The Former President's Actions Pose a Threat to Civilized Society.
The domestic and foreign policies – from the attempted coup five years ago to current moves and threats – erode not only national and global law. But that’s not all.
They threaten the core idea of a civilized world.
The moral purpose of civilized society is to stop the stronger from preying upon and using the less powerful. Otherwise, we could find ourselves locked in a conflict of all against all where survival of the strongest prevails.
This principle lies at the center of America’s founding documents. It is equally the heart of the global system established after WWII championed by the US, which stresses international cooperation, democratic governance, individual liberties, and the rule of law.
Yet, it is a fragile construct, often broken by those who would exploit their authority. Maintaining it requires that the those in charge have enough integrity to avoid seeking temporary advantages, and that the rest of us hold them accountable if they don't.
Unchecked strength is not right. It leads to turmoil, disruption, and hostilities.
Every time individuals, companies, or nations that are richer and more powerful target and use those that are less so, the fabric of society weakens. Should such behavior are allowed to continue, the fabric unravels. Allowing it to persist, the world can plunge into disorder and conflict. History provides ample precedent.
Our current reality is a society and world grown vastly more unequal. Political and economic power are more concentrated than ever before. This creates conditions for the elite to take advantage of the weaker because they perceive themselves as untouchable.
The wealth of a handful of billionaires is almost beyond comprehension. The reach of big tech, big oil, and large defense contractors spans numerous countries. AI is poised to centralize resources and influence even more. The destructive power of the leading countries is unmatched in recorded history.
Empowered by political allies and a pliant supreme court, the executive office has been turned into the supreme and answerable-to-none agent of government in the modern era.
Put it all together and you grasp the threat.
An unbroken thread connects previous lawless actions to ongoing provocations. Both were based on the hubris of omnipotence.
There is a similar pattern in the actions of other powers: in military conflicts, in expansive ambitions, and in the worldwide exploitation by industrial titans.
But, raw power does not establish right. It fosters instability, upended order, and armed conflict.
Historical evidence demonstrates that frameworks designed to constrain the influential also shield them. If these guardrails are removed, their insatiable demands for more power and wealth in time bring them down – along with their enterprises, countries, or domains. And risk international catastrophe.
This blatant contempt for legal order will cast a long shadow over the nation and the world – and the very idea of civilization – for a long time.