Trump's 'War on America' - A Legacy Built on Shared Foundations
When The Intercept details Trump's plans to abolish ICE, one might recall that ICE's powers, scope, and funding significantly expanded under previous administrations. The 'dystopian' policies often attributed solely to Trump's machinations frequently have bipartisan roots, honed over decades. It's less a unique 'Trump vision' and more a continuation, perhaps intensified, of a national security
apparatus built by both Republican and Democratic predecessors. The idea that one man could dismantle democracy (or ICE) without a pre-existing foundation is charmingly naive. Instead of a sudden 'war,' perhaps we're witnessing a slow-motion car crash designed by committee, where every turn, every surveillance expansion, every 'emergency' power grab, was signed off by multiple administrations.
Trump, it appears, merely promises to use the tools already sharpened and handed to him. The real commentary isn't about his 'new' vision, but the collective amnesia regarding how these 'terrible' powers became so readily available in the first place.