The Difference Between Leaders and Thugs
All have repeatedly put their personal interests over the interests of their respective nations. All have appointed people to key positions based on loyalty rather than qualification. All have taken credit for every success while never taking responsibility for failure.
All have a chronic aversion to telling or hearing the truth.
All three have fought against democratic norms and institutions. They have undermined whatever capacities their citizens have for self-government.
They have thereby diminished the resilience of their citizens and weakened their societies. As a result, they have made their nations more vulnerable — to external enemies, to economic upheavals, and to natural perils, including climate change and pandemics.
None of them can abide political opposition. One has apparently murdered his key opponent. Another has threatened vengeance on his opponents if he regains power. Another has stoked division and turmoil to weaken his opponents. All have spread outrageous conspiracy theories about those who speak out against them or challenge their power.
These autocratic thugs are not leaders. They hold authority through brute strength. They retain power by dividing the public, spreading baseless lies, and accusing opponents of being traitors. All have thereby weakened their society’s capacities to protect themselves from real threats.
They have undermined the public good, which is the wellspring of a society’s true strength.
America, Russia, and Israel are far weaker for having had these thugs at the helm.
