Lessons to Live by in Trumpsylvania

Warning: This is a “political post” and I consider myself to be more liberal and optimistic than most.

Like many, I was stunned when Trump was elected to be the President of the United States of America*. Now that the sticker shock has worn off, I’ve rationalized my thoughts around the state of American democracy to cope, to better understand how the world works, and to get the added benefit of gleaning the silver linings. And, believe it or not, objectively good things have happened! While not an exhaustive list, here are the lessons I’ve learned so far:

Lessons about the Presidency

• Underdogs can still win. In the age of the internet, super pacs, big data, better polling, more accurate forecasting (cough… Nate Silver), the improbable scenario is still possible. Yes, Trump won the general election*, but only a tiny-hands fraction of people gave Trump a chance to win the Republican nomination in the first place. Trump’s ascendance is a story of come-from-behind victories at every stage of his campaign, and it should be comforting; even the most unlikely candidates can win against all odds.
• Presidents are not infallible, they are people that must also build trust. Before Trump, all Presidents played the part of acting presidential (dignity, honor, etc.) to do right by the country. Trump is the antithesis of a “politician,” and hence, the ultimate anti-President. A new title does not make you an expert on all things, so why should a reality TV show personality get to overrule intelligence officers? In fact, there are people within the Trump administration actively "thwarting" him to protect the country. Given no benefit of the doubt, Trump’s lack of trustworthiness reduces his ability to get things done.
• Presidents have the upper hand in controlling the message. Trump is adept at using social media to push his narrative, by exposing a loophole in the news industry, that it must cover the goings and sayings of the President as news. Combined with a high-speed news cycle, clickbait incentives, and hyperbolic statements, Trump stays one step ahead of journalists.
• Actions, not words, matter. Trump lies all the time requiring round-the-clock fact-checking, but rarely pays the price. Trump has redefined “electability,” and reduced the importance of commentary. His fellow Republicans condemn his behavior but … eventually ... fall in line (Mitch McConnell, Lindsey Graham, even his evangelical base), showing their true colors. Ultimately, the President should be judged by results, not rhetoric. I hope everyone is held to the same standard going forward, where actions really do speak louder than words.
• Proactive, outside-the-box thinking leads to more productivity. Trump’s administration tries to do a lot (key word: try) such that the volume of proposed changes has been overwhelming. Trump makes this an advantage, to move fast (and break things) while you struggle to keep up. Compare the passing of the Trump tax cuts in his first year vs. the Affordable Care Act which Obama waited to push through with bipartisan support, but ultimately without a public option.

Lessons about Government

• Corruption, cronyism, nepotism exist and have been exposed at all levels of government. Trump’s “draining of the swamp” has put more of a spotlight on the murkiness and extreme partisanship of government hiring than before. From appointing and confirming judges, to the revolving door of corporate executives-turned-secretaries, to putting people in charge of programs that they are unqualified to manage or outright antagonistic of the department they are joining, to “yes men”, to political favors, to straight-outta-family hires. Much like the presidency, more people are questioning the validity of a person’s achievements, wealth, and authority - legitimate or ill-gotten? A cautious, and well-informed, public leads to better representatives in government.
• Norms and ethics need teeth, or they will be sidestepped. Trump’s administration has been more than willing to test the limits of executive powers, exposing the fragility of process around: impeachment, the emoluments clause, senate confirmations, and tax filing transparency, so far. This will lead to change, either laws will be written, or more resources will be put to the enforcement of existing laws.
• Unity beats ideology. The Republicans have chosen to maintain power by sacrificing  ideology. They aligned under Trump, a former Democrat and contagion to family values. McConnell broke Senate norms to control the Supreme Court. Republicans have abandoned attempts to reduce the federal budget. The GOP compromises with candidates, overlooking character flaws and scandals as long as they agree on the big picture (abortion, guns, taxes, healthcare, and immigration). In contrast, the Democrats’ identity politics fractures the party from within, removing pragmatic candidates for a moral high ground. The Dems must learn the lesson that continuous iteration and improvement is better than demanding perfection.
• There’s no such thing as a cushy government job. Trump has shattered that myth. Not only has he had the highest cabinet turnover, he’s forced FBI officials and DOJ employees into early retirement, and other federal employees to resign through targeted attacks, budget cuts, or minimizing the role of certain programs. Then consider the government shutdown. Does it make sense to work for a boss that changes every few years, can furlough your salary for as many weeks as they please, and limits your ability to complain about it publicly? In fact, most government employees are not working for money or fame, and should be recognized for their service to the country.
• Government is slow and not permanent. Realize that this will not last forever (thank you term limits) and most people are not significantly affected by any one administration, it takes generations. Laws change, public opinion shifts, and executive orders can be made moot by the next administration.

Lessons about Society

• Extremism and polarization begets a response. Civic engagement is at an all-time high, much of it due to Trump’s inflammatory remarks, drawing crowds and the public interest. This has led to large marches and protests from both sides, and a genuine interest to learn how the system works: the electoral college, gerrymandering, voting rights, the value of the Supreme Court, DOJ, FBI, senate rules, and the bill of rights. A more interested public leads to a more effective government.
• Capitalism has a moral compass. While partisanship has eroded government ethics, Corporate America has stepped up. Investment funds are investing in socially responsible companies. Advertising campaigns preach morals and doing right by people. Many companies have continued to honor the Paris Climate Accord. The #MeToo movement is changing the private sector landscape. Liars are being held accountable, through deplatforming and lawsuits.
• Perception trumps fact. It’s hard to combat lies, since most people are susceptible to fake news due to confirmation bias and a stubborn notion of exceptionalism. Here are a few truths that people still argue about: the earth is round (flat-earthers), vaccines don’t work (antivaxers), and America is not the best at everything.

Personal Lessons

• Nothing in life is guaranteed. Much like the false sense of security of having a government job, many things are out of your control that can change your life, think trade war, or actual war. Celebrate the freedoms you have, exercise them, and work towards making society better for them.
• Reexamine your values. Personally, I’ve reflected on what really matters to me. What type of country I want to live in, what issues I care most about, and where to draw the line between temporary problems and moral imperatives.
• Avoid distractions. Social media and constant news consumption is bad for you. Prefer long-form content over short-form content when possible. The last few years spurred me to leave social media (sayonara Facebook), support investigative journalism, and take preventative measures to stop my internet addictions.
• Have empathy for the other side. I never understood why folks wanted to defund the government and lower taxes, until Trump. Why spend money on a system that is not working for you, is inefficiently spent, is inequitably redistributed, and used to fund causes you disagree with? I’ve come to re-appreciate the wisdom of term limits (cough… Supreme Court) and how polarizing it is to be on the losing side.

Trump is not only a symptom of a faltering system, but a canary (second to Bush/Cheney) and a catalyst for change, all in one. His legacy will help improve the U.S. Government over time, like a vaccine to ward off a terrible illness. He’s exposed the fragility and ease of abusing the current system, free and fair election vulnerabilities, governance loopholes that must be closed, and he has instigated corporations, political parties, and people to reexamine and reveal their true values - all of which will help America discover what it stands for.

* The narrow margin of victory is put into question with the evidence of Russian interference and illegal tactics used to gain an advantage.