‘The Acquiescence Syndrome’

By MAX STITES

Published in the Daily Sentinel on 6/24/26.

The current president of the United States certainly has his loyalists, some of who disparage his critics by saying they suffer from “Trump Derangement Syndrome.”

This phrase, along with the word “activist” is often used to describe federal and state judges who rule against his policies, even though he appointed some of these federal judges. Any Republican in Congress who speaks or votes in opposition to his policies incurs his wrath and that of his ardent supporters. The message is “toe the line” or you will be primaried and, of course, if your opposition continues, you definitely suffer from “TDS.”

As destructive as this is to a democracy and the rule of law, there is another insidious factor operating as well. For lack of a better terminology, I will call it “The Acquiescence Syndrome.” The Cambridge Dictionary defines acquiescence as “the passive or reluctant acceptance of something, or agreement given by remaining silent and failing to object. It is the act of yielding without offering resistance, even if the person does not fully agree with the decision.” In other words, it can manifest itself in a “go along to get along” persona even though one may personally vehemently disagree with the policy. We see this time and time again with the current majority in Congress. I have to believe there are many Republican members of Congress who are upset by some of the egregious actions/requests of the current president.

There are examples galore — a $1.8 billion slush fund; a $1 billion ask to build a ballroom; the proposed building of a 250-foot arch at who knows what cost; the orders to the National Park Service to remove some of the historical markers or narratives that relate to slavery, Japanese incarceration during World War II and Native American narratives; the continued harping that the 2020 election was rigged; the mass pardoning of all those involved in the January 6 insurrection at the Capitol; the appointment of some to national security positions for which they are clearly unqualified; the dismissal of respected government agency employees whose experience is irreplaceable; the incarceration of immigrants in warehouses where some conditions are reported as atrocious and members of Congress are refused oversight; and the weakening of the relationships with our historic allies.

This past June 6 was the 82nd anniversary of D-Day. I was only two years old at the time, but later I personally knew one of those vets who was there. I will never forget his story. He was a part of the second wave on that fateful day. He recounted finding it almost impossible not to step on the bodies of his fellow soldiers who were killed in the first wave. I mention this because D-Day marks the beginning of the end of the authoritarian regimes that governed Germany and Italy. Those regimes were led by dictatorial figures who gained power and kept it by using the same playbook authoritarians have used throughout human history. Part of that playbook is to promise to make the country or empire the greatest ever. Blame for supposed failures is placed on predecessors and they are vilified. A free press is often described as “the enemy of the people.” The truth becomes what the authoritarian figure says it is. Since, unfortunately, it is easier for some people to hate than love, the authoritarian picks certain minority groups in the country to also blame for increases in crime, fraud, and other perceived societal problems. These groups become the “other” and are singled out for ridicule and even punishment. For Hitler it was the Jews and others he felt didn’t deserve to live alongside the “pure Aryans.”

History teaches some hard lessons if one studies it. No, it may not repeat itself exactly, but as someone said “it rhymes.” The acquiescence to authoritarianism, often by people of good will, has almost always resulted in some form of disaster. It seems to me we are at a crossroads. It is past time for the current majority party in Congress to cast aside acquiescence and show courage in their Constitutional duty to act as a check and balance on executive authority. If they do not, it is incumbent on us as citizens to turn out in record numbers in November and vote to try and “right the ship.”

Max Stites is a retired School District 51 social studies teacher and fifth-generation resident of Mesa County.