction of our rights, our well being and our environment. The legitimization of ignorance continues to progress, taking with it hate, anti-intellectualism, anti-science and the elimination of basic humanity and decency within our society.

Update

The election of Joe Biden has brought a new wave of proposed legislation friendly to people and planet; protection for the environment, voting rights reform and wealth more equitably distributed. Considering the election of 2020 however, where Republicans are too dangerously close to allow much needed progress, optimism must be severely guarded.

The pendulum has been swinging ever more violently from one administration to the next in recent years, leaving us to question whether we can turn things around or continue on a path of destruction (see Balance).

Addendum

It is hoped that next year’s midterm elections will buck the trend of voting against the party in power and spread some sanity throughout the nation. We now see state governments that would literally kill their people by denying mask and vaccine mandates, climate conditions run amok, destroying life and property, democracy at risk.

Yes, politics is a dirty game where money and power tend to dominate over people. And Democrats are far from guilt free. But today’s Republicans have reached a new and unheard of level of negativity.

8/2021