I recommend the following for your reading pleasure:
1. An article on Vox.com about Lamar Alexander’s position on impeachment. The gist of it is that even retirement isn’t enough to protect wayward GOP members of Congress; they fear the loss of future employment opportunities, and even ostracism, at the hands of the reactionary mob. The author refers to this as “right-wing political correctness.” He’s right.
2. An article on Politico about Trump and toxic masculinity. The gist of it is that the ideal of manhood in this country used to consist of modesty, grit, stoicism, and self-sacrifice; Trump embodies the opposite of all of those qualities, but his obnoxious combination of bluster and whining is viewed as “strength” by large segments of the public. Once again, the author is completely correct; the better question is, how did this happen?
I think the answer to the question comes in two parts. The first is the primacy of sixties values: authenticity, freedom, and self-expression. The second is the relative decline of the value of traditional masculinity in the marketplace. Quiet stoicism was all well and good when you were in charge; if that’s not working, because knowledge is now more important than brute physical strength, maybe it’s time to try something completely different. You’re a victim; why not say so? It might win you some sympathy, and at the very least, it will make you feel better.