As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary as a country, polls are showing tat many Americans are pessimistic about its ability to remain a democratic republic for another 250 years — especially in light of Donald Trump’s second presidency. But attorney Max Stier, in an op-ed for The Hill, lays out a game plan for recovering from “the trauma of Trump.”
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Stier, founder of Partnership for Public Service, argues, “As the U.S. approaches its 250th anniversary on July 4, it is a good time to reflect on the extraordinary durability of our constitutional democracy and the many accomplishments of our country and government. The American experiment has endured wars, depressions and constitutional crises. Our federal government has sent astronauts to the moon, rebuilt war-ravaged continents, eradicated diseases and created the conditions for the most sustained period of democratic prosperity in history. But anniversaries should not only celebrate the past. They should also lead us to reflect on the current moment and look ahead to what we want for our future.”
The “current moment” in the United States, Stier laments, is a dark one and “would have appalled our Founding Fathers.”
“President Trump relentlessly treats our public institutions not as instruments of constitutional democracy, but as extensions of his personal and political power, as well as his own self-enrichment and aggrandizement,” the attorney explains. “In the process, he has degraded the government and the services it provides, politicized the nonpartisan, merit-based civil service and undermined the rule of law. The consequences are immediate and long-term. Food safety inspectors are fewer, the IRS is slower in meeting taxpayer needs, disaster response has been weakened and public health has been placed in jeopardy. Scientists, diplomats, lawyers and senior executives, collectively with millions of years of irreplaceable knowledge, have been pushed out or driven away.”
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But the future, according to Stier, doesn’t have to resemble the “current tumultuous period” that the U.S. is experiencing — and must “look ahead to a time when we can repair the damage caused by the Trump presidency.”
“The beginnings of that consensus already exist, according to forthcoming research my organization, the Partnership for Public Service, will publish later this summer,” Stier writes. “Three basic themes emerged. First, the public wants a government that understands their needs and works for them with their best interests in mind. Second, they hope for a government that is not influenced by money, corporations, the wealthy or a desire of elected officials to stay in power. Finally, they want a government that can solve our biggest problems such as health care, education and the environment while providing critical social services and dealing with emerging technology issues.”
Stier continues, “Recovering from the damage of the Trump era cannot simply mean restoring the status quo, but will require rebuilding a government that works better, delivers results and earns back the confidence and trust of the American people that has been eroding for decades. This starts with leadership…. At the same time, the government must become far more centered on the people it serves.”
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