American Tycoons and Influential Figures in Government, a blur of separation between public interest and private gain
Donald Trump will become the 46th President of the United States of America, carrying renewed responsibility of picking the new cabinet in January 2025 to run key departments that uphold the foundational integrity of government oversight. Though sounding like a normal process of a peaceful transfer of power, the issue lies in his choices in raising eyebrows and national security concerns. From picking business tycoons that monopolise the American market such as Elon Musk in an “efficiency” agency to television personalities facing criticism within their respective fields like Dr Oz managing Medicare and Medicaid, it seems President-elect Trump’s praxis show an overlapping pattern of seeking disqualified individuals to hold important posts within the country.
Based on the disqualifying characters of these individuals, the ethical ramifications of these choices are paramount, blurring the separation of public interest and private gain. Presidents have an obligation and must choose individuals who do not have a conflict of interests with the state regarding commercial or influential proprietaries, and yet Trump defied this. Choosing individuals such as Elon Musk, the richest man alive, only opens the United States to him furthering his wealth through passing policy favouring his terms. Picking individuals like Dr Oz, who is being questioned about whether he can perform adequately as a medical physician, to manage welfare provisions within medicine is also a detrimental disservice to American health.
Honing further, it does not help that due to the polarisation of politics between conservatives and progressives, cabinet positions requiring senate approval will be passed through purely based on values rather than merits itself. This shows a further failure of the impending Senate to be sworn in. Seeing this through a clear lens, it is without a doubt Donald Trump only seeks to secure his personal interests, rather than his countrymen’s interests, in picking loyalists within his ranks even if it dooms the country to individuals that hold the integrity of America to susceptibility. The effect it holds on to American lives will be significant in not delivering on promises assured by President-elect Trump purely based on his choices in running government and the values they reflect.
What does this mean for America now that the lines are blurred in whether individuals who control sensationalist or economic ventures hold responsibility within government? It puts America on the doorstep of corporate subjugation and battles with the concept of democracy actively. The individuals chosen are the antithesis of republic values foregrounded within the United States Constitution evidently seen by the clear conflict of interests, and yet nothing will stop Trump from doing this. It sets a dangerous precedent for future presidents, regardless of party, to encroach on rights as they understand that partisan alignment has contorted into unsettling loyalty, that anyone will be passed into government so long as they share common values and party banner.
Words by Shakeal Zaman
Cover Image Credit: Daniel Oberhaus (2018) Via Flickr