Rhetoric and argument have hit a new low in American politics. Evidence and facts, not to mention accountability, seemingly disappeared, particularly in the era of Donald Trump. His approach is “never complain and never explain.” Blaming others is his game and disassembling is a way of life. It also may prove to be his Achilles heel.

Take his positions on trade; they change constantly. Prior to negotiations with China, he cuts his declared rate from 145% to 80%, giving no explanations. Then he leaves it up to his Secretary of the Treasury, Scott Bessent, to set the price. Even his agreement with the United Kingdom places 10% tariffs, even though the U.S. has a surplus with London. Meanwhile, he cuts tariffs to 0% on British automobiles and aluminum. Why simply take his word on it? Fortunately, he relies on Bessent, his most competent cabinet member.

This might be a clever bait and switch tactic, but it is not statesmanship. It resembles three-card monte. Now, you can see ’em, now you don’t. The chances are it changes little in trade policy but it makes for good television. To Trump, perceptions are everything, reality less so. He does it because he will never admit that his shock and awe tariffs did not work and he wisely altered course, but he would never admit to misperceptions.

Perhaps he should heed the wisdom of Alexander Pope, an English poet and philosopher in the 18th century. Pope writes “a man should never be ashamed to own he has been in the wrong, which is but saying that he is wiser today than he was yesterday.”

John F. Kennedy took full responsibility for the Bay of Pigs in April 1961 despite realizing in his own words that “victory has a thousand fathers, but defeat is an orphan.”

Trump should note JFK’s popularity went up to 84% after a fiasco.

But the politics of the present day does not cry out for wisdom, everything is defensive and confusing. American politics follows American culture, which has degenerated into easy themes and alternately is sentimental and vicious, not to mention crude.

Both sides do it but Trump has turned it into an art form. On the internet, podcasts are trapped into a situation where truth means little, proving one point is the goal, “a little learning is a dangerous thing; drink deep,” Pope wrote, “or taste not the Pierian Spring.” The new “experts” are often as shallow as a child’s pool.

However, a nation gets the moral and manners it prefers. Truth, honor, dignity, these are absent virtues in the great game of politics. As Pope writes “Vice is a monster of frightful mien as to be hated needs to be seen; yet seems too oft, familiar with her face, we first endure, then pity, then embrace.”

The choice for public discourse follows the style of pitchmen, comedians and celebrities. Indeed, as Pope warned, we indeed embrace the worst while pretending to seek the best.