As corrosive as the corruption is the impunity with which the corruption is committed. Impunity – the expectation of unaccountability – is not only a stance. It is a tactic. It breeds cynicism, and popular cynicism is a necessary ingredient of autocracy and kleptocracy.
The autocrat does not just flout the law; he renders it so fungible that as social or moral framework, it becomes meaningless. There is no use trying to stay on the right side of the law when you don’t know from day to day which side is right.
The autocrat does not just defy the popular will; he dismisses it. Trump’s impunity once rested on confidence of his unconditional adoration: “I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldn’t lose any voters,” he crowed during the first campaign. Ten years later, as his policies repel voters from his party, he is discovering that he needs neither party nor votes nor love to exercise power, and power is more gratifying, and remunerative, than any of these.
I guess I’m happy some media is talking about this. When they no longer can stop you, then exercise corruption openly to show everyone the opposition’s helplessness, or to counterintuitively kindle anger against that opposition which appears feckless and powerless.
It’s the reason Putin poisons people in ways obviously traceable to Russia.
It also directly contributes to hypernormalization, since the autocrat will then deny - with obvious lies - the truth of that corruption, which further exhausts the populace who eventually gets tired of trying to keep track of what is true and what is a lie, thereby handing more power to the autocrat to shape reality.
Trump, of course, is speedrunning every step of this.
Make no mistake, though, he desperately does seek adoration. Part of being a narcissist.
Its because he isn’t held accountable
He could rape kids on national tv while doing coke and shooting immigrants, AT LEAST 40% of americans would support him.
We need to rise up and take this fucker down.
It has a self-reinforcing effect: it enforces the idea that this is normal and that the system is working as intended. Even though most of us know that this is only the case because the people who are supposed to hold him accountable are beholden to him, from the outside, it looks as though this is how things should be. This makes change seem hopeless and normalises tyranny, resulting in lasting damage and a chilling effect that will persist for years.
As long as there is no threat of accountability, there is no incentive to conceal corruption. By performing the act without defence in plain sight, it is legitimised and societal expectations are shifted.
He’s confident he will be able to successfully coup the government and become president for life.
Unfortunately, the Dems are so limp dicked about it that he might be right.
Removed by mod
I remember when trolls used to try— there was an art to it. This is just sad.
His best corruption was in his previous administration and it was never addressed:
He routed military personnel out of their way in order to funnel money into his failing golf property in Scotland.
https://www.politico.com/story/2019/09/06/air-force-trump-scottish-retreat-1484337
https://abcnews.com/Politics/pentagon-spent-184000-trump-turnberry-resort-scotland/story?id=65701897
How them boots taste? Fuckin inbred
It’s too late for you buddy, your ass is already corrupted and it has spread to your brain. Assbrain, although not usually fatal, makes you appear dumb as fuck to all around you.
Thoughts and prayers…
