Donald Trump is Considered by Many to be Corrupt. So What?

America’s widening inequality and pay-to-play politics have left millions feeling trapped in a grinding rat race, and in that anger they handed power to a leader they suspected was corrupt, with consequences that will reward the New Nobility while everyone else gets squeezed.

It seems the worst-kept secret on the planet. Donald Trump is thought to be corrupt by many, me included. His multiple court convictions suggest as much. I learned in my 17 years of overseas United Nations service that when the leader of a country is corrupt, he corrupts those beneath him. The next three years will be profitable for the American class of political grifters — everyone else, not so much. The rich will become wealthier. The poor will get poorer. The middle class will be squeezed even more.

What is troubling is that the American people no doubt suspected his corruption — there were multiple indicators — and voted him into power despite it. What could this mean? Our Republic is failing many of its citizens. They are angry about it and voted for a man that I believe to be the worst presidential candidate in US history. Voting for Trump is how they have chosen to vent their anger.

Their anger is understandable. Income inequality has never been greater. Health care is becoming unaffordable for the majority. Millions of Americans are one serious illness away from bankruptcy. For average couples with children, two working parents are necessary to keep up with rising prices. Childcare costs have skyrocketed at the same time. Life for the multitudes — who are not part of the grift — has become the worst sort of rat race.

In the political sphere, politicians are forever chasing campaign donations from the rich, who now possess most of the nation’s wealth. It is simple, metaphorical math. Getting elected costs a small fortune, as does getting re-elected. The One Percent, what I call the New Nobility, has the bucks. Representatives may today have less a care for the welfare of the people. They do, however, demonstrate considerable concern for the well-heeled donors who keep them in elected office, while lowering their taxes.

Media is no help. In fact, major media exacerbates the situation. Again, the math is simple. These corporations are in business to maximize profit. If there is no money in it, important news stories against corporate interests are never told. There is little morality among the modern-day Robber Barons and less sense of civic duty. Keeping owners and shareholders happy with positive quarterly reports is all-important to CEOs, whose individual interest is in hunting bigger bonuses.

Is this maddening situation legal? Of course it is. Is it right or even moral? Not in a million years. There is much talk in America about individual rights. Although important, a better topic at this juncture may be our collective responsibilities toward our fellow citizens. Our society is sick and badly needs a cure. Nearly everyone feels it. The anger vote won’t be the answer.

If one assumes that this chief executive is indeed corrupt — not much of a stretch — things will not improve. The Trump Family businesses are billions of dollars richer today than they were only one year ago.

Moreover, and as a matter of significance, honest civil servants are ill-tolerated by corrupt self-serving administrations. The best and brightest may have already felt compelled to find gainful employment elsewhere — a great loss to us all.

I worry. There is no money to be made in the exercise of reason and compromise. There is no money to be made in either compassion or morality. There is no money to be made in honest government. It is a major national problem when the man at the top of the DC pyramid lacks empathy and sees the world in terms of a zero-sum game — only winners and losers. For the sake of clarity, the winners are the New Nobility and the losers are, well, everyone else. This is not what the Founders had in mind — not at all.

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Surviving the UN

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*** Editor’s Note: If you liked this article, you’d definitely want to check out Bob’s latest book: Surviving the United Nations – A True Story of Violence, Corruption, Betrayal, and Redemption. It’s an eye-opening account of a Green Beret’s second career at the United Nations. And don’t just take my word for it, here is what Publishers Weekly had to say: “In his humanitarian and peacekeeping missions for the United Nations he dealt with child soldiers, blood diamonds, a double hostage-taking, an invasion by brutal guerrillas, an emergency aerial evacuation, a desperate hostage recovery mission, tribal gunfights, refugee camp violence, suicide bombings, and institutional corruption. His UN career brought him face to face with the best and worst of human nature, and he shares it all here.” Click the link above to pick up your copy from Amazon today. You’ll find it every bit as riveting as the author himself. – GDM — ** Editor’s Note: Thinking about subscribing to SOFREP? You can support Veteran Journalism & do it now for only $1 for your first year. Pull the trigger on this amazing offer HERE. – GDM