As the Trump bandwagon continues its rollick across the United States, and even as that wagon collects more and more cargo and support, it is prudent perhaps to pause to consider the implications for American Democracy. Much has already been written about the phenomena of Trumpism, particularly in terms of its populist and potentially neo-fascist characteristics, and some of this writing hits the mark.

I think, however, that out-and-out comparisons with Nazi Germany or Fascist Italy are unhelpful. It is unlikely that one could find many similarities between contemporary America and those pre-war societies, in fact I challenge anyone to do so. The years preceding the ascension of the odious Mr Hitler to the Chancellorship of the Reich, for example, were pretty much unique to Germany, years that followed a devastating defeat in war, a severe and debilitating peace treaty, the spectre of communism, a fragmented political system, topped off with the Great Depression. America is war-weary and less confident about its place in the world. Washington seems not be working after nearly a decade of stalemate in Congress. Globalisation has had unforeseen affects on traditional blue collar professions and undoubtedly there is resentment and anger. But Weimar it aint.

Enter Trump the showman and Trump the populist, a man who operates by his own rules and presumes to say what he thinks in an unvarnished manner. Unencumbered by facts or details, or any policy platform, apparently free to indulge in sexist invective or racist dog-whistling, Trump can shoot at opponents with impunity but seems to take no damage himself. A bully and braggard, a massive ego that will brook no criticism without a childlike tantrum to follow, this is the man presented by the party of Lincoln as its frontrunner.

And this is a beast that will not be easy to stop. I have seen Trump and he is fast and he is cunning. I don't know how one matches his ability to demoralize opponents, unless those opponents are sharp-witted and faster on the draw. And they need to draw again and again until the beast is flustered and the beast is silent with rage and fear. And even then, it will be hard.

This is a testing time for American Democracy and I wish it well. Surely the founding fathers of that Republic foresaw the potential for such a demogogue as Trump, the one who, in spite of the checks and balances set up to prevent it, emerges as a champion of the mob and takes the crown.

The one on the left has policies....