Throughout our history many presidents have promised to make America great. Roosevelt had his New Deals, Johnson had his Great Society, Reagan had his Make America Great Again, and Trump has his version of the same.
Each attempt focused on what that president believed was the most pressing problems in our society.
David Brooks (NYT, April 17) offered the most comprehensive version of a great America in what he called the “sinews of civilization.” They are the pillars of a great society, a great America.
These pillars identified by Brooks are: (1) a Constitution to restrain power; (2) international alliances to promote peace; (3) legal systems to peacefully settle disputes; (4) scientific institutions to cure disease; (5) news outlets to advance public understanding; (6) charitable organizations to ease suffering; (7) businesses to build wealth and spread prosperity; and (8) universities to preserve, transmit and advance the glories of our way of life.
He summarizes his “sinews” by declaring, “These institutions make our lives sweet, loving and creative, rather than nasty, brutish and short.” Is Trump’s MAGA movement focused on any of these pillars or sinews in such a way that we are becoming more the former or more the latter?
Trump is attacking the Constitution, weakening international alliances, ignoring laws even those handed down by our Supreme Court, drastically reducing scientific research, attacking news outlets not favorable to him, eliminating charitable organizations that make the difference between life and death for hundreds of thousands of people, creating a tumultuous business climate, and attacking universities that are not preaching his version of a great America.
You be the judge. Many have made up their minds and are out rallying to truly make America great again.
Why not consider joining us? Complacency is a great America’s worst enemy!
Paul Robinson
Mansfield, Ohio