Thread by @BruceBartlett

I think many of our political problems are due to what economists call time-inconsistency--bad stuff is done, but we don't immediately see the bad consequences. When the bad consequences arrive, people don't connect it to the bad actions that caused it.

The obvious example is tariffs. Economists immediately said this would lead to higher prices and unemployment, and no positive effects on manufacturing. Nothing happened for several months and WH lies convinced many short-sighted people that the economists were wrong.

Now the chickens are coming home to roost and the negative effects of tariffs are becoming palpable. Another example is Trump's illegal/unconstitutional actions in so many areas. It takes time for courts to act against them because someone with standing must bring a case.

Court cases are expensive and are often delayed by legal tactics. Lickspittle Trump judges refuse to follow the law and even when DOJ loses it can appeal or simply ignore a ruling. Courts lack the power to do much when the government simply refuses to act legally.

I think eventually the law will prevail, but only when public opinion is mobilized. Hence there may be a long period between when a lawless action is taken and justice prevails. Irresponsible politicians can do a lot of evil between those two points.

It's worth remembering that everything Hitler and the Nazis did was perfectly legal under German law. That's why the Nuremberg Trials were essential to bring about a bit of justice. Unfortunately, Americans are loathe to take revenge on evildoers, they prefer to move on, forgive.

This attitude dates back at least to the Civil War. The vast majority of Confederates got off scot-free. More recently corporate executives who committed vast financial crimes very seldom went to jail, and those that did were soon rehabilitated and became ambassadors or senators.

Personally, I think when all this mess is over, there must be a reckoning. Large resources and staff must be assigned to documenting all the crimes of Trump and his henchmen, at least for the record. Something must be done to publicize these crimes so that every voter knows them.