There really is a big opportunity here, to make some fundamental shifts in public sentiment on the value of the government that Trump is trying to burn to the ground. A 2019 study by the Niskanen Center found that Americans “mistrust services provided by the public sector, even though they increasingly rely on government programs.” The misalignment is so bad, in fact, that the public tends to “misperceive good services” rendered by the government as coming from the private sector. The biggest problem, according to the study, is that most of the good work the government does is invisible—we only notice when it’s being done poorly. Because of that, the study concludes, the public’s “views of government don’t become more positive even if they directly benefit.”
As Trump and Musk stampede through Washington, and the inevitable maladies of this destruction become more visible to the public, liberals might be staring at a historic opportunity to turn public opinion on the value of government around. And they can back up their case by showing some backbone in Washington, because the price of being associated with Trumpism is too high. This week, they passed an important test with flying colors when they voted in lockstep against the Republican budget plan, and with considerable aplomb: California Representative Kevin Mullin flew to Washington to cast his vote straight from being discharged from the hospital; his Colorado colleague Brittany Pettersen made a similar sojourn with her newborn son.
All in all, this was an instructive week of how an out-of-power party can offer a steely response to, and take advantage of, a stumbling Trump. So let the cheap clickbait merchants beat on about how Democrats would be better off rolling over and playing dead. With public sentiment riding against Trump’s designs and no end in sight to the chaos he and Musk foment, there’s never been a better time for the party that believes in government to defend that government, connecting the ruination of the civil service to the ruination that will be visited on ordinary people. Democrats might be locked out of power, but they don’t need a parliamentary majority to land damaging blows against a flailing president and party. Strike while the iron is hot.
JelloBelter on May 17th, 2025 at 10:22 UTC »
Treason is a capital offence right?
Truthisnotallowed on May 17th, 2025 at 10:20 UTC »
Healthy democracies rely on independent media to keep the public informed, an independent legal profession to maintain the rule of law, independent universities to guard objective truth and provide forums for dissent to authority, and independent State and Local governments to counterbalance a powerful Federal government.
Trump's regime is attacking independent media, law firms, universities, and State and Local governments that don't bend the knee and pledge unquestioning loyalty.
When fascists are consolidating their power and dismantling our democracy, you have to find out if you will accept the situation you're in. Either let that become the new normal, or do something. And with that risk everything.
TubeframeMR2 on May 17th, 2025 at 10:19 UTC »
Trump is never going to jail as he will pardon himself but that does not mean his enablers both foreign and domestic cannot be held to account.
Scott Galloway has been promoting that the Dems introduce legislation that targets his enablers and co conspirators. It will never pass but it will show the enablers that they face real jeopardy in the future. Might get them to re think their support of the orange menace.
Edit: The comments are focused on the Pardon which may or may not happen, regardless he is almost 80 and will be able to wait out any action against him.
The purpose of my comment was to discuss Scott’s proposal which I believe is a good one and may slow Trump down.