The authors are particularly strong when they discuss the great threats that Trump poses, especially its pessimism about liberal democracy, and an open society. But these too are trends in a Republican Party which have become a majority party through minority rule by rigging the rules in their favor.

Our system is now biased against the American majority because of partisan redistricting (which distorts the outcome of legislative elections), the nature of representation in the United States Senate (which vastly underrepresents residents of larger states), the growing role of money in politics (which empowers a very small economic elite), the workings of the Electoral College (which is increasingly out of sync with the distribution of our population) and the ability of legislatures to use a variety of measures, from voter ID laws to the disenfranchisement of former felons, to obstruct the path of millions of Americans to the ballot box.

The authors go on to explain how Trump’s phony populism and his emphasis on race, immigration, culture and economic disadvantage all provide cover for plutocratic aims, They show why the truth has come under assault, why Republicans attack the truth-seeking media, and how this gives rise to the ridiculous and dangerous idea of alternative facts. They reveal the dangers of the disappearing norms of democratic government, and how this leads to authoritarianism, kleptocracy, and an undermining of the rule of law. (I’d add that if truth cannot adjudicate disputes, the battle for power will ultimately rely on violence.)

As for what is to be done the authors are still optimistic: “We believe that the popular mobilization and national soul-searching he has aroused could be the occasion for an era of democratic renewal,” assuming that Trump’s opponents can design “a hopeful and unifying alternative.”

In this spirit the authors offer an impressive list of policy ideas to address real economic grievances without appealing to racism, sexism, homophobia and xenophobia such as: a Charter for American Working Families, a GI Bill for American Workers, and a Contract for American Social Responsibility, aimed at getting corporations to take their public obligations seriously.

Reflections

The authors are great thinkers, concerned citizens, and if the three of them jointly ran our country we would all be better off. But I think their analysis will fall on deaf ears. We live in a society which disregards expertise and the best ideas of think tanks and Harvard professors are belittled. In fact, Trump voters delight in his obvious ignorance of government and policy. We also live in a country where motivate reasoning prevails which is why Trump supporters still overwhelmingly support him despite the fact that doing so is against their self-interest.

None of this is the author’s fault. They try to warn us and I applaud their efforts. But meanwhile, the conservative media bubble will attack any legitimate attempt to make the rule of law apply, or any attempt to usurp their power and those of their sycophants. In America today there is a battle for power, and considerations of morality or justice or fairness or truth are almost irrelevant. If I’m right, then only violence will finally settle the disputes. When truth and justice are gone, little else is left.