7-Opinion

E

ver since Donald Trump was 
inaugurated back in 2017, 
much of American politics 

has revolved around a fundamental 
question of political science: What 
exactly 
defines 
authoritarianism, 

and does Donald Trump fit within 
that mold? Though it’s obvious that 
Trump 
harbors 
anti-democratic 

ambitions, a defining feature of his 
presidency is that although he might 
want to be an authoritarian, he’s bad 
at actually achieving his ideological 
and political goals. Looking back on 
the past four years, it is obvious that 
the person who has done the most 
to stymie Trump’s authoritarian 
instincts, via a combination of political 
ineptitude and sheer laziness, is 
Trump himself. While effective 
anti-democratic leaders work to 
consolidate and expand their political 
control through economic populism, 
disciplined attacks on democratic 
policies and opportunistic power 
grabs, Trump has repeatedly failed to 
do this, rendering him a phony, failed 
authoritarian. 

Before evaluating what he’s done 

(or failed to do) as president, it’s 
important to acknowledge Trump’s 
rhetoric — which is undeniably anti-
democratic — as a way to understand 
his 
authoritarian 
tendencies. 

Since taking office, Trump has 
consistently 
flouted 
democratic 

norms and expressed a willingness 

to undermine the integrity of our 
elections by claiming the electoral 
system itself is rigged against him. 
After the 2016 election, which he 
won despite losing the popular vote, 

Trump baselessly claimed on 

Twitter that, “in addition to winning 
the Electoral College in a landslide, 
I won the popular vote if you deduct 
the millions of people who voted 

illegally.” Similarly, in the lead-

up to the 2020 election, Trump 
has falsely claimed that voting by 
mail produces widespread fraud (it 
doesn’t), and therefore the election 
results may be illegitimate. 

After 
a 
group 
of 
far-right 

individuals 
plotted 
to 
kidnap 

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Trump 
downplayed the severity of the 
situation and laid the blame on 
Whitmer, saying she was unpopular 
and should reopen the state by lifting 
COVID-19 safety measures. Lastly, 
and most alarmingly, he has refused 
to commit to a peaceful transition of 

power. 
These 
collectively 

demonstrate Trump’s distaste for 
democracy, lack of respect for political 
opponents and potential willingness 
to turn to authoritarian measures. 

However, despite all of his 

authoritarian rhetoric, Trump has 
demonstrated a consistent inability to 
implement anti-democratic measures 
or advance his power in meaningful 
ways. While apt and cunning 

authoritarian 
leaders 
use 
their 

powers to centralize control over 
the government and cement their 
rule, Trump has largely failed to do 
this. In addition, he has appointed a 
cabinet of partisan hacks, prioritizing 
personal loyalty over actual ability. 
This is the largest extent to which he 
has actually implemented anything 
resembling authoritarianism. 

Crucially, Trump has failed to 

centralize his power in several 
ways but primarily through his 
inability to appeal to the people 
and failure to extend the federal 
government’s 
reach. 
An 
oft-

overlooked aspect of effective 
authoritarian 
leaders 
is 
their 

ability to gain preliminary support 
through economic populism and 
other measures that actually appeal 
to 
the 
people. 
Authoritarians 

around the world and across 
history, from Benito Mussolini to 
Viktor Orban, have understood 
that; 
they 
(and 
most 
other 

authoritarians) utilized fiscal and 
economic policies which promoted 
growth among the working class 
and 
reduced 
unemployment. 

Although Trump talks a big game 
about economic populism, his only 
major economic accomplishment 
to date is a tax cut for the wealthy, 
which is both unpopular — even 
among Republicans — and perhaps 
the quintessential example of an 

anti-populist policy. To top that 
off, Trump initiated a trade war 
with China, which has ultimately 
both hurt farmers and failed to 
bring back manufacturing jobs. 
This is reflected in Trump’s 
approval ratings; although he 
frequently rails against “coastal 
elites” and positions himself as a 
protector of the working-class, he 
is more unpopular among lower-
income people than any other 
socioeconomic group.

In addition to his economic 

shortcomings, 
Trump 
has 

also struggled to advance his 
authoritarian ideals for a second 
reason: his inability to move 
the 
levers 
of 
power 
within 

government. 
For 
the 
Trump 

administration, this has come 
to the forefront primarily when 
dealing 
with 
the 
Supreme 

Court. Although the court has a 
conservative majority, Trump and 
his administration have repeatedly 
lost cases which appear politically 
winnable because of their desire to 
cut corners instead of constructing 
coherent arguments. 

