As a father of a rebellious teenage son, I can see a paradox the Biden administration has.

If I get too in-the-face of my son for his silly actions, he is likely to estrange himself from the family and go to some other source of influence. That could make things worse--even though I am right. So I need keep him somewhat in my sphere. But I can't give in to everything he wants. That could make things worse. So there is a balance I have to navigate. Have I got the right balance? I guess we'll find out in a few years.

If the "laws" are pushed too far, this will incite the 32% (according the last poll I saw) that their country truly no longer works for them--and we probably know where that is going to go.

Yet if the laws are not enforced, