Cruelty was the point

Letter to the editor in today's NY Times:

Re “Biden Is Sworn In as 46th President” (nytimes.com, Jan. 20):

Given everything our country has been through at the hands of the former president, this is the first time in four years I can breathe easy knowing that the man who is replacing him will treat the job and the American people with the dignity and respect we expect.

While no one knows what a Biden presidency will be able to achieve, at least we will not be subjected to same unending barrage of abuse and turmoil that masqueraded for leadership under his predecessor. For that I am truly thankful.

Here is one American wishing President Biden and his team the best of luck.

Michael Scott

San Francisco

Rob's comment:

It's been a shock to go from the Obama administration to the Trump administration, from a government of sensible, humane people to being governed by the worst, the dumbest and the meanest Americans.

Trump and his followers are so stupid they confuse toughness with cruelty. But, as the Atlantic magazine pointed out, cruelty against all the people he and his followers despised was the point of Trumpism.

But let's not forget the stupidity.