. . . And so the big matter for Americans to ponder: Is it supposed to be about "loyalty to the Crown/Dictator" etc.? Or loyalty to something higher purpose (they used to say "The Constitution")? (and even in that case, what do they actually mean by that - is there a generally accepted meaning of the document, to the majority of Americans?)
Current actions suggest that there's at least two very mutually exclusive definitions about that Document and (more importantly) what it means to be "American."
And I think much of that existed 250 years ago, but the differences are only surfacing this strongly now.
So what would be interesting: If DJT suddenly said "I want ____" but that was something that much of his base didn't want, and/or was contradictory to the Constitution, would everyone just "do as they were told/ordered," or would they say "nah, I don't think so."
I echo Carol-Ann: "Not great thinkers there . . . ." as they dig themselves a whole deeper than ever - except with their "blinders on", I don't think they see it.
. . . And so the big matter for Americans to ponder: Is it supposed to be about "loyalty to the Crown/Dictator" etc.? Or loyalty to something higher purpose (they used to say "The Constitution")? (and even in that case, what do they actually mean by that - is there a generally accepted meaning of the document, to the majority of Americans?)
Current actions suggest that there's at least two very mutually exclusive definitions about that Document and (more importantly) what it means to be "American."
And I think much of that existed 250 years ago, but the differences are only surfacing this strongly now.
So what would be interesting: If DJT suddenly said "I want ____" but that was something that much of his base didn't want, and/or was contradictory to the Constitution, would everyone just "do as they were told/ordered," or would they say "nah, I don't think so."
I echo Carol-Ann: "Not great thinkers there . . . ." as they dig themselves a whole deeper than ever - except with their "blinders on", I don't think they see it.
That's the question every democracy eventually has to answer, Grant...
Is loyalty owed to a leader, or to the institutions and principles that outlast every leader?
Healthy democracies depend on people being willing to disagree... even with someone they voted for.
Not great thinkers there, or they wouldn't be in this mess.
There are certainly some smart strategists involved.
Whether their ideas are good for the country is a completely different question. Intelligence and wisdom don't always travel together.