“You don’t have the cards” is the most vile and inhumane argument.

Trump used this argument several times, including in the now infamous spat with Zelensky in the Oval Office (watch the video at 1:20).

I think the situations where one individual (or a community) is in an inherently weaker position (“not having the cards”) are very common.

Should we tell all sick people to be quiet because they don’t have the cards? Should I tell my kids to stop asking me for favors because they don’t have the cards? Should we bully the poor and the disadvantaged because they don’t have the cards? Remind everyone, during a moment of tension, who owes us anything, financially or in other ways, that they are in a weak negotiating position?

Zelensky is in a weak position, according to Trump. No shit! Every day the guy risks being assassinated and every week he watches a powerful neighbor drop missiles. Does he need to be reminded about that? Probably not. Does he need to be reminded of this by two people in front of cameras? Probably not.

I’m trying to make this story longer but I can’t. Not pointing out to other people that they are weak, especially during moments of vulnerability seems to be one of the most common sense dimensions of decency.

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