Autocrats don’t eliminate the institutions. They eliminate accountability. The institutions in a modern autocracy exist as movie sets, false fronts with nothing behind the facades.
Of all the ways in which Donald Trump has contributed to the erosion of values and decency in American public life, his assault on accountability may be the most damaging. He not only denies culpability for the consequences of his actions, but extends immunity to those who gain favor through sycophancy or the gifts they bestow.
Trump is following the path of modern autocracies. They don’t hold power by eliminating the institutions important to democracy. Instead, they hollow them out, creating a world in which the courts, the media, even elections are make-believe. The institutions still exist, they seem to be functioning according to their purposes and they create the impression their work matters. But they are empty and meaningless.
Viktor Orbán and his ruling party in Hungary, Fidesz, is a case in point. Elections are held, but they are neither fair nor free. Public affairs news coverage exists, but media funding is tied to the ruling party. Courts still are called into session, but the judiciary is packed with partisan judges and is overseen by the government.
Autocrats don’t eliminate the institutions. They eliminate accountability. The institutions in a modern autocracy exist as movie sets, false fronts with nothing behind the facades.
The outrage over the Jeffrey Epstein scandal may be a tipping point when enough is enough. Epstein and his circle of despicable people epitomize how so often the wealthy are able to buy their way out of liability for the harm they impose on others. Business executives foist penalties onto shareholders when companies pay fines for the harm corporations knowingly inflict on people and the environment. The well-connected provide lucrative tributes to Trump’s family businesses in return for being exonerated after bilking taxpayers and individuals of billions of dollars. The most onerous hedge funds strip businesses of their value, replacing it with debt that enriches a few investors and leaves employees and customers holding an empty bag.
When personal accountability is not demanded of those who lead the nation, truly evil behavior is insulated and even rewarded. When no accountability is required, no actions are off limits. Withhold food for hungry Americans in spite of congressional appropriations and court orders? No problem. Attack foreign vessels and plan a ground invasion of South America with no congressional approval? Who pushes back? Trade national security for personal real estate deals in Saudia Arabia? Who is to say no?
There is light on the horizon, dim though it may be. Trumpism was soundly defeated in the off-year elections earlier this month, not just in states expected to elect Democratic governors but in local races in swing states. The politics of the government shutdown may have satisfied few, but it put a spotlight on the growing crisis in health care and is forcing Trump to implicitly acknowledge the impact of tariffs on everyday prices. Even Trump’s hold on Republicans is diminishing just a bit as evidenced by public opinion polls and the defection of once-stalwart MAGA supporters on a handful of issues. Is the wall crumbling? No, but cracks are evident.
These events are reminders that we the people still have leverage in demanding accountability and forcing change. It takes time and patience and most of all personal commitment.
What can be done? Three suggestions:
Get involved in a political campaign, the sooner the better. Next year, Minnesota will elect a governor, a U.S. senator, eight representatives to the U.S. House, all 201 members of the state legislature and countless local offices. There are candidates just starting their campaigns to replace the do-nothings. Now is when involvement is most needed and when a single voice is the loudest. Candidates need volunteers’ time, resources from those who are able, and vocal support.
Elections and campaigns aren’t just about winning or losing. They are about holding politicians accountable. One example: Imagine the influence Minnesota farmers would have if they went as a unified voice to the four Republican members of Congress right now to tell them to take back the power the Constitution gives Congress to set tariffs. If rural Republicans won’t represent their constituents with policies to promote fair trade and open markets, they shouldn’t expect farm votes next November.
Second, participate in the public square. The “No Kings” rallies didn’t succeed because they convinced Donald Trump to be better; they were effective because at their core they were neighbor-to-neighbor reminders that we all need to be better. Holding ourselves accountable to protect our most important values and institutions is the most effective way to hold leaders’ feet to the fire.
Third, be outraged. Be mad as hell. The assault on core values and our most important institutions should demand that everyone speaks up even when it’s uncomfortable. The darkness that kills democracy is created by the timidity of individuals who allow their voices to go silent when they need to be loudest.