Opinion

A

s 
the 
winter 
months 

approach, we begin to 
expect colder weather, 

holiday festivities, cozy nights 
in and the like. But for many, 
the earlier sunsets and barren 
trees foreshadow something far 
less jolly: seasonal depression. 
If you find yourself feeling more 
lethargic, 
less 
motivated 
or 

inclined to stay in bed for longer 
than usual as temperatures drop, 
you may have a case of the winter 
blues. If your symptoms are more 
intense, such as loss of interest 
in normally enjoyed activities, 
hopelessness and the inclination 
to isolate yourself from friends 
and 
family, 
you 
could 
be 

experiencing a more extreme 
form of the winter blues known 
as Seasonal Affective Disorder 
(SAD). 

Symptoms 
resulting 
from 

the change in season can be 
expressed in varying intensities, 
ranging from a mere low mood 
to a crippling depressive episode. 
If you’re experiencing symptoms 
of the winter blues, it’s important 
that you not only recognize such 
signs, but validate them and take 
positive steps toward a healthier 
holiday season, regardless of the 
severity.

If 
these 
symptoms 
sound 

familiar, the good news is that 
you’re not alone. According to 
Rush, about 6% of Americans 
experience SAD, and about 14% of 
Americans experience the winter 
blues. Conversely, only around 
7% of American adults have 
experienced at least one major 
depressive episode, making the 
winter blues approximately twice 
as common as major depressive 
disorder, and even more so in 
the northernmost regions of the 
country. Furthermore, women 
are more likely than men to 
struggle with SAD or the winter 
blues.

Because of the commonality 

of the winter blues, many people 
assume that they should be able 
to simply handle the symptoms, 

as so many others do. Many 
may also think that spring will 
come soon, so seeking help or 
treatment is a waste of time. 
However, 
symptoms 
of 
the 

winter blues can be debilitating 
and interrupt normal patterns 
of your daily life, no matter 
how long they last or how many 
people around you experience 
them. Your motivation to seek 
help, in any situation, should 
not be dependent on whether or 
not others do the same. If you’re 
struggling, 
you 
shouldn’t 
be 

afraid to ask for help. Of course, 
actively 
seeking 
support 
is 

easier said than done, but taking 
steps toward improvement is an 
important skill that should be 
practiced nonetheless.

The easiest steps to improving 

your mood during the winter 
can be derived directly from 
the widely accepted causes of 
seasonal depression. Both SAD 
and the winter blues result from 
the disruption of our circadian 
rhythms by the darkening of 
the skies during the season. 
Our bodies recognize that it’s 
nighttime by the amount of 
light that can be detected. When 
there’s less light, our brains 
recognize that it’s time to rest, 
and our bodies secrete melatonin, 
the natural hormone that allows 
us to sleep. Usually our bodies are 
right in their assumptions about 
when to fall asleep, however 
these assumptions begin to falter 
during the winter months. The 
darkness consumes more of the 
day and our bodies, thinking it’s 
nighttime, continue to release 
melatonin, 
causing 
daytime 

lethargy. Cue: the winter blues.

Most scientists accept that 

the lack of natural sunlight 
is the culprit. Fortunately, a 
solution exists for those who 
can access it. Light therapy 
simulates natural light, resetting 
our bodies’ internal clocks and 
mitigating the symptoms of the 
winter blues. The process simply 
requires 
one 
to 
consistently 

sit or work near a light box for 
around half an hour each day. 
Light boxes provide the natural 
light that prevents the secretion 
of melatonin at the wrong times, 
targeting the primary cause of 
the winter blues. The University 
of Michigan allows students 
to access light boxes around 
campus at no cost. These can 
be found at the Counseling And 
Psychological Services Wellness 
Zone in Pierpont Commons, 
as well as on the lower level 
of 
Shapiro 
Undergraduate 

Library. However, with COVID-
19 
limiting 
accessibility 
to 

light boxes in public spaces, 
students may find more success 
in purchasing their own light 
boxes if they can afford it to treat 
symptoms of the winter blues.

This year, though, the winter 

blues may hit a little harder than in 
past winters. Feelings of isolation 
are already widespread as a result 
of COVID-19 and the onset of the 
winter blues for many will only 
make them worse. As the winter 
approaches, make sure to safely 
stay connected with friends and 
family through socially distanced 
or virtual events. Also, given that 
so many experience symptoms 
of seasonal depression, don’t be 
afraid to talk to others about your 
feelings and reach out to your 
loved ones to help them better 
handle the lethargy of the season.

The 
winter 
blues 
are 

common, especially here in the 
northern part of the country. 
If you’re feeling more down 
than usual with the impending 
winter, you’re in the same boat 
as many others around you. 
However, this doesn’t mean you 
should simply grin and bear 
it. Your struggles are valid, 
regardless of who does or does 
not share them, so take steps to 
make the season a little more 
jolly for yourself and for your 
loved ones.

Winter blues are common, but they 

shouldn’t be downplayed

ILANA MERMELSTEIN | COLUMNIST

T

his 
semester 
has 
been 

particularly 
difficult 
for 

many students. The typical 

pressures of challenging classes, 
midterms 
and 
online 
learning 

combined 
with 
current 
events 

have created an extremely stressful 
semester. The lack of any school breaks 
that offered respite from schoolwork 
has worsened the situation. This needs 
to change for next semester. 

Due to COVID-19, the University 

of Michigan canceled the typical fall 
and spring breaks. Colleges across 
the country introduced this change 
to prevent students from traveling 
back and forth between campus 
and home, therefore running the 
risk of spreading COVID-19 back 
to campus or to their hometowns. 
Canceling breaks is an important 
step to help stop the spread of 
COVID-19. However, the University 
must take meaningful steps for 
next semester to make up for the 
increased academic pressure caused 
by these changes. 

The Central Student Government 

has come up with a proposal to 
help address this issue. They are 
proposing a week in the winter 
term where students will have no 
high-stakes assignments. In the 
proposal, CSG defines high-stakes 
assignments as any assignment that 
makes up more than 10% of the 
course’s grade. This week would 
give students a much-needed break 
from schoolwork without enticing 
students to go home. 

In-person 
instruction 
has 

been replaced by countless Zoom 
meetings, a format that many 
students 
find 
unconducive 
to 

learning. The switch to online school 
has left many students feeling that 
their 
instructors 
are 
assigning 

far too much work and making it 
impossible to stay on top of things. 
Most extracurricular activities have 
also been moved online, removing 
the fun from the typical out-of-class 
experiences that students enjoy. 
Last year, my clubs served as a 
much-needed break: a time to hang 
out with friends who care about 
similar issues. Although many clubs 
are making efforts to make online 
meetings enjoyable after a long day 
of Zoom classes, it can be difficult for 
students to overcome Zoom fatigue 
and attend a club meeting which is, 
yet again, online. 

These academic constraints have 

been combined with everything 
happening in the world around us. 
Concerns about our health, the health 
of others and the state of our world are 
ever-present. We have to deal with the 
stress of changing government orders 
and social isolation. The election 
has also been a major stressor for 
students. Living in a swing state where 
almost every commercial, YouTube 
advertisement and mailer is focused 
on the election has made it impossible 
to tune out the noise. Students who 
could be negatively impacted by the 
results of the election have felt the 
pressure of it on top of our academic 
and health-related stressors. 

The winter semester may be even 

more difficult than this one. Winter 
is always drearier than the fall. Given 
the high likelihood of a second wave 
of COVID-19 cases in the winter, it 
is likely that students will be stuck 
in their homes most of the time. 

With cold weather and short dark 
days, students will also be unable 
to do many stress-relieving outdoor 
activities, such as exercise, picnics 
on the Diag with friends and group 
studying in the Law Quadrangle. 

Having a week without high-

stakes 
assignments 
would 
be 

extremely helpful. Students could 
use this time to catch up on work or 
take a much-needed mental health 
break. During this time, students 
would still attend online classes 
and could have small assignments. 
Therefore, the University would 
not need to worry about students 
traveling back and forth between 
their hometowns and campus. 

Some might argue that this break 

would hinder instructors’ ability 
to teach, but it would be a welcome 
respite for them. They are also 
experiencing unique issues related 
to the pandemic, such as learning 
new technologies and adapting 
to new teaching styles while 
balancing their family lives. A week 
without having to grade tests and 
assignments would also be a break 
for them. 

We keep hearing platitudes 

from the University about how they 
support us. However, what we really 
need is action. College on its own is 
tough, and when combined with our 
current situation, it is completely 
understandable why students are 
struggling. By adopting the CSG 
proposal, the University would show 
a commitment to student mental 
health and wellbeing. 

ERIN WHITE
Managing Editor

Stanford Lipsey Student Publications Building

420 Maynard St. 

Ann Arbor, MI 48109

 tothedaily@michigandaily.com

Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan since 1890.

ELIZABETH LAWRENCE

Editor in Chief

BRITTANY BOWMAN AND 

EMILY CONSIDINE

Editorial Page Editors

EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS

Ilana Mermelstein can be reached 

at imerm@umich.edu.

ISABELLE SCHINDLER | COLUMNIST

Give us a break

Ray Ajemian

Zack Blumberg

Brittany Bowman
Emily Considine
Elizabeth Cook

Brandon Cowit
Jess D’Agostino
Jenny Gurung

Krystal Hur
Min Soo Kim

Lizzy Peppercorn

Zoe Phillips
Mary Rolfes

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Joel Weiner
Erin White

Stanford Lipsey Student Publications Building

420 Maynard St. 

Ann Arbor, MI 48109

 tothedaily@michigandaily.com

Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan since 1890.

ELIZABETH LAWRENCE

Editor in Chief

Unsigned editorials reflect the official position of The Daily’s Editorial Board. 

EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS

Wednesday, November 11, 2020
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

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Editor and a junior in the College of 

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Phony authoritarianism: How Donald Trump stopped himself

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