To the editor:

In their book “Authoritarian Nightmare: Trump and His Followers,” psychologist Robert Altmeyer and attorney John Dean (of Watergate infamy) chronicle their attempt to determine how “authoritarian” Trump supporters are, according to Altmeyer’s “right-wing authoritarian” (RWA) scale.

On a scale from 1 (total disagreement) to 10 (total agreement), individuals surveyed responded to 20 statements such as, “Our country desperately needs a mighty leader who will do what has to be done to destroy the radical new ways and sinfulness that are ruining us.”

Respondents who exhibited the strongest support for Trump had a RWA score of 119, more than twice as high as those who voiced strong disapproval of Trump.

Those who score high on the RWA scale are submissive to authority, can be aggressive on behalf of that authority, lack critical-thinking skills, are highly prejudiced against other groups, oppose equal opportunity and often hold inconsistent positions. 

Regarding aggression, Altmeyer and Dean write that “Trump supporters are much more inclined to stomp out the people they dislike than Trump’s opponents are.”

The founders of this country knew the creation of a democratic republic did not guarantee that republic would forever endure. In an 1814 letter, John Adams (1735-1826) stated, “Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy that did not commit suicide.” 

Via Donald Trump and his hardcore supporters, we have a loaded gun pointed at the head of this country. If they pull the trigger, will democracy survive?

George J. Bryjak 

Bloomingdale