I suggested to one of my daughters just yesterday that Trump has actually been good for us, an idea that has crossed my mind over the last six months. Actually, it's an approach that any rhetorical critic understands: to argue against a case, you have to understand the opposing case in spades. And it's especially helpful if the opposing case can be clarified by experience and behaviors on the ground. In my comments to my daughter I explained (poorly) why Trump just might have been helpful to the nation.
So it's fascinating to see an opinion article by Nicholas Kristof in today's Times making the same point. But he does a far better job of arguing the case.
Our nation is a mess, but overlapping catastrophes have also created conditions that may finally let us extricate ourselves from the mire. The grim awareness of national failures — on the coronavirus, racism, health care and jobs — may be a necessary prelude to fixing our country...
Kristof argues from the standpoint of the rhyming of history--for example, Herbert Hoover's failures which led to massive, constructive change under FDR. He adds other historically significant challenges that brought about major change. And then, he reveals a number of today's leaders who are in full agreement and add further insight to his proposal.
Here, for example, is Marian Wright Edelman: the founder of the Children’s Defense Fund, who for six decades has been battling for a more just society, told me, 'I’m very optimistic. I think we have a chance of getting something done.
Like others I spoke with, she said that one reason for hope is, paradoxically, President Trump and the way he has become the avatar of failed 'let them eat cake' policies and narratives. Mr. Trump is the perfect opposition to have, Edelman said. He represents the implosion of the American dream, and we can’t go down his road much farther.
I don't want to steal all of Kristof's thunder, so I hope you'll read the entire brief article.
See my earlier article on why Trump is weaker than he thinks.
And another on Trump, populism and the election.