A nation changed: the decline of basic human decency under Trump

Sacramento Bee ^ | December 24, 2025 | By Erwin Chemerinsky

[artichokegrower]

Although there is much to lament in the unconstitutional and illegal policies of the Trump administration, not enough has been said about its lack of compassion and basic human decency. How does it change us as a nation to witness countless acts of cruelty by our government? How does it change how we talk in our society to see a president refer to other nations as “shithole” countries or to tell a female reporter, “quiet, piggy”?

[artichokegrower]

I and others have extensively written about the assault on the rule of law. But we have not spoken enough about the war on compassion. We are better than this as a country and must demand better from the president. This is not about ideology or politics. It is about basic human decency.

How about the lack of human decency when a young woman gets stabbed to death in a subway, when a senior woman gets hit in the face with a club having a spike sticking out of it, or a senior woman gets stabbed to death at a book store.

[xp38]

This is not about ideology or politics. It is about basic human decency.

Comedy tonight!

[aynrandfreak]

Tell it to the left.

[Jonty30]

Liberals led the charge and we responded.

[txeagle]

Given the level of fatigue engendered by the woke, to them it may look like being told “NO” for the first time in their lives is a war on compassion when it is nothing more than a return to common sense.

[brookwood]

” How does it change how we talk in our society to see a president refer to other nations as “shithole” countries?”
It makes us honest and truthful instead of lying leftist thieves. We don’t know who “piggy” referred to. But I guarantee it was a slimy Trump-hating liar.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

What a bunch of hypocrites!!! Fabricated Democrat stories of President Trump paying prostitutes to pee on him is about as low as you can go!

President Trump speaks the truth. If he calls someone "piggy", then you can take it to the bank.

[MileHi]

Yeah, pizz of Irwin ya twit.

[alternatives?]

For four years under Biden, we were told to shut up, hated, and discriminated against. The press lied about it.

[No name given]

Correct.

[No name given]

Exactly.

[traderrob6]

Even the title was derserving of a “barf alert”.

[Olog-hai]

Erwin Chemerinsky is dean and professor of law at the UC Berkeley School of Law.

Another bilious college dean heard from. No thanks.

[No name given]

Or peaceful pro life protesters being thrown in jail for that matter.

[lastchance]

Yep.

[b4me]

How does it change US to watch countless acts of cruelty by illegals?
That is the original issue and question. If they weren’t here then the author would not have anything for the writing of this story.

[No name given]

Big time.

[Sarah Barracuda]

Gee writer, ya mean like bringing in 40 million people into this country ON PURPOSE in order to get a permanent voter base..kind of like that..hows THATS for decency

[artichokegrower]

Ol’ Erwin is doing well in this hate filled world

Name Job title Regular pay Overtime pay Other pay Total pay Benefits Total pay &
benefits
Erwin Chemerinsky Dean
University of California, 2024 $659,860.00

[Sarah Barracuda]

Biden gave an address to the Nation with a red background calling every single Trump voter a Nazi, gee hows THAT for decency