Today, President Donald Trump quoted Napoleon Bonaparte, infamous for dissolving the First French Republic and crowning himself emperor, stating, "He who saves his Country does not violate any Law." This foreboding declaration not only hints at an ideological desire for kingship but stands in stark contrast to the foundational principles of the United States.

America was established on the ideals of democratic representation, born from colonies rebelling against a monarch who ruled unilaterally. The Framers of the Constitution, recognizing the perils of concentrated power, instituted a system of checks and balances among three branches of government, granting legislative authority exclusively to Congress. Trump's assertion undermines these principles, suggesting a unilateral determination of legality and morality, reminiscent of the very tyranny the Constitution was designed to prevent.

To backtrack a bit, Trump's first month in office has been (intentionally) chaotic. From a slurry of Executive Orders, several of which have already been blocked as 'blatantly unconstitutional', to the havoc being wreaked by Elon Musk and DOGE staffed with unqualified and likely compromised software engineers rather than lawyers, auditors, or tenured civil servants, it's been (again, intentionally) very hard to keep up with it all.

Particularly concerning is the administration's approach to the rule of law. From pardoning individuals convicted of sedition related to the January 6th Capitol riot to the recent pardon of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, convicted of attempting to sell Barack Obama's Senate seat, Trump has signaled that criminal behavior is permissible if it serves his interests. This pattern continued with the dismissal of federal corruption charges against New York Mayor Eric Adams, an apparent quid pro quo, makes it clear that loyalty to Trump can override legal accountability.

These actions, and the public's perceptions of these actions, have an undeniable deleterious effect on the soul of the country. Some may try to argue that politics has always been pay for play and a corrupt game played by the elite who always manage to come on top, but this is a fatalistic, cynical view that is inconsistent with history and the trajectory the country has been on. The difference can be directly observed just in the example of the attempt to dismiss the case against Eric Adams. Never before have so many non-partisan career prosecutors from a variety of backgrounds resigned and publicly stated just how improper and corrupt the dismissal would be, that it would give the president undue leverage over the Mayor and cause significant distrust in the Department of Justice. The facts of the case, and the public record all show this to be true and expose the administration to be clearly attempting a quid pro quo that provides them what is essentially blackmail leverage over Adams.

The deleterious effect is felt not just by those who disagree with the administration, but is most dangerous for those within and close to the administration. What concern does a Republican Governor who knows they're in Trump's graces have for any illegal action? They know that Trump's DOJ, should it ever catch wind of their actions, would be told to stand down, with no investigative steps ever being greenlit by DOJ leadership. This puts all sort of illegal and corrupt practices on the table, everything from domestic and foreign bribery, to embezzlement, even up to the jailing or investigation of political opponents under false pretenses on the table.

Although the risks of the deleterious effect are most present among those within or close to Trump's circle, it's pervasive even among the public. As someone who prides themselves on being an upstanding citizen that does their best to never skirt laws (except perhaps speed limits), even I feel the temptation to cut corners on my taxes, especially after learning that Musk plans to make cuts to the IRS. What reason do I have to believe it will be funded and capable enough to catch a few cut corners? For all we know they'll be told to significantly cut back on their audits all together in the coming months. For me to be considering that, I imagine it's already being fully plotted by many with less scruples throughout the country. After all, if everyone else can get away with crime right now, why shouldn't I?

These intangible sentiments and 'vibe shifts' have lasting and far reaching effects, they erode the fabric and ethos of the country and make corruption and other illegal acts the norm rather than the exception. All of this sets us back as a country, and as a community, and perhaps more dangerously, it makes the consolidation of power and the usurpation of laws all the more easier. How much longer do we have until Trump crowns himself the emperor of America?