The Double Edged Sword
For better or worse, America has an incredible love affair with individualism. The image of the lone cowboy and the rebel without a cause resonates with many Americans. They are symbols of strength and courage. But as with all love affairs there are downsides. One obvious downside, and we are seeing it now, is a willingness to dismantle the social safety net. Wrapped in it is the belief that everyone should pull themselves up by their bootstraps. That those who don’t have, just haven’t worked hard enough. Sounds pugly and it is. But along with that comes a disdain of being told what to do or say or think. Trump can tell people not to believe their lying eyes. But eventually many who voted for him are going to get tired of having to defend the indefensible. More importantly his behavior will show him not to be a rebel full of strength and courage but something else entirely different. Then, as happens when we realize the object of our affection is not who we thought they were, the love affair will end. It may end slowly or in an instant as when love suddenly turns to hate, but it will end.