The organization Braver Angels has a good guide on how to have productive political conversations (https://braverangels.org/
The U.S. is not yet Hungary. But since 2016, just about every major institution has seen an erosion of public trust. How far have we sunk? One of the few institutions to gain ground is Congress. In 2016, only 9% of those surveyed by Gallup had a great deal or some trust in Congress. Today, it’s up to 10%.
Trump is trying to “Orbán-ize” America’s institutions. He has inflicted damage, but hope is not lost. He hasn’t yet succeeded, but damage has been done. It took a long time to reach this point and changing course won’t happen overnight.
It won’t happen at all, though, without the commitment of each of us. If we the people don’t hold leaders accountable for what they say and do, then there is no restraint on the harm they can inflict.
Accountability isn’t just what someone else does or fails to do. It also is the personal accountability each of us bears to bring about change we want.
I won’t argue the points you make about Donald Trump except to say that he is not a traditional politician. He was not my choice for a standard bearer, but he did the same thing Jesse Ventura did and with even more name recognition on his side, got elected. No one should be surprised that he does not lead or govern in a traditional way.
Sadly though, you are castigating Trump and his administration at the same time as our state is suffering, financially, from mismanagement that can only come to rest on our governor’s desk. Tim Walz has been at this for nearly eight years. It would be very difficult for him to cast any blame elsewhere.
Isn’t it time to consider that our 2 party system is a big part of the problem, and the money in politics is most of the rest of the problem?
Thanks for reading and commenting. Yes, both Gov. Ventura and President Trump are unconventional politicians. The similarities end there. Gov. Ventura appointed what many consider to be the best group of state agencies ever. Trump chose sycophants. That speaks volumes about the differences between the two men. The challenges facing Minnesota, including the voluminous cases of fraud, are not related to the shortcomings of the Trump Administration. Trump is weaponizing the Department of Justice, undermining academic freedom and excellence, running the federal deficit through the roof in order to deliver more benefits to the wealthy, cutting research and investments in renewable energy, health cures and other critical areas, and selling his office and its privileges to the highest bidder. One certainly can find cause to oppose Gov. Walz for a third term. And one can find many, many reasons to oppose the polices of Trump. The two shouldn’t be conflated.
Tom,
Thank you for your response.
I want to highlight one important item from your reply: health cures. I don’t like what has happened our nation’s system of healthcare. I believe the answer might be the same as with politics: get the money out of it. Or more appropriately, the profit motive.
Diabetes runs in my family. My brother was diagnosed at age 4 and a half. I was 10 years old at the time, and I recall my parents saying that the doctor told them that my brother would be okay, they would have a cure within about 10 years. This was January or February of 1975. My brother died from complications of diabetes in 2001. Forgive me for being cynical, but there is no interest in curing disease. Only in treating it.
My sympathies for your brother. Yes, the health system needs reform, although I don’t think profit is the major problem. After all, it is the profit motive that has led to the development of miraculous drugs and medical devices, among other advances. That’s not to say excessive profits are OK or that profits at all costs are acceptable. But the problems with the health system won’t be solved if all that is done is replace the current system with a non-profit one
People like you and I invest savings into the market and plan and hope our investment grows and generates a return. Many of these investments usually include medical device companies or pharmaceutical companies. Part of that return is an unrealized gain (for most of us) in the form of a treatment or cure for one disease or another. In my opinion, not nearly enough cures. Too much emphasis on treatment.
It’s good to see someone on these pages acknowledging the national political crisis of incipient dictatorship which we are in. Citizens of Minneapolis need to stop bickering about differences which are minor compared to the enormity of the federal disaster and to work together to find common programs to better life in the city and to defend it against the encroachments and deprivations initiated by fascist elements in the federal government.
It’s interesting, though a bit disheartening for a DFL activist, to see this coming from an Independent not affiliated with either the DSA or the ‘moderate’ faction of the DFL in the city.
Thanks much for contributing it though.
Woods Halley
Woods Halley
Thanks for the comment. I agree that Minneapolis needs to find solutions to urgent issues. Let’s hope leaders look beyond their partisan boundaries