I'm still struggling to write essays. I want to but something seems to pull me in the other direction. I do find myself getting closer to doing it.
I think what I have to do is just start with a thought or memory that intrigues me or puzzles me. I love quoting others and using euphonic phrases that I come across. So there might be lots of that.
No doubt I'll start with short essays. It's my natural bent.
***
The president has made a bold move. He dropped massive bombs on Iran's nuclear facilities. The outcome, if Iraq and Afghanistan are remembered, will not likely be good.
When I first heard the news, I sensed a threshold had been crossed for our nation in this era. I guess in the back of my mind I am remembering the gist of what Dr. Bandy Lee has been saying for about 10 years, that Donald Trump has shown himself to have such severe characterological difficulties that him having control of the U.S. could be catastrophic.
Her prophecy, especially this second term, appears to be becoming more true each day.
***
In How Democracies Die, Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt say there are four key indicators of authoritarian behavior.
Here are the four:
1. Rejection of (or weak commitment to) democratic rules of the game.
2. Denial of the legitimacy of political opponents.
3. Toleration or encouragement of violence.
4. Readiness to curtail civil liberties of opponents, including media.
They also say, "With the exception of Richard Nixon, no major-party presidential candidate met even one of these four criteria over the last century...Donald Trump [during his first presidential run] met them all."
***
I'm glad I'm not the only person who is somewhat obsessed with the untoward doings of Trump. As I look on Bluesky I see tons of people are alarmed (an understatement) by Trump. I do think even a swatch of conservatives are getting antsy.
I was thinking about Trump's first term and how nothing overtly catastrophic happened early on, but then, three years into his presidency, COVID hit. Indeed, Trump didn't cause it, but his earlier actions paved the way to a shocking number of deaths.
This second term, I believe, augurs even worse.
***
