Axar.az presents an article “Idealism And Politics” by John Samuel Tieman.

I was having lunch with several of my constituents. I serve on our City Council. I mentioned how municipal government is the most intimate level of the democratic republic. One of my lunch partners said how abstract that sounds. “It sounds abstract,” I said. “But there is always idealism in government. It's all a matter of choice. The Fuhrer Principle is an ideal. But in this country, we choose Jeffersonian ideals. So here I am, the guy you elected, having lunch with you and talking about getting a crosswalk painted.” Some folks rather cynically opine that idealism is the opposite of politics. I would argue that idealism is where all politics starts. Politics is impossible without idealism. Anarchy is an ideal. It's all a matter of choice. This year, the choice is democracy vs. fascism.

The Austrian psychiatrist, Viktor Frankl, thought that “Man’s search for meaning is the primary motivation in his life.” It's an interesting assertion. People need to find purpose, to see themselves and immersed in, and at home with, the world. Folks need to serve some common good, to do some important work be it large or small. In a few words, folks need to feel at home in their community. They need to love and be loved. To this end, folks need coherent morality. People need ideals.

This is an election year. Sadly, one of the most common things I hear this year is cynicism. “All politicians are corrupt, immoral, incompetent, and out of touch with citizens.” You hear that all the time. The impact of cynicism is an ongoing concern. The primary concern is the threat that political cynicism poses to the government’s legitimacy. Citizens accept the actions of politicians when they view their political institutions as legitimate. But cynicism, erodes perceptions of legitimacy. It causes citizens to become less compliant with norms of governance and even the law. The MAGA movement immediately comes to mind. This is a cynicism that former President Trump exploits.

In 2024, idealism is more important than ever. Trump is very clear in his plans to exploit cynicism by, in essence, dismantling the democratic republic. His “Presidential Transition Plan”, commonly called “Project 2025”, is clear on this point. “Project 2025” is a collection of conservative policy proposals that would reshape the federal government. It is authoritarian and Christian nationalist. It would turn the United States into an autocracy by undermining individual rights and liberties, the separation of powers, and ultimately the rule of law. It replaces the norms of the republic. For example, “Project 2025” proposes to eliminate the independence of the Department Of Justice. Once section of the plan, “Schedule F”, would reclassify 50,000 federal workers as political appointees. Right now, ther are about 4,000. These folks would be hired and retained based primarily upon their loyalty to the president, and secondarily for their expertise. Think of an engineer at the Federal Aviation Administration who is hired primarily because they voted for Donald Trump. These are the ideals of Trump and his movement.

I remember the night Donald Trump won the presidency. I remember thinking, “This man, this man will occupy the same office once held by Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Woodrow Wilson and Franklin Roosevelt. This man.” Say what you will about the flaws of Jefferson, Lincoln, Wilson and FDR. But their ideals, about representative democracy, gave us “The Declaration Of Independence”, the Emancipation Proclamation”, the “14 Points” and the “New Deal”. Trumps ideals give us “Schedule F”.

There is always idealism in politics. The question is, in 2024, which ideal do you want? The one that retains the democratic republic? Or “Project 2025”?

Jefferson's vision builds upon hope and optimism. It also requires commitment, and the self-discipline to participate as an informed citizen. Trump's vision builds upon cynicism. It requires submission. Thus am I reminded of another Founder. As the delegates left the Constitutional Convention, a woman asked Benjamin Franklin, “Well, Doctor, what have we got – a republic or a monarchy?” He answered, "A republic, if you can keep it."