Paul Krugman, in his Aug. 11 Substack newsletter, quoted from Hannah Arendt’s classic book, “The Origins of Totalitarianism”: “Totalitarianism in power invariably replaces all first-rate talents, regardless of their sympathies, with those crackpots and fools whose lack of intelligence and creativity is the best guarantee of their loyalty.” This is certainly true of the president’s Cabinet, whose only qualifications for office include such accolades as stints at Fox News. Though they swore their allegiance to the Constitution, they have shown allegiance only to Donald Trump, even as he attempts to destroy anyone or any institution he considers an adversary.
As we acknowledge the 20-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and all the horrendous destruction a natural disaster represents, Trump wants to get rid of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, with Kristi Noem’s blessing. His choice to head the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert Kennedy, does not believe in vaccines, despite the fact that COVID-19 immunizations saved thousands of lives. Kennedy has suspended 17 members of an independent advisory committee on vaccines, and three of the top people in his department have resigned because he, a man with no medical or scientific training, wanted them to sign off on his unscientific agenda. If Kennedy is not fired soon, many of us could be dead of measles or any of the other diseases that respond to vaccines.
As if this were not enough, Trump, a man with no economic expertise, wants to take over the Federal Reserve, currently governed by independent professionals whose job is to oversee full employment and low inflation. Trump wants to control the Fed, so he can raise or lower interest rates at his whim. He is forever threatening to fire the head of the Federal Reserve, Jerome Powell, and board member Lisa Cook.
The president also wants to terminate the Department of Transportation and take over Amtrak, as well as the Department of Education, the Smithsonian Institution and The Kennedy Center.
Trump is going after university presidents, media executives, librarians, scholars, scientists, government contractors, dedicated federal employees, anyone with expertise. Republicans are afraid to stand up to him and his rule of the mediocre. We can only hope our courts will be able to stem the tide of incompetence.
Julia Sperry
Hockessin
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.
