By Wade Lee Hudson

The impeachment has been both necessary and diversionary. The battle may help defeat Trump in November. And it’s exposed the growing power of the Imperial Presidency. But the impeachment battle has also obscured that trend. The centralization of power preceded Trump. He’s merely a symptom. 

Both Democrats and Republicans have contributed to the centralization of power, and most Americans embrace it. Like Stanley in A Streetcar Named Desire, we would like to be able to say “I’m King here.” We worship celebrities, the rich and famous, the powerful. We believe some one person must always be in charge. We climb one social ladder or another, look down on those below, and envy or resent those above.

When we learn how to be democratic with each other, we’ll be better able to use people power to establish democracy in Washington.