. . . Donald John Trump in his acceptance speech. In context, “No one knows the system better than me, which is why I alone can fix it.”
Okay, class, for your mid-term examination, reconcile Mr. Trump's statement with:
The theory of limited government embodied in . . .
. . . the United States Constitution, as expressed through the tripartite structure of the federal government and the shared sovereignty of the federal-state system. Pay particular attention to the word alone.
. . . classic principles of liberalism (in the good sense of the word), with particular emphasis on consent of the governed and the rule of law.
. . . Reaganism, with particular emphasis on the question of whether government is the principal engine of human advancement, a barrier to human advancement, or something in between.
. . . Barack Hussein Obama, with a comparison a Mr. Trump's and Mr. Obama's theories of presidential power.
. . . this lede from the Wikipedia entry for "Cult of Personality": "A cult of personality arises when an individual uses mass media, propaganda, or other methods to create an idealized, heroic, and at times worshipful image, often through unquestioning flattery and praise." Does a reality television show or a televised national political convention count as "mass media?" Does Mr. Trump see himself as an idealized, heroic figure, worthy of worship?
. . . any concept of mental health you may wish to define and advocate, with particular emphasis on whether Mr. Trump's statement is better evidence of healthy self-confidence or narcissistic personality disorder.
. . . and for extra credit, grammatical principles of standard American English involving the case of the pronoun me.
You may open your blue books and begin. Good luck.
Comments