Coming to grips with Trump

There's much to be learned from master performers-even those we may find deeply repulsive!

Sources of error

The last two generations have seen significant societal changes, many of which, though well-intentioned, have proven counterproductive. Three issues stand out:

1. Individual responsibility

We have lost the sense that we should be responsible for our own actions; that we should respect the rights of others; and that we should accept that we are not entitled to anything we have not earned.

2. The family

The role of the family has been diminished. Children can no longer rely on having a mother and a father around to love them, support them and nurture them, to teach them good values, and to prepare them to be good, well-adjusted citizens. The state has usurped the roles that families used to play.

3. Economic decision-making

Economic decisions have been transferred from the private and business spheres to the political sphere. Politicians and bureaucrats now make the decisions on energy, on education, on health, on transport, and on private and work relationships. Moreover, they interfere in judicial processes. Fundamental concepts such as the rule-of-law and innocent-until-proven-guilty are violated.

Philosophical underpinning

At the heart of the Trump revolution lies a fundamental question: are economic and political decisions best made by experts, or by the individuals who are most affected?

At first glance, it seems obvious that one would defer to experts. They will know best. That is what prevails at the moment. Decisions are made by bureaucrats in public agencies in Washington which impact citizens throughout the USA. But is this truly the best approach?

This question was addressed by one of the 20th century's greatest thinkers, F.A. Hayek, in his scholarly essay The Use of Knowledge in Society (1945). Hayek argued that no central authority, no matter how well-intentioned, can ever possess all the knowledge needed to make sound decisions for a diverse society. Knowledge is not simply about abstract theories; it is local, transient, and dispersed among millions of individuals. Only those closest to the situation-those "on the spot"-can make decisions that account for the unique circumstances at hand.

As part of its 2025 Project, The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, published Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise. Its 30 chapters, written by more than 400 scholars, provide an intellectual basis for governing the USA. In the foreword, Kevin Roberts identifies four moral and foundational goals for America:

1. Family

"Restore the family as the centrepiece of American life and protect our children."

2. Bureaucracy

"Dismantle the administrative state and return self-governance to the American people."

3. Sovereignty

"Defend our nation's sovereignty, borders, and bounty against global threats."