The administration of the US president is in turmoil, the congress is paralyzed, and the world looks at the States in amazement and fear. If we want to overcome this crisis, we need to understand its causes, writes the American economist, director of the Earth Institute of Columbia University Jeffrey Sachs.
The personality of Donald Trump greatly influenced the fact that the policy of the White House became counterproductive. Overestimated self-esteem, pathological lies, lack of guilt and remorse, pettiness, parasitic way of life, impulsiveness, inability to be responsible for one's own actions are all symptoms of the narcissistic personality. The consequences can be terrible. Pathological narcissists are prone to conflicts and wars (remember Lyndon Johnson and Vietnam, Andrew Jackson and his ethnic cleansing of Indians in the US). According to some experts, Trump also shows signs of mental disorder.
Washington counts on the fact that the "adults", that is, the closest advisers, will follow the dangerous behavior of Trump. But the "adults" in the Trump administration are more military than civilians. Remember the military advisors of John F. Kennedy, who advocated the war during the Cuban missile crisis.
From this situation, there are two ways out: 25 amendment of the US Constitution on early resignation of the president and impeachment. Both measures - extraordinary, require compliance with a certain order and depend on the consent of the republican leaders. Nevertheless, psychological problems and political instability in the country may require the society to act urgently.
The political crisis in the Congress is not so dramatic, but no less serious. There the main reason is not mental disorders, but money. Corporate lobbying and advertising campaigns have perverted the US legislature. The brothers David and Charles Koch, whose fortune is estimated at $ 100 billion, actually own all the votes in Congress and influence the speaker Paul Ryan.
Congress constantly promotes laws approved by the Koch brothers, not by the American people. The attempt to abolish the health care law signed by President Barack Obama had nothing to do with the views or interests of voters. It's just what the Koch brothers wanted (and other republican sponsors).
As a result, maneuvering between the narcissistic ambitions of Trump and the money of the Koch brothers, the US government is at a loss.
In Washington there are still a lot of smart and talented people. But experienced specialists are now leaving state departments. Meanwhile, lobbyists come to power.
Through all this hype, an ominous drumbeat of possible conflicts with Iran and the DPRK. About the US foreign policy The White House now recognizes from the morning tweets of Trump. The situation is dangerous, and it worsens.
I propose three immediate steps and one - a long-term.
First, take away from Trump Twitter. The United States and the world need a state policy coordinated with society, and not at the whim of one person with a pathological personality disorder. Most Americans believe that Trump's tweets threaten national security.
Secondly, the leaders of the congress must preserve the bipartisan system and restrain the militancy of Trump until it's too late.
Thirdly, the major world powers, primarily the US allies in NATO, should clearly state that any unilateral US attack on Iran or North Korea will be regarded as a serious violation of peace and that the issues of war and peace should be agreed upon in the UN Security Council.
The fourth, more long-term step should be the US Constitutional reform, which will be called upon to balance the powers of the president. The current system showed its instability.
We will have to do a lot to restore democracy in the US, including imposing restrictions on lobbying and advertising companies. But above all, we must survive the presidency of Donald Trump, while trying to preserve the world.
Translation of HB.