Surviving Trump- a Canadian Perspective
Some of us are still trying to parse exactly how Donald Trump managed to get re-elected, and still can’t come to grips with the fact that the President of the United States of America is not normal, nor are his congressional and senate supporters normal.
Think these people are playing politics in the usual fashion? They’re not. They’re an aberration. They’re not common-good democrats, but at the same time, they still haven’t sorted out their place in selfishly-ordered autocracy. Americans of all sorts are new to autocracy.
Trump had three reasons, and three reasons only, to get re-elected. The first was simple and inelegant: stay out of prison for the rest of his life. That, surely, is a powerful motivator, and one which makes one willing to sell everything, including one’s soul, to achieve. Don’t dismiss that. Anybody who could help sway the election got an IOU. Anybody. We don’t know exactly who, but we can watch the IOUs being cashed in.
The second is vengeance. Trump is a classic narcissist who believes he is entitled to be extolled, worshipped, obeyed, and never crossed. Anyone who crosses him, or even hesitates to genuflect sufficiently deserves to be destroyed, and better still, destroyed publicly and humiliatingly. Trump wants to emulate God on His Great White Throne.
The third is money. Trump has always been about accumulating wealth, no matter how that might happen. Cheating contractors, selling soap and snake oil, bitcoin, universities, wine, steaks, Bibles…. It never ends. And if you’re President, it’s so much easier.
So, what does this mean for those of us who live in a sovereign nation which Trump says should become the 51st State?
Well, consider a fourth and a fifth factor: Trump does not understand the concepts of loyalty or gratitude. Even if you bend the knee and kiss his gluteus maximus, he will still treat you like dirt and dispense you the second it’s convenient. He matters, you don’t. Life is a zero sum game, one player wins, one player loses, and he intends to win. You’re out of luck.
Fifthly, neither Trump nor his MAGA supporters understand the concept of empathy. If you’re not rich and powerful, well, you’re just an unlucky sucker, too bad for you. You should have had better genes. Mercy is a silly concept, justice is for those who can buy it.
All this to say, then, there is no upside for kissing his ass, and no downside for telling him to travel and enjoy a self-gratifying sex life, if you catch what I’m saying. Whether he hates you, or no longer finds you useful, makes no difference. He’ll show no mercy, display no gratitude, nor keep any promise, sucker. You’re dispensable. So, act accordingly.
The only things that matter are your pride and your influence. Trump may not believe it, but you are just as important as he is in the eyes of God and the universe. You have a story and a legacy, at least as honourable as his. Whether you go down futilely whimpering before a snickering tyrant, or holding your head high, is up to you.
But history cares. All the turning points of history feature the brave who refused to bow the knee, the William Tells (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Tell) who had one arrow for the apple and one for the tyrant.
So, if you’re thinking that Canada should cut a deal with the Donald, bow at his feet, and beg for mercy, think again. Whatever deal you make, he’ll break. Remember USMCA, “the best deal ever, the one that the Canadians and Mexicans came begging me”?
No, Canada needs to stand tall, respectfully and politely as it always does, make its own luck, work with its true friends, survive and succeed. And when the fever breaks for America, we’ll be there as good neighbours always are, to help pick up the pieces.
Each of us needs to face the dragon and be courageous in these times. We will pay a price, but we shall come out the other side stronger, wealthier, and prouder. And we’ll be there to help our neighbour in time of need.