DISTRUST OF POLITICIANS LEADS TO DISTRUST OF OTHERS
Blaming others for problems is a common rhetorical theme in American politics that Trump uses often. Low-level, pervasive, distrust makes it easy for Americans to blame other Americans — especially politicians, government, poor people of color and immigrants — for their problems. Politicians reinforce this thinking by blaming those “others” for problems politicians have created. Blaming others exacerbates social/political division and deflects personal responsibility for America’s problems. These are control strategies that President Trump understands and uses effectively to increase his political power.

Trump knows that creating a “boogeyman” to fear is a proven way to build party loyalty, attract voters and appeal for money. Hitler used this strategy effectively to make Jews the enemy of Germany. Christian Nationalists use the strategy to amp-up the fears many Americans have about immigrants.

Trump knows that by blaming others for problems — including problems he creates —  he excuses himself from personal responsibility for those problems. He knows that politicians who present themselves as saviors from undesirable circumstances make it easy for voters to focus on self-serving policies and conspiracy theories. He knows that the electorate rewards that rhetoric with money and votes. These unhealthy, dysfunctional relationships exist because voters don’t know good character from bad and don’t discern lies from truth.

Once they are in office, politicians face the realities of governing in a hostile environment and realize that they are unable to fulfill promises made to voters. Politicians then work hard to deflect voters from their failed promises by blaming others. This is something Trump does often. He doesn’t care that his failed promises and ineffective governing breeds distrust of politicians and government. In fact, he wants people to abandon hope in government and put all their hope in him.

Nevertheless, because most Americans sincerely want to use their voting power to effect positive change as they see it, they vote for politicians like Trump who convey the impression that they are strong enough to fix all of America’s problems. He is a flim-flam man who baits voters with impossible promises that only a divine savior can deliver. They soon learn, however that they have elected tyrant who takes their money while destroying their hope for a better life.

And so, the cycle continues. It’s the democratic way, but Americans must face the reality that the system doesn’t work because they don’t know how to recognize good character or vote for politicians with good character instead of conmen who use fine sounding rhetoric that turns out to be empty promises.

Although this is a highly simplified analysis, it makes three critical points:

• Voters look to politicians to solve America’s problems with legislation.
• Voters do not consider how they personally contribute to America’s problems.
• Voters tend to choose elected officials on the basis of campaign rhetoric that includes appealing legislative ideas and party affiliation — not on the basis of character.

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It should be obvious to all Americans that politicians with poor character will not govern to achieve the aspirations of the Preamble to the Constitution:

The Preamble outlines six broad goals for government:

• Form a more perfect Union that is not divided along racial, social, economic, political, religious or educational lines
• Establish Justice for all Americans
• Insure domestic Tranquility for all Americans
• Provide for the common defense
• Promote the general Welfare for all Americans
• Secure the Blessings of Liberty for current and future generations

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Whether they know the Preamble or not, these are the unspoken aspirations (i.e. dreams) of all Americans. Because these aspirations are not realized, Americans put the onus on politicians to fix the problems that obstruct their aspirations. In doing this, they conveniently deflect personal responsibility for electing those untrustworthy leaders. This makes the point for educating voters to identify good and bad character.

Until voters are taught how to recognize good and bad character, they will continue to make bad voting choices that elect politicians with poor character. But the politicians with poor character that they elect can’t/won’t fix the problems. These breeds angry, disappointed voters don’t trust politicians or government. Worse yet, it is often true that people who don’t trust politicians or government will also not trust fellow Americans. This means that distrust is toxic, contagious and breeds social/political division.

Here are the character qualities of poor leaders that cause distrust and breed social division:

• What is leadership?
• What is bad leadership?
• Bad leaders lack empathy
• Bad leaders micromanage
• Bad leaders communicate poorly
• Bad leaders are egotistical
• Bad leaders resist change
• Bad leaders lack vision or direction
• Bad leaders have a negative mindset
• Bad leaders are inconsistent
• Bad leaders lack transparency
• Bad leaders are indecisive
• Avoid the pitfalls of bad leadership

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Politicians with good character understand that the toxic, relational dynamics of poor leadership spread like a virus throughout the country and spoil the unity called for in the Preamble. Therefore, politicians with good character will, to the best of their ability, legislate to satisfy the aspirations of all — not just some — Americans. But it must be said that politicians with good character wouldn’t legislate just to appease Americans who do not live the American dream, or out of sympathy, morality, religious beliefs or social idealism. Of course, politicians with good character will relate to the struggles of disaffected Americans, but their primary motivation will always be to legislate to achieve the goals and aspirations specified in the Preamble to the Constitution. They would be the ideal models of true patriots. This is another sense in which they are leaders with good character.