The Man Who Would Be King

President Trump amazes me sometimes by his authoritarian behavior. To a great extent I am reminded about how the Declaration of Independence listed the wrongs perpetrated by King George. To me, there is an obvious parallel.

In the Declaration it says, "He [King George] has endeavoured to prevent the population of these states; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands." Doesn't sound like how Trump has tried to ban Muslim immigration, South American and Mexican immigration, etc.

The Declaration also says, "He has made judges dependent on his will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries". Mr. Trump has showed contempt for the office of the inspector general who is responsible for oversight and accountability for the Congress. He has fired the attorny's general when they have disagreed with him. He has failed to appoint any members to the board of the Federal Merit Systems Protection Board, thus denying employees and whistleblowers protection under the laws and he has loaded the Supreme Court with justices that hold his ultra-conservative views.

The Declaration says, "...for cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world". Trump has turned US trade policy upside down. He has  engaged in trade wars between the United States and China, the United States and Europe, the United States and random other countries for random reasons, Japan and South Korea, and even Britain itself. He has railed against the North American Free Trade Agreement. He has broken alliances with other nations and has withdrawn from numerous treaties.

The Declaration goes on to say, "He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us."  Trump has suggested that he would use federal troops to quell demonstrations. He has made statements and remarks that have actually inflammed said demonstrations. He supported (if not ordered) the January 6th insurrection.

I could go on and on. The bottom line is that Trump is not a King. Nor is he able to run things his way. Writing laws is the job of the Congress (albeit currently horribly divided). The Presidents job is merely to execute them. He cannot have it "his" way. He does not own the country like he owned his business. He cannot simply say "your fired" when things don't go his way.