Tipping Point

 

Tipping Point

This quote was Trump's Easter Day message to Iran, perhaps to the American people. His messages are usually contorted, often created to bolster his image (which is always under attack), counter the popular press, (which runs on the Opposition's bias), and to avenge himself upon the forces which historically have tried to undermine him with what must be described as calumny. All that and Zitos's brilliant description, "His enemies take him literally but not seriously, his supporters take him seriously, but not literally."

That is to say, we must take him in context.

We must approach our leaders carefully. It's a tough job. Often, they are chosen for reasons beyond their reach. Sometimes, the democracy offers options that have nothing to do with the democratic process and are entirely the result of small-minded party politics and ambition.

This is not an excuse; it is a description of our long-standing problem: we are real people living with real-world problems, who have created a revolutionary political vision, but are being ruled by politicians who live in a self-gratifying political world of symbolism and fantasy.

Take Iran. The country is an ancient, influential, and coherent people, currently ruled by a theocracy with an apocalyptic vision of confrontation and destruction. They are situated on an energy chokepoint. Over the years, Iran's powerful opponents, fearful of that chokepoint, have avoided confrontation and, occasionally, have actually supported the regime's military advancement financially. Kicking the can down the road...to what? A religious conversion? An emerging fear?

But angry martyrs are not afraid. This direction leads toward inevitable confrontation. The question is, confrontation under what circumstances? Now, their military gone, Iran defaults to their basic strength, the chokepoint. Maximum damage with tiny resources. The true terrorist advantage.

We have a debt of $38 trillion. This is because we spend more than we create. It is not from our incredible graft or immigrants. Those are serious, different problems. We spend too much. That will not go on forever, despite how our politicians act.

These problems, Iran, and debt — and many others —will not go away. They will be resolved. Or they will resolve themselves. The question is how. And every day of delay makes the resolution less controllable.

I do not envy Trump, but he did choose this. And his opponents, whose interest in America's success is only coincidental, will offer no help. His effort to grapple with these problems is admirable. But he is not. There is no reason, if you show the strength to confront these evolving crises, to cry out and tear your clothes. This is a proud country, and it should be. Having its leader weep like Europe is demeaning and spiritless. Man up. Be an example for the nation. Even Lincoln, huge as he was, never allowed himself to eclipse the nation or the cause he was fighting for.

“The time is out of joint—O cursèd spite,
That ever I was born to set it right!”