These and similar stories serve as common-sense conversation starters about ethics. Faust receives something of great value, but it costs him his soul. When we face similar temptations, how will we act? They were also teaching tools to guide moral decision-making. Jesus rejected the devil’s tempting offers and so should his followers.
McConnell’s calculation
The Republican Party’s present dilemma is it sold its soul in exchange for extensive benefits, but debts are coming due. How and why has a longer history, but I begin with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s clear statement of the Republican Party’s approach to governing during the presidencies of Barack Obama. “The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president,” (National Journal, Nov. 4, 2010). This sell-your-soul political calculation was as astute as it was destructive to the nation. Although Obama served two terms, blocking every initiative of his administration by every possible means meant pressing national problems festered and, as intended, created a political backlash favorable to Republicans as the 2016 election approached.
This first Faustian bargain led to others after worsening national problems created political space for an authoritarian demagogue to be elected president. Many Republican leaders understood Donald Trump was a dangerous narcissist who was unfit for the presidency but in their own Faustian bargains decided to ride his coattails in pursuit of shared goals or their own lofty ambitions. They tolerated and reinforced his racist taunts, misogyny, cozying up to dictators and white supremacists, bungling of the pandemic, rejection of science and disparagement of facts, decimation of government agencies, divisive lies, caging of children at the border, self-serving conspiracy theories and seditious efforts to subvert democracy itself. Many liked that he opposed abortion and immigrants, stacked courts with conservative judges, cut taxes to benefit the wealthy, rolled back environmental protections and pulled out of international climate accords. Most evangelical Christians believed Trump was sent by God. Many Trump enablers feared the wrath of the Tweeter in Chief and his rabid followers.
Living in a parallel universe
As a result of these Faustian bargains the Republican Party, a majority of Republican voters, and Republican elected officials have abandoned democracy and chosen to live in a parallel universe of their own making. Sixty-eight percent of Republicans believe the election was stolen from President Trump and 77 percent of Trump voters think he is the victim of massive fraud. This big lie spawned judicial and legislative coup attempts and violent insurrection orchestrated by Trump, his family and personal lawyer, and local, state, and federal Republican officials.
GOP will need to splinter
Debts are now due. Going forward, the Republican Party will need to splinter in order for it and the nation to heal. I hope Republicans in the U.S. Senate who believe in democracy will break with the party or form an independent caucus within it to cooperate with Democrats to address pressing national problems. The situation is particularly dire in the U.S. House, where the majority of Republican members, including the four Minnesotans, represent angry whites actively engaged in sedition. Our nation needs the minority of small-d democrats among House Republicans to break with their colleagues and work to thwart their lies and authoritarian ambitions. Let us hope that the well-being of the nation guides their decision-making during the critical months to come.
Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer is Emeritus Professor of Justice and Peace Studies at the University of St. Thomas.
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