Dear Editor,
The Guyana Stabroek News in an editorial, ‘Fragmentation of Democracy” (Jan 14) argued that “USA under President Trump is on fast track towards authoritarianism” along the line of leaders of a list of countries such Hungary, Serbia, Turkey, Nicaragua, Russia, etc. One can also add Venezuela under Maduro. Mr. Trump is not quite an authoritarian leader and should not be compared with the rulers of those countries where rights are curtailed and where opponents are known to disappear. Also, the USA is a full-fledged democracy and cannot be compared (certainly not during the Cold War) and not now with those mentioned. In an authoritarian state, the leader engages in unconstitutional or undemocratic practices for the purpose of consolidating power. That has not been the outright case in USA. America may not be a perfect democracy, but it is a lot more democratic in almost every other country. People are free to petition the government for redress of grievances. There are two other independent branches of government that rein in the executive branch – legislature and judiciary. There is an independent press that exposes wrong-doing and that informs the government as well as the public how well the administration is doing. Virtually no other country has that type of governance.
President Trump is the most powerful ruler in the history of USA; he exercises power the way no other President every did. While it is true that the President claims powers that are contentious with Congress, and he makes unprecedented decisions, the court and Congress act as balance to his exercise of power. That kind of balance does not exist in most other countries. And, most importantly, people are free to criticize the President and they do so openly unlike in other countries where they are victimized. States and cities in USA as well as individuals routinely go to court to rein in the President in his exercise of executive power. Such acts are not permitted in the countries mentioned and even in those in the Caribbean.
President Trump was elected as a populist leader with a majority of votes. That gives him the right to set policy as is the right of any democratically elected including in Guyana. And his foreign policy is “America First”; he seeks to do what he feels is in the best interests of USA using mercurial strategies — offering to purchase other territories, seek control over resources abroad, pushing for peace in conflict ridden societies, trying to end wars, calling for re-development of Gaza, using tariff to balanced unfair trade practices, etc. Some of these acts may not be very popular. But they have the backing of the President’s base.
Basic rights are not curtailed in USA as in the countries referenced. In USA, there is largely respect for the legislature and the judgments of the court that is independent; Members of Congress regularly oppose the President and the court is known to rule against him at times. While Trump exercises strong influence over the Republican Party, several members oppose him and defy some of his policies. And the Democrats have opposed the President on almost every legislative item. Democracy is largely functioning as it was meant to be by the founding fathers.
The country is not slipping into an authoritarian state as expostulated.