Daniel Pritchett is a resident of Dover.
The United States of America was once the most admired and loved country in the world.
Then came Donald Trump.
The United States once had more friends and allies than any country in the world.
Then came Trump.
The United States once boasted of having the finest universities in the world, with students from every part of the globe hoping and scrambling to gain admission.
Then came Trump.
The United States once was the center of the most groundbreaking medical and scientific research, and government agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health were the envy of the world.
Then came Trump.
The United States, the richest country in the world, was finally moving steadily toward joining the rest of the industrialized countries in providing complete and universal healthcare coverage to all its citizens.
Then came Trump.
The United States, the richest and most influential country in the world, accepted and recognized the urgent problem of a warming planet and was moving to combat it.
Then came Trump.
The United States, because of the dangers of a warming planet and its recognition of the economic benefits of adapting to and incorporating clean energy technologies, was encouraging and incentivizing the adoption of electric cars, solar power and wind energy, realizing that to do otherwise would allow its chief economic competitor, China, to dominate the key industries of the 21st century.
Then came Trump.
For many decades, the United States provided foreign assistance to the poorest countries and populations in the world. Even though the amount allocated was less than 1% of our federal budget, it still alleviated suffering and hunger for millions of people and saved hundreds of thousands of lives every year, bringing us enormous goodwill and admiration.
Then came Trump — and Elon Musk!
For over 150 years, the United States enjoyed the immense benefit of having the most friendly and generous neighbor, the greatest trading partner and a long but remarkably peaceful border to the north. Canada was truly our best friend.
Then came Trump.
For the past century-and-a-half, anyone who held the office of president of the United States tried to emulate George Washington in upholding the dignity of his position and at least tried to conceal any blatant racist or misogynistic prejudices.
Then came Trump.
For almost two centuries, every president of the United States emulated Washington’s example of stepping down from power and John Adams’ example of accepting electoral defeat and peacefully turning over power.
Then came Trump.
The United States — along with China, Russia, Germany and other key nations — had negotiated an agreement with Iran to limit and monitor its nuclear program to reduce and minimize the threat.
Then came Trump.
In Washington, the White House, which belongs to the people of the United States but is provided rent-free to the president, was a beautiful but dignified “executive mansion,” perfect for the leader of a democratic republic but not a gaudy “palace” that reeked of monarchy.
Then came Trump.
Also in Washington, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts was one of the premier sites in the world for concerts, theater and other uplifting and inspiring performances.
Then came Trump.
The United States always elected presidents who had either political or military leadership experience, with at least a rudimentary familiarity with American history and a basic understanding of the U.S. Constitution and elementary civics.
Then came Trump.
When asked, after the Constitutional Convention, what kind of government we had been given, Benjamin Franklin reportedly replied, “A republic, if you can keep it.”
By electing a man like Donald Trump to the presidency — twice — the American people may well have thrown our republic into the dustbin of history.
It will take a gargantuan effort by the same American people to rescue it.
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.
