Trump Despises Politics

Published in Analítica
(Venezuela) on 11 August 2023
by Trino Márquez Cegarra (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Patricia Simoni. Edited by Michelle Bisson.
An old and deep-rooted prejudice, promoted by the anti-political, holds that politicians swim in a pool without principles or values, where all actions are oriented to a single end: to win power and keep it, no matter what, regardless of the method used or who is annihilated.

“The end justifies the means” is the phrase, attributed to Niccolo Machiavelli in “The Prince,” that summarizes this viewpoint. I believe this maxim distorts what was stated by the founder of politics as a modern science. The struggle to conquer power and keep it does not mean the denial of morals or values. What a prince had to understand was that to remain as head of state, he had to detach from personal affections and considerations, for those attachments could lead him to actions dictated by sentimentality or compassion.

Donald Trump represents the embodiment of the braggart, immoral, opportunistic and authoritarian character who uses politics, not to promote the common good, but to satisfy his ego in reaching for goals without having the slightest preparation. In his case, his presence in the public sphere is a whim that he has been able to satisfy, thanks to his immense fortune. The ambition of the egomaniac.

The former president is neither Republican nor Democrat. He has committed the excesses of an autocrat, placing himself above institutions and laws in order to try to submit them to his whims. Toward the end of his campaign for reelection in 2020, he constructed the hypothesis of fraud and adulteration of the vote by mail, an American tradition representing the confidence of citizens in the transparency of the vote and in the efficiency of those in charge of counting them.

Despite what was indicated by pre-election polls and what actually happened on Election Day when he lost by more than 6 million votes, Trump persists in his claim of election fraud. Neither the rulings against his accusations by the courts in which he filed the lawsuits nor the evidence presented by his own supporters, who tried to convince him that Joe Biden had triumphed cleanly, have served to convince him of his error — or rather, of his slander. Even Mike Pence, his vice president, has denied it.

Then came the assault on Congress by a mob of Republican fanatics encouraged by the president himself. On that day, the entire planet saw how the head of the United States government cheered on a mob that entered the premises of an institution symbolic of the endurance of one of the oldest and most admired democracies in the world. No U.S. president had ever thought of attacking that symbol of popular sovereignty. Trump fomented an insurrection and a coup d'état, rejected even by Pence, who was later accused of cowardice by the ruler. Pence's firmness was the key that prevented Trump from ignoring Biden's victory.

Trump's history as a former president is deplorable. Among the numerous accusations against him is that of having taken from the White House several thousand classified documents, many of highest security, which should not have been removed — they are the property of the U.S. government. The most striking thing about the excesses that always accompany Trump is the popularity he enjoys among members of the Republican Party. The more evidence accumulated of his outrages and the more he is accused of acts that violate the law and the majesty of politics and personal decorum, the stronger he becomes to the Republican rank and file.

Where are the democratic and republican values of a party that had among its militants that genius named Abraham Lincoln? How is it possible that a person who promotes sedition and lawbreaking — violating the security of the first military power in the world — is now the leader of one of two parties that have sustained American democracy for more than two centuries?

There is a sharply dissonant and disturbing trend at large in a significant sector of the country, which not only encourages the dissolution of institutions, but also promotes weaponry and violence on multiple levels and unabashedly foments social discord.

Trump is an anomaly, demonstrating how dangerously tolerant republican and democratic systems can be of enemies who enjoy popularity. The former president has committed serious, unconscionable crimes that must be punished. It would be a disgrace and a great risk for the democratic world if, due to the slowness of the American justice system, Trump were to become a candidate and, eventually, president again.

It should not be left to fanatical voters to decide whether he will again be the leader of the nation. Politics is not the preserve of rascals, but a field that should be exalted. It is up to the judiciary to act as a force for correction and the restoration of dignity.

Trump must be excluded from the public sphere because he despises politics.


Un antiguo y arraigado prejuicio promovido por la antipolítica sostiene que los políticos se mueven en un charco donde no hay principios ni valores, y donde todas las acciones se orientan a un solo fin: conquistar el poder y mantenerlo como sea, sin importar el método utilizado o a quién se aniquile. ‘El fin justifica los medios’ es la frase –atribuida a  Nicolás Maquiavelo en El Príncipe– que sintetiza esa visión. Esa máxima, considero, distorsiona lo planteado por el fundador de la Política como ciencia moderna. La lucha por conquistar el poder y conservarlo no significa la negación de la moral ni de los valores. Lo que sí tiene que entender el ‘Príncipe’ es que para mantenerse al frente del Estado debe prescindir de afectos y consideraciones personales, porque esos apegos pueden conducirlo a adoptar medidas equivocadas dictadas por el sentimentalismo o la compasión.
Donald Trump representa la encarnación del personaje fanfarrón, inmoral, oportunista y autoritario que utiliza la política, no para promover el bien común, sino para satisfacer el ego y alcanzar metas para las cuales nunca se formó. En su caso, su figuración en la esfera pública es un capricho que ha podido satisfacer gracias a su inmensa fortuna. La ambición del ególatra.  
El expresidente no es republicano ni demócrata. Ha cometido los excesos propios del autócrata colocado por encima de las instituciones y  leyes con el fin de tratar de someterlas a sus caprichos. Hacia finales de su campaña para la reelección en 2020, inventó la tesis del fraude y la adulteración del voto por correo, antigua tradición norteamericana, símbolo  de la confianza de los ciudadanos en la transparencia del sufragio y en la pulcritud de los encargados de contarlos.

