Trust

In God We Trust. That statement is plastered over our nation’s currency and many other symbols touting our identity. And although America has freedom of religion, not all people believe in or trust God. That’s a fact. There are believers and non-believers among us. And that’s OK. You do not have to believe in God to be an American. 

Trust is part of the statement dealing with God. Trust is a central element of any relationship or agreement. It’s pretty difficult – if not impossible – to agree on anything unless you trust the other party, and they you. Trust. I believe a party will act or perform in a manner expected, relied upon and agreed to beforehand.

Trust is one of those things you get when you give at the same time. I give my trust to you in exchange for your trust in me. If one of us is holding back, then the trusting relationship is a sham.

Saying you trust someone is not the same thing as actually trusting the party. The reverse is also true.

Trust is two-way. It can be three-way if a third party is involved, or four-way, five-way, etc. The parties to an agreement must trust that all parties will act as stipulated. Otherwise there is no trust and thus no workable agreement.

Treaties are like this. Compacts, constitutions, contracts and other agreements constitute trust-based transactions. We deal with those we trust. If we break new ground and make agreements with parties we earlier did not trust, then the agreements are the sort that must have stipulations verified from time to time. If the elements of the agreement are found to be underperformed as agreed upon, then a fault exists in the trust. A promised act was not performed. Trust is therefore shaky  and the agreement’s viability is in question. Follow-up with the partners will determine how serious the breach is and whether the agreement will survive. If the breach is intentional and no repair is forthcoming, the contract is broken. Trust has been dashed and with it the agreement.

Such is the status of the North Korea agreement which touted de-nuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. There is no factual basis proving North Korea is de-nuclearizing its nation. The opposite appears to be true: nuclear facilities are being expanded and apparently for military reasons. That is counter to the agreement made between the nation heads of America and North Korea.

A show of hands being shaken amid pomp and circumstances does not make a contract. Words make a contract. Words with consequence and expectations. Trust that these words and expectations will mean something proves the contract. Without the trust or factual verification, trust disappears.

Pretty basic. Showmanship misleads in this instance.

Shame on both parties for openly fooling the world. One party retained the power of intentional nonperformance; the other party assumed compliance because of the pompous display of ritual. An empty ritual it was as many suspected beforehand.

Pretense is not governance. Trust is not to be misused. Do it once and you may be forgiven. Do it twice and likely you will lose trust of the people entirely. Forever.

Such is the case today. America is not to be trusted. It is a failed partner in treaties, negotiations and contracts. It has become a sham.

And that’s a shame. America is my country. I am an American. And the America of 2018 as it is represented by government no longer conforms to what my nation is and has been for centuries. That must mean that either I am not an American, or America’s government is no longer in existence.

If the latter is true, then we citizens must re-establish the America of treaty and Constitution. The experts in these matters are needed to stand and organize our response to this state of affairs.

Lincoln stated: “A nation divided cannot stand.” We are divided. We cannot stand. That becomes more evident with the passing of each day. The only thing left to do is retake the nation or lose it entirely.

Is this to be a replay of the American Revolution of 1776? I don’t know; I truly hope not. With 330 million people and the same number of guns in their hands, I shudder to think of the mayhem of a hot war revolution. Perhaps the newest revolution will be of a high-tech nature? Perhaps.

But a revolution has been begged and it awaits our response.

July 10, 2018