0
0
Poor Donald Trump. He stated in a recent interview with Time Magazine that he now realizes he made a serious mistake in appointing Neil Gorsuch, Amy Coney Barrett, and Brett Cavanaugh to their positions on his Supreme Court. After all, he had three job openings, lots of applicants, and expected that his hirelings would support and represent his brand in a way that his company expected of them.
Poor Donald Trump—and poor us—he just doesn’t understand the difference between business and government. In business, he was always free to hire the people who would best carry out his plans. He could expect obedience and loyalty, knowing that if the big boss wants it done, the hirelings will get the job done as the head honcho wants–or else. One doesn’t question or challenge anything as a Trump employee. One doesn’t exert individual judgment; one obeys. (And isn’t that why Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth get along so well?)
Government, or shall I be far more specific and say democracy, was never meant to work that way. The people that the chief executive “hires” are not expected to be sycophants or mere pretty faces. Rather they are brought on board because they are experts, not merely competent, which means they bring informed judgment and an ability to act independently, that they are entrusted to make their own decisions. Those in charge at the Federal Reserve constantly monitor the markets, watch the trends, collect and respect data, consult and communicate, making decisions after all the relevant input is in. If these happen to be consistent with the way the President is leaning, great. If not, further debate ensues, and it is actually possible that the boss will be won over by some combination of logic and data.
But that’s the last thing that our Golden-Haired Leader desires. This is not how Trump Inc operates. He follows his personal set of four Golden Rules: 1. Shades of gray do not exist. 2. Good practice is loyal practice. 3. Dissent is not allowed. 4. Employees are expected to carry out my orders, no matter how bizarre. And these four all derive from one principle tenet by which the Great One operates: My mind is made up. Don’t confuse me with the facts.
Of all possible governmental institutions, expectations for the Supreme Court run 180 degrees counter to those that the Trumpster prefers. The justices of the Supreme Court are not supposed to be Mr. Trump’s employees; they are not expected to obey his every command. And the one word that categorizes what a democracy expects of these twelve individuals is independence, which happens to directly contradict the concept of judgment-by-loyalty.
Sad. Sad. Sad. This megalomaniac just doesn’t get it, and we all suffer as a result. In a parallel vein, virtually every President has followed his election by at least espousing the idea that he will be everyone’s President, whether they voted for him or not. The principle, always espoused although rarely practiced, is that the President’s job is to heal the nation and bring everyone together. Not this President. From the moment he took office, he has exercised the mindset of the classic authoritarian in his words and deeds. Some people, the ones who voted for me and who believe that their interests overlap completely with mine, are on my side. They are the good guys. They are completely onboard with whatever nonsense I espouse, and if requested, will carry out my orders. They are, in a word, loyal, absolutely and totally. All others–Democrats, liberals, CNN reporters, Canadians, you can go to hell. If you won’t jump aboard and kowtow, then we’re not out to work with you, we’re out to get you.
So Amy, Neil, and Brett, the Pres has a simple message for you: For some dumb reason I cannot invoke the rules of the Apprentice and say “You’re fired.” But don’t think for a moment that you can disagree with me and get away with it. We’ve got folks out there who are quietly checking if you have paid your taxes, if you’ve got outstanding parking tickets, and if your kids ever got in trouble at school. And whatever you do, watch your back.
But don’t fret. We can call them off at a moment’s notice, the moment you start making better decisions.
