In just 100 days, the Trump administration has managed to create a level of brazen lawlessness that took Vladimir Putin years to achieve. There is a sense of living through 700 days in just 100 with the overwhelming changes and erosion of norms and principles. The spectacle of citizens taking joy in the suffering of others has been a shocking revelation for many observers. The American public’s surprising tolerance for what can be described as tyrannical exercises of power, such as whisking people away to foreign prisons without due process, has raised concerns about the state of democracy and freedom in the country.
The quick erosion of the checks and balances system by Donald Trump has been a surprise to many, as has been the willingness of the American public to exchange freedoms for a sense of performative power. It seems that many have taken institutions and norms for granted, assuming they will always be there to protect them. The focus of the administration on reducing headcount in federal agencies, despite personnel costs not being a central part of the government’s budget, has left some disappointed and concerned about the long-term impact on governance and public services.
The flexibility and malleability of the definition of ‘we the people’ has been a troubling realization for many. It appears that certain groups, such as civil servants, native-born children of undocumented immigrants, and foreign graduate students who speak their mind, are increasingly considered outsiders in the American landscape. This has led to a sense of unease and anxiety about who truly belongs in the country and who has the right to enjoy the protections and freedoms afforded to ‘we the people.’
Overall, the first 100 days of the Trump administration have been a whirlwind of change, with many observers feeling like they have lived through an incredibly tumultuous period in a short amount of time. The spectacle of joy taken in the suffering of others and the willingness to overlook tyrannical exercises of power have raised concerns about the state of democracy and freedom in the country. The erosion of checks and balances and the focus on reducing government personnel costs have left some disappointed and worried about the future of governance. The shifting definition of ‘we the people’ has caused anxiety and uncertainty about who truly belongs in the United States.
