Minds will not be changed before, during, or after the impeachment of President Donald Trump. The impeachment is not a formal argument, it is merely theatrics meant to reinforce partisanship. Democrats claim otherwise, but the reality is that most of the votes are pre-ordained with the outcome known.
An academic, formal argument involves two or more sides seeking to locate Truth or the best outcome.
We aren’t having a formal argument. This isn’t about Truth or what’s best for the nation. These are two parties doing what is best for their elected members. One happens to be correct, in my opinion, but I cynically believe that’s coincidence more than moral conviction.
I disliked Trump before his election and I will continue disliking him after the Senate dismisses the impeachment charges.
What won’t happen during the impeachment? Actual debate and argument about how to best address what the president did, which most people will admit at least looks like an abuse of power and extortion. Withholding aid to another country while demanding the investigation of a potential political opponent is extortion. That seems obvious to me and others. But, why is there no actual argument or debate?
If we assume that Democrats and Republicans want what is best for the United States, then their policy differences generate genuine argument and debate. We pass laws, change policies, and observe the results. When something doesn’t work, we can debate again and revise the choices. That’s democracy at work. We test ideas.
Assuming that shared interest in what is best, but coming from different perspectives and with different theories of how to solve problems, one should be able to discuss and debate policy with civility.
Trump Exposed the Illusions
But, Donald Trump has shattered the illusion that parties are seeking what is best for the country.
We have always known some bills and resolutions are proposed merely so the votes for or against could be used in campaign ads. Bills with no chance of bipartisan support pass the House or Senate to die in the other chamber. We accepted this show votes while assuming there were genuine policy debates occurring behind the theatrics.
No longer. Now, we see that too much of what happens within the federal legislature and executive branches is tribal nonsense.
Donald Trump is toxic to debate, discussion, argument, and truth.
Republicans rightfully claim that many Democrats wanted Trump impeached from the day he was elected. The passion expressed against Trump and his supporters contributed to the current situation. If some politicians called for impeachment and criminal charges since election night, how can we believe that impeachment in December 2019 wasn’t an action seeking an excuse?
Likewise, Democrats can point to a long, long, long list of potential crimes (and actual convictions) connected to the Trump campaign and his supporters. There’s no question Trump’s team would do anything to help him win and remain in office.
Tribalism Wins
After impeachment, the two sides will loathe each other more. I’m not sure how politicians then come together to address policy issues such as the national debt, infrastructure spending, healthcare costs, and so on. How can two sides that distrust each other so deeply — and with good reason — come together for a common good?
If anything, we will be more tribal. Psychology suggests we will further isolate ourselves and stop listening to anything that doesn’t confirm our perspectives and beliefs.
These are sad, disappointing times for anyone interested in restoring a sense of national cohesion.
Will genuine argument return to Washington, D.C. in the future? I don’t know. Most likely, I will dislike the two parties more than I do now.
And then we have the Democratic primaries to look forward to… with more partisan stoking of the base voters.