In the news today, there is a lot of talk about institutions that are present in our lives. How important is it to respect those institutions?
There are many organizations and structures — institutions — that exist in modern day society. Some help people, but some are used to take advantage of them. Some maintain fairness for everyone, but others make discrimination and unfairness official.
There is also a growing movement to radically change or even dismantle some of these structures. That instinct is understandable, particularly when they are perceived to be causing an injustice of some sort.
One problem that arises is that different groups disagree on which organizations are beneficial, and which ones need to be reformed. I might think that Department A is important, but Department B is not. You, on the other hand, feel the exact opposite. What should we do?
Two questions seem relevant: 1) How do we determine the relative importance of each individual institution? 2) In the case where an institution needs change, what is the best way to implement that change?
Our society thrives on stability. The stock market depends on it. Consumer confidence relies on it. Even an individual’s sense of safety and security in their community can be impacted by instability.
With that in mind, should we be making changes to our institutions at all? Even the ones that could be made more fair and even? But if we don’t change, are we accepting the flaws that currently exist in the system?
In many ways, our lives are ruled by the structures all around us. Do we show them respect, and what does “respect” even mean in this instance?
Related questions: How important is respect? What role should government play in our lives? Who has power? What are our responsibilities to others?
Institutions—organizations and structures—should be evaluated on whether they create a positive impact.
For example, we should consider whether they deliver equitable outcomes. The Electoral College, for instance, undermines the principle of one person, one vote. States with smaller populations (such as Iowa and New Hampshire, exert disproportionate influence in selecting a president compared to states with larger populations, like California. Several times, the Electoral College has decided the winner of an election over the popular vote, including in Trump’s first election. The Electoral College ought to be abolished.
Other institutions, like USAID — an organization that Donald Trump and Elon Musk are attempting to dismantle because they view overseas spending as wasteful — not only deliver humanitarian aid, such as food and clean water, to nations in need but also exemplify the positive role America can play in the world. Without our involvement through institutions like these, adversaries like Russia or China could quickly fill the void. Organizations like USAID should be preserved or even strengthened.
I could write more specifically about Trump’s relationship with institutions — how he weaponizes some against his opponents or bulldozes those he dislikes or has no use for. However, that would lead me down a rabbit hole. Let me just conclude by stating that Trump does not respect the major institutions of the federal government — the Presidency, Congress, or the Courts. He cares only if they serve his authoritarian interests, often at the direct expense of the American people.
Thriving institutions are the bedrock of civilization, but the federal government must be reined in OR the country will go bankrupt!