Larry D. Lauer

Here’s a typical daily scenario to think about:

1. The president sends out another off-the-wall and destabilizing tweet.
2. Television news puts it on the screen, making it a highly visible HEADLINE.
3. Then opinion writers, on-line news commentators, talk radio hosts, bloggers, magazine writers, book authors, and even preachers and teachers rant and rave about it, turning a glut of information into confusing clutter.
4. Soon a major portion of society becomes hopelessly confused, and with experts and pundits disagreeing on every channel, people simply reach for the “off switch” in their brain.
5. Wait! Suddenly we see a small inkling of reality in the president’s behavior and we begin to think maybe he is changing. Maybe this time is different. But not likely.
6. People everywhere are finally wearing out. Many feel numb. Some are in denial. Others are burying their heads in the sand. Are we now coming face-to-face with the possibility that a self-serving, wanna-be autocrat, might actually be able to continue indefinitely with his destructive bumbling?

Are there any alternatives? Well, legislators could come to their senses and become statesmen. Democrats could stop dividing against each other and put forth a unifying and inspiring vision for the country. Or as in France, an enlightened independent might find the resources to rise above this mess and mount a campaign to reestablish Thomas Jefferson’s values-based vision of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness!

Now we can see what happened. Politicians became extreme, mean, and hopelessly polarized. Media revolution innovations produced more clutter and confusion than clarity. People left behind by globalization chose the wrong leader. Truthfully, everyone helped build Trump’s swamp. Now, everyone must help drain it.

There are two important communication lessons here: (1) A 70-year-old, self-serving, amoral, mean-spirited plutocrat, simply is not likely to change. And (2) an autocratic, always angry, relentless tweeter, can eventually damage a values-based country beyond repair. So now what?