Third world dictatorship has parallels

Having worked in Central American third world countries with dictators, I see our country slowly and now maybe quickly devolving into the same.

Characteristics of a third world country include a small but very wealthy upper class and a large poor everyone else. Governmental funds are funneled into roads and infrastructure that benefit the wealthy and their businesses while the poor communities do not have functional health care, roads, water systems, police, or schools. You have clean water if you can afford to install your own system. If you are sick and poor you are out of luck. The rich not only evade taxes but manipulate the government to spend money on pet projects in which they have a financial interest.

Dictators have certain qualities: they install their family members in key positions, they squelch opponents by having them "punched" or put in jail, they are megalomaniacs with no scruples against lying, and defy government rules and norms. Most frightening is that they maintain support not only by violence and threats, but by making the downtrodden feel better by blaming others (as in, “if we just get rid of all the Jews, life here in depression-era Germany would sure be better” or, “if we just get rid of all the immigrants, America will be great again!”)

They surround themselves with goons to manipulate the system (FBI) and there are no checks and balances except the military. Frighteningly, Trump fits all these descriptions. That is why I am scared and anguished.

This story was originally published November 23, 2016 at 6:24 PM with the headline "Third world dictatorship has parallels."