DailyPost 328
WHITE HOUSE – THE WAR OF ATTRITION
Max Weber’s model of bureaucracy is on which modern democracies run, in simple terms, work on the philosophy of competence, stability & anonymity. This has stood the test of time in the US, providing rock solid strength to its institutions to bloom. The Indian variant we call it as the steel frame. Not in US anymore, the Trump presidency has put this model on its head.
The war of attrition which has been so infamous in the IT industry, is given a new meaning in governance, which has been unaffected by this affliction so far. Of the five top officials who were there in the beginning of the Presidency, has already been shown the door. The latest to go is White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon last Friday. There has been a remarkable turnover thus far, in just seven months of Presidency.
National Security Advisor Michael Flynn did not last in his job for even a month. Chief of Staff Reince Priebus & Press Secretary Sean Spicer departed in July. Trump’s first communication secretary Mike Dubke departed in May. His replacement, infamous Anthony Scaramucci was fired within ten days by the Chief of Staff for his incompetence. Deputy White House Chief of Staff Katie Walsh, a Priebus ally, left in March. The only one who is confident of a four year term is the Vice President Mike Pence, who cannot be fired.
Poll promises can make you a President, can’t provide leadership capabilities. If you can’t keep your house in order, how do you run the country. The Twitter Trump tweets are in itself a reflection of the attrition mindset all the way. Many times it is adversarial to his own administration. If you casually follow his tweets, it reflects an attrition mindset. White House is the number one news globally. It seems the White House is fighting an existential battle.
Trump has brought ignominy to the democratic process itself. Might be, he is democracy’s biggest challenge & also the biggest learning.
TRUMP HAPPENS TO BE AMERICA’s FIRST OUTLIER PRESIDENT.
Sanjay Sahay