Today’s national political status is in the chaotic shambles it is because President Trump’s operational method is not as a transactional politician but as a blatant extortionist. Those who don’t capitulate to his demands are subjected to punishment. Those who do fall in line are initially rewarded and then simply tolerated, but only so long as they continue to agree to whatever he demands & irrespective of their moral and ethical beliefs. It is allowed to happen because those constitutionally obligated to act are unwilling to do so out of fear and self-interest. Faced with this situation, Democrats fall into silence as a body, avoiding confrontation. Meanwhile, the Republican Party quickly supports any action proposed by Trump, offering applause without question. Any confrontational judicial rulings to uphold the rule of law, are either blatantly ignored or skillfully evaded by the administration. In response, the judiciary searches to find an effective means to require compliance with their rulings.

As part of this political turmoil, the world’s richest man is given a pass key to do whatever he wants ignoring contrary existing laws.  Other wealthy elites are also granted unprecedented freedom, operating above the law with impunity. In spite of the constitutional duty of Congress to act, it instead nods in agreement. The members remain passive—paralyzed by fear or complacency. Those who should speak out are afraid to act or speak out for fear of retaliation by the extortionist elected president.  He wields power ruthlessly, ensuring that no act of reprisal is too trivial or vindictive to exercise punishment for disagreement with his will. So, those with the responsibility to speak up, remain silent out of fear and their own self-interest.

This scenario mirrors the lesson from Aesop’s fable, “The Mice and the Cat.” In the story, the mice convene to address the threat posed by the household cat. After much deliberation, a young mouse proposes an ingenious solution: to tie a bell around the Cat’s neck, ensuring they are always forewarned of the cats approach. The idea is met with enthusiastic approval. However, the oldest mouse soon raises a critical question: “Who will tie the bell around the cats neck?” The room falls silent. No one speaks up. The fable concludes with a poignant truth—it is far easier to propose solutions than to execute them.

This allegory serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by those who recognize the need for action but are paralyzed by the enormity of the task. It underscores the importance of courage and collective resolve in confronting threats, whether they come in the form of a predatory cat or an unchecked authority. My friend, Orchestra conductor Harvey Felder was musical director in Tacoma until moving on to new accomplishments. We’ve stayed in contact and he recently shared an article with me about “patrimonialism,” a term I had not heard before. The article said in part:

“In the 21st century, patrimonial regimes have been consolidated in countries as diverse as Vladimir Putin’s Russia, Viktor Orbán’s Hungary, Narendra Modi’s India, and Benjamin Netanyahu’s Israel. In a leader-centered political order, whatever the boss says, no matter how outlandish, sets the agenda for every underling. In fact, the willingness of subordinates to parrot and defend even the most extreme parts of his stated agenda is one of the most important signs of regime loyalty, used by the leader to decide on promotions, demotions, and in cases of open criticism, retribution. Those opposed to President Trump cannot decide, say, to ignore his social media posts about making Canada the 51st state, nor can they claim that his tariff threats are just a “bargaining chip” while focusing on his efforts to subordinate the federal bureaucracy to his will. All of these stated priorities matter, precisely because the essence of patrimonialism is the leader’s arbitrary right to treat the state as his personal property.

President Trump’s new patrimonial regime, if he is able to consolidate it, will amount to nothing less than a revolutionary change in the American political system, as well as a paradigm shift in the global order. For those who prefer a different future—one in which leaders are constrained by the law, officials are judged by their competence and expertise rather than personal loyalty, the use of public office for private gain is prosecuted systematically, and norms of international law still matter—the years ahead will be intensely challenging. Understanding the way patrimonialism works will be vital for those who wish to resist its triumph in the United States.
or most Americans is an unfamiliar new political environment.”

We see the evidence of this kind of patrimonialism or authoritarian governing in the virtual avalanche of hundreds of executive orders issued by Trump that ignore constitutional requirements of first obtaining Congressional approval or simply violate Constitutional requirements. The culture of stifled dissent from those obligated to challenge injustice empowers further abuse of power in the executive. This lack of effective protest and objection, driven by fear, self-preservation, and personal interest, is unlikely to change until the actions impact the individual voter’s best interests and are adversely impacted by this authoritarian governing and react. Until then,  we are all simply passengers on a train, watching the passing scene out the window without any control of the situation.