Ross Douthat, a conservative columnist who writes op-ed pieces for the New York Times, announced some weeks ago that he was voting for Hillary Clinton. He wasn’t too happy about it, but after considering Trump, he felt it was the best he could do.
In today’s paper he talked about three perils we would face with a Trump presidency. He is not talking about nuclear war or authoritarian moves, but dangers that we will surely face no matter what other stupid things Trump does.
1. An economic slump. This is not just when Trump wins, when we will see a huge drop in the stock market. This is during the administration, when businesses stop hiring and the GNP drops, even if we somehow avoid a trade war, which is unlikely.
2. Civil unrest. Trump will not try to head off civil unrest, but will add fuel to it. Look at some of his supporters. Look at how hostility toward minority groups and immigrants has increased in the last few months.
3. Escalation of risks in every geographical theater. Trump hates to appear weak, talks about “winning,” will get suckered by Putin, and has no historical understanding of foreign policy.
Let me quote Mr. Douthat’s conclusion. “I think that reluctant Trump supporters are overestimating the systemic durability of the American-led order, and underestimating the extent to which a basic level of presidential competence and self-control is itself a matter of life and death–for Americans, and for human beings the world over.”
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