You may be right, but we all still have free will and can choose not to be rancorous. Leaders set the tone. Trump’s tone has definitely been picked up on by his supporters. To many of them, people don’t have disagreements. They are not wrong headed. They’re losers.
Agreed.
Real leaders set a civil tone where things can get accomplished.
Reagan wanted to change much of what was going on in DC but he went about it in a way in which he couldn’t be faulted.
He described it as “sabres by day and cocktails by night”.
He invited leaders of both parties to the White House for drinks and conversation.
“If they can’t speak to each other, how can they govern”?
Obama has been just the opposite.
Not once has he had the Republicans to the White House except to stomp his feet and threaten them.
I believe Trump would take it even further by treating members of his own party badly.
I can imagine him allying himself with whoever will give him what he wants *this week*.
I could be wrong but I haven’t seen anything to make me think otherwise.
He has said he would be the best deal maker ever.
But who would profit, long term, from those deals.
Like you said, Donald Trump sees himself as the *only* winner. Everyone else is a loser.
Yes, we each have free will.
I have found the judicious and thoughtful use of that free will one of the hardest things I have had to master.