Systems survive elections. It takes a change agent to break cycles. Trump is the greatest President for progressives because he pushes until foundations crack.
Definitions matter: What is progressive and conservative?
Progressive: reform systems to expand rights, inclusion, and social or economic equality.
Conservative: preserve traditions, institutions, and social orders, favoring stability over rapid change.
Progressive may mean change, but change agents are not always progressive.
Bismarck is a great example of a system breaker who through the unification of Germany and support of monarchy was reactionary and considered conservative. Yet he also introduced the world’s first comprehensive social security system with health, accident, old age, and disability insurance. Even the later unemployment insurance could be attributed to his framework.
Often, leaders wear the trappings of social justice and rail against problems they have no intention of solving. Labeled progressive, they perpetuate the status quo which in effect is conservative.
Bismark reached back and pushed forward. If Trump is doing the same, should people fear a future fascist state worshiping him like the Nazi’s did with Bismark?
Conservatives are no more evil than progressives are good.
Fascism is an authoritarian and nationalist system that subordinates all social and economic institutions. Led by a dictator, the state drives ideological fervor and eliminates political and cultural dissent.
It doesn’t require naturally gifted demagogue—only that the state’s leader be the focal point for mobilization and control. This first leader may need to be charismatic, but the following ones can rely on the deep state to persist. North Korea would be a great example of this if they had different economics.
America has foundational protections against fascism.
With both the balance between the three branches of government and the division between federal, state, and local control, America’s economic and political systems are especially resilient.
Even with cultural and institutional capture by an ideological cartel opposed Trump, he still won with direct voting.
Similarly, no matter how powerful of a change agent Trump may be, the next presidential election will replace him.
Fear a future demagogue using Trump’s name, but support Trump now.
Progressives can see Trump reforming systems. Rights, inclusion, and equality can all be applied to his actions if restricted to citizens. For non-citizens, Trump shifts to treating them as a part of foreign policy.
Whether a progressive should love Trump comes down to if they want nations to exist.
Transparency means truth means progress.
The “Epstein issue” is as complicated as the world is complicated because it reveals how power has worked across the global and throughout history. Trump is the catalyst, the change agent, for the Epstein issue. Regardless of what he has said or legislation passed, he is directly responsible for the Epstein files being released and for it solidifying in the zeitgeist.
Even if they can’t say his name, progressives love him.
Trump derangement syndrome won’t stop history judging him fairly. It may take a generation, but he will be considered… the greatest.
