It should be borne in mind that there is nothing more difficult to arrange, more doubtful of success, and more dangerous to carry through than initiating change. The innovator makes enemies of all those who prospered under the old order, and only lukewarm support is forthcoming from those who would prosper under the new.--Machiavelli, The Prince
Translation: The people with something to lose will fight harder to keep the status quo than the reformers will fight to make and retain a change.
A modest corollary is,
Without a sustained investment in the accomplishment, the opposition will double down on its effort to recapture lost advantages.
President Trump's campaign and actions since election have been to reverse change backed by a very solid base of supporters. The President has masterfully conjoined reversing change with nurturing his base.
Examples of change without sustained investment are found in domestic, environmental, and international policies.
Domestic Change Reversal
Abortion and a woman's right to choose is an excellent example. Rather than looking for reconciliation and showing the benefits of choice, the "winners" have been smug and brittle. The brewing resentment manifested first in the Tea Party and now the cult of Trump.
Environmental Regulation
Except for the Los Angeles basin citizens, most Americans do not appreciate the value of environmental regulation in increasing the quality of life and even economic growth.
International Policy
We walked away from Afghanistan in the late 80's, from Iraq in 2011, and more than once from Afghanistan in more recent years. Without a sustained investment in the accomplishment, the opposition will double down on its effort to recapture lost advantages.
The Paris accord and Iran nuclear agreement (not a treaty) were not explained to the American people making these initiatives easily reversible by a President more interested in discrediting his predecessor than in good policy. And the ability to readily link the nuclear agreement to Iran's increased role in promoting instability in the Middle East made reversal of the Obama-era agreement easy pickings.
Imposing what is "right" without nurturing acceptance is a brittle foundation on which to build a more enlightened society.
The Paris accord and Iran nuclear agreement (not a treaty) were not explained to the American people making these initiatives easily reversible by a President more interested in discrediting his predecessor than in good policy. And the ability to readily link the nuclear agreement to Iran's increased role in promoting instability in the Middle East made reversal of the Obama-era agreement easy pickings.
Imposing what is "right" without nurturing acceptance is a brittle foundation on which to build a more enlightened society.
