Every Renaissance has its Reformation?

Anyone else out there unnerved by what’s happening in America these days? 

Experts on authoritarianism say that when political violence is being perpetrated by both sides (and make no mistake, there is violence on both sides), society is in the greatest state of peril, particularly in quasi-democracies. 

And Trump is stoking the fires, cynically weaponizing the anger of disgruntled people.

Globalization, like all things, has had positives and negatives. Hundreds of millions prospered, but millions in the USA were left behind, and they aren't happy about it. 

Worse, over the last 50 years, ever since the Powell Memo, big business has steadily pushed back gains made by organized labour, polarizing wealth in America to an increasingly dangerous degree. Worker wages have remained stagnant while 50 trillion has gone to the top 1% and CEO salaries have skyrocketed.

Democratic government, as opposed to authoritarian rule, is all about compromise: FDR and LBJ moderated the social and class divide with The New Deal and The Great Society. This helped America avoid falling into Communism or Fascism, creating the famed diamond shaped class structure, instead of the traditional feudal pyramid. 

Extremists want purity. This can be good, in that we want to be moving forward towards a more equitable, prosperous, healthy society. It can also be bad, with people pushing for purely selfish, impractical or outright self-destructive ends. Extremists push in the direction of their obsession without regard for practicality. That’s their nature. It’s also why societies run by extremists are unstable. 

The more you push in one direction, without regard for the greater body politic, the more resistance you build up. 

Every Renaissance has its Reformation.

Push the pendulum too far, and it’ll snap back with a vengeance. 

Savvy democratic leaders are aware of this, and implement changes incrementally, moving forward, in the direction (hopefully) that's most constructive, as much as politically viable. 

This (hopefully) avoids the Reformation trap. 

Demanding immediate extreme change leads to extreme resistance that can undo all progress. 

It’s not always even logical: change can be frightening. People often accept things as they are without thinking. Sudden change throws their lives and world view into chaos, creating alarm and fear. 

That seems to be where we are now. 

Trump is a con man, but he’s cunning, and he’s picked up on widespread discontent, real grievances, and provided enemies to rail against: a Goldstein for the Two Minute Hate, and he’s using it for his own benefit, to enrich himself (to the tune of $3.4 billion dollars), distract his opponents, and dismantle the institutions that kept the system (relatively) fair and competitive.

United we stand, divided we fall. Trump instinctively knows and exploits this, and social media has been his ally in this from the get go.

Social media elevates the incendiary, and it helped Trump get elected. He’s the social media prez, the Great Divider, the Drama King-in-Chief. Facebook infamously embedded with Trump's election war room. Just as Mussolini and Goebbels used the new social tech of the day (radio) in the thirties, Trump's at the forefront of it today.

The White House is practically a reality TV show. I'm amazed at the restraint Trump's shown, in that he doesn't have a camera crew following him 24/7. We could watch him destroy America in real time.

Opposing Trump with violence plays into his hands and would send America into the abyss, giving him the very excuses he needs to go full authoritarian.

Never go full authoritarian. 

The United States doesn’t need purity—it needs dialogue and, honestly, compromise. Eventually, this storm will pass, and a new generation of leaders will emerge to rebuild democracy. 

United we stand, divided we fall. 

Let’s step back from the abyss.

Gotta love me some Raphael