Shock But Not Surprise When Tactics Become Policy

When political tactics become more and more extreme with the only care winning on policy outcomes, the tactics themselves become a policy outcome.

For example, as we have pointed out, the repeated Republican congressional tactic of threatening government shutdowns - literally holding the functioning of the U.S. government hostage - as a nonnegotiable demand for desired tax or spending bills when the president is a Democrat, results in severe disruptions of the federal government. But that is OK with Republicans who, as a policy prescriptive, are ideologically opposed to a functioning federal government. This shaking of the government tree is discouraging to Americans who may see themselves as fulfilling a duty to their country by serving in government. To Republicans, that is a bad thing, unless they are serving in the military or serving in a federal department with the express intent of undoing the purpose for which that department is dedicated, such as State, Education, Interior.

Jonathan Chait clearly explains the Trump team motivation in "Why Trump Is Using Hostage Tactics on Family Separation."

Chait raises the issue of the government shutdowns as an example of hostage taking. But this time, as he points out, the hostages are actual children being separated from parents and held in cages. Trump is using these hostages in part to discourage immigration, but also to bargain for Democrats to agree to Republican demands on the details of immigration reform. As Chait points out, if Democrats accede to Republican demands, Republicans will continue to take and hold hostages to enact their desired legislation.

In the meantime, the tactic of holding immigrant children as hostages is itself a policy outcome, not just a tactic. In the U.S. we do not hesitate to hold children as prisoners. And, in 2018, it's only June. A lot can happen between now and the end of the year. Worse action from this administration will not be a surprise.