A pesar de lo indicado por las encuestas previas a la elección y de lo que efectivamente ocurrió el día de los comicios, cuando perdió por más de seis millones de papeletas, Trump ha insistido en el fraude electoral. No han servido para convencerlo de su error –o mejor dicho de su calumnia- ni los fallos en contra de sus acusaciones de los tribunales en los cuales introdujo las demandas, ni las evidencias presentadas por sus propios partidarios, quienes trataron de convencerlo de que Joe Biden había triunfado de forma limpia. Hasta Mike Pence, su vicepresidente lo ha desmentido.

Luego vino el asalto al Congreso por una turba de fanáticos republicanos promovida por el propio mandatario. Ese día el planeta entero vio cómo el jefe del Estado norteamericano aupaba al grupo de facinerosos que entraba en las instalaciones de una institución que representa la solidez de una de las democracias más antiguas y admiradas del mundo. A ningún mandatario estadounidense se le había ocurrido atentar contra el símbolo de la soberanía popular. Trump fomentó una insurrección y un golpe de Estado, rechazado hasta por Pence, quien luego fue acusado de cobarde por el gobernante. La firmeza de Pence fue clave para evitar que Trump desconociera la victoria de Biden.

La historia de Trump como expresidente resulta deplorable. Entre las numerosas acusaciones en su contra está la de haberse llevado de la Casa Blanca varios miles de documentos clasificados, muchos de ellos de máxima seguridad, que no podía sustraer porque pertenecen al Estado.
Lo más llamativo de los excesos que siempre acompañan a Trump es la popularidad de la que disfruta entre los miembros del Partido Republicano. Mientras más evidencias se acumulan de sus desmanes y más se le acusa de actos que violan la ley, la majestad de la política y el decoro personal, más firme se hace en las filas republicanas. Esta popularidad parece un contrasentido.

¿Dónde se encuentran los valores democráticos y republicanos de un partido que tuvo entre sus militantes a ese genio llamado Abraham Lincoln? ¿Cómo es posible que una persona que promueve la sedición, la transgresión de las leyes y vulnera la seguridad de la primera potencia militar del mundo, se haya erigido en el líder de uno de los dos partidos que ha sostenido la democracia norteamericana por más de dos siglos? Existe una clara incongruencia y un rasgo preocupante de un sector significativo del país que no solo fomenta la disolución de las instituciones, sino que promueve el armamentismo, la violencia en múltiples planos y el antagonismo social de forma desembozada.

Donald Trump constituye una anomalía. Revela lo peligrosamente tolerante que pueden ser los sistemas republicanos y democráticos con enemigos que gozan de popularidad. El exmandatario ha cometido, más que desmesuras, delitos graves que deben ser castigados. Sería una vergüenza y un gran riesgo  para el mundo democrático que, por la lentitud de la justicia norteamericana, Trump vuelva a ser candidato y, eventualmente, presidente.

No es a unos electores fanatizados a quienes corresponde decidir si él vuelve a ser el líder de la nación. La política no es el coto de los bribones, sino un campo que debe ser enaltecido. Al Poder Judicial le corresponde actuar como factor de corrección y dignificación. 

A Trump hay que excluirlo de la esfera pública porque desprecia la política.
This post appeared on the front page as a direct link to the original article with the above link .

Hot this week

Singapore: The Assassination of Charlie Kirk Leaves America at a Turning Point

Venezuela: China: Authoritarianism Unites, Democracy Divides

Russia: Trump the Multipolarist*

Singapore: Several US Trade ‘Deals’ Later, There Are Still More Questions than Answers

Guatemala: Fanaticism and Intolerance

Topics

Mexico: Nostalgia for the Invasions

Malaysia: The Tariff Trap: Why America’s Protectionist Gambit Only Tightens China’s Grip on Global Manufacturing

Singapore: Several US Trade ‘Deals’ Later, There Are Still More Questions than Answers

Venezuela: Charlie Kirk and the 2nd Amendment

Spain: Charlie Kirk and the Awful People Celebrating His Death

Germany: Trump Declares War on Cities

Japan: US Signing of Japan Tariffs: Reject Self-Righteousness and Fulfill Agreement

Russia: Trump the Multipolarist*

Related Articles

Malaysia: The Tariff Trap: Why America’s Protectionist Gambit Only Tightens China’s Grip on Global Manufacturing

Singapore: Several US Trade ‘Deals’ Later, There Are Still More Questions than Answers

Dominican Republic: Trump Is Rigorously Consistent

Germany: Trump Declares War on Cities

Russia: Trump the Multipolarist*