Eric Denison is a Somerset resident.

Commentaries in The Herald News and scores of newspapers across the country express incredulousness at the support of Donald Trump. His authoritarian views are shocking, only eclipsed by his approval ratings by ordinary Americans. But this is the key: Why do so many Americans, especially young and middle-aged white Americans, support such an un-American dictator wannabe?

It is actually not surprising concerning the state of our educational system.

For 40 years, children have been fast-taught computers and other “modern” and so-called “essential” programs in place of American history. Children are not taught for their sake but are taught solely that they can grow up and provide some essential service to the super rich. Children are discouraged from thinking for themselves. Concomitantly, they grow up finding they don’t have the skills to evaluate candidates and their platforms. In truth, they grow up having no sense of self.

This gutting of the educational system has not been a Democratic or a Republican thing. It has been embraced by people from both parties, just as 120 years ago, Progressivism was embraced by both parties. But sadly, both parties have lost their moral compasses. Republicans now care only about the economy and making the rich richer. Hence no concern for the environment, worker safety or for exporting traditional American values to far off countries, or in working with our Allies.

Meanwhile, Democrats have lost their values too. They only want votes, and seek to curry votes by ratcheting up disproved rhetoric, such as by touting old class-warfare theories. To this it is not surprising they nominated Joe Biden, perhaps the worst of the 20 or so Democratic candidates once running.

Sadly, democracy in America and the world over may be a thing of the past. If Donald Trump wins in November, he will be our president only until he becomes our dictator.

Eric Denison

Somerset