Donald Trump: Wrong Man, Always!

November 5, 2016

 

Donald Trump

Donald Trump: wrong man, always! So, so much is so, so wrong about the notion of Donald J. Trump as President of the United States. He’s a bad, bad man. Ironically, though, even if he was a good, good man his raison d’etre disqualifies him for the job.

Donald Trump spews forth every day. He’s all over the map on everything, but he’s constant about one thing: he’s the outsider who will drain the swamp. He’ll be unpredictable, and different. The successful businessman. Not politically correct.

Ignore, please, all of the stuff we know about Mr. Trump. His lack of knowledge about and interest in policy matters. His claims that he knows more than everyone else. (“I know more about ISIS than the generals do. Believe me.”) And those character flaws. Oy vey ist mir.

Ignore everything and, still, Donald Trump is the wrong man, always. Why? The most powerful nation on Earth can’t be led by an outsider. An unpredictable man. A flame thrower. North Korea can handle such a person. So, too, can the several former Soviet republics in Central Asia. And some countries in Central and South America, although we can see just how well that’s working for Venezuelans … not!

The United States of America is the most powerful nation on Earth. That power gives us many blessings. Wealth beyond measure, poorly shared. Security. And the ability to lead on many issues.

Certainly, our power leaves us vulnerable. Crazy men can attack us, and they will succeed from time to time. The rest of the world gets tired of the big brother scold, pontificating and, too often, not walking the talk. And size and power limit our ability to grow. (When people claim America ought to have much higher GDP growth—5 – 10%—they fail to appreciate the fact that growth slows as economies grow.)

The world order needs a nation on which it can depend. The United States of America finds itself filling that role. The role does, however, require lots of “boring.” Grinding it out. Attention to detail. Predictability. We don’t get to test nuclear bombs à la North Korea. Or take another nation’s property, as Russia took Crimea from Ukraine. Or ask, in response to Chris Matthews’ concern about talk of using nuclear weapons: Then why are we making them? Why do we make them?

Mr. Trump uses his business model—be unpredictable—to justify his approach. If it works for him in his real estate dealings, good on him. It’s not a sustainable model for governing the world’s only superpower.

Many years ago I was dealing with board succession issues for a successful nonprofit. We had a board member with lots of passion, who put forth a fair amount of effort over many years. Unfortunately, with him every issue was a battle. Always. He was an outsider, through and through. And he was, never, the board chair. Wrong person. Always. (He was also honest and interested—qualities not found in Mr. Trump—and added value with his outsider perspective and approach.)

Luke 12:48 tells us: From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. Leaders—whether they be individuals or nation—must rise to the challenges they face, for they have been blessed with the opportunity to lead. We lead in the world, and we act—maybe too directly—through our president.

Mr. Trump’s many, many flaws disqualify him. But even if he was not flawed in so, so many ways, he’d be wrong for America. For better or worse our leader must be predictable and stable, and able to appreciate the fact that change comes slowly when you are the most powerful nation on Earth. That Mr. Trump makes unpredictability a virtue evidences a complete lack of appreciation for the job skills necessary to be President of the United States. Donald Trump: wrong man, always!

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