Brad Power

Trump's Mad Dogs Ready for War Brad Power

The Trump Effect is a kind of sickness in the democratic system. The early symptoms-nativist grumblings, nocturnal tweeting, and disinhibited behavior around women and immigrants-may lead to a crisis, especially in cases where the major parties have left their voters to fend for themselves in a globalized economy. This crisis may continue for as long as four years. Public life may be impaired and civility permanently weakened. Grandiosity and an increase in risk-taking behavior may lead to a rise in the racial temperature and the loss of old friendships. It is not yet clear if the Trump Effect can be remedied by treatment with tariffs, subsidies, and border defenses involving moats and alligators-or if these are actually signs of its terminal phase. It may in fact be incurable, like senility and other symptoms of decay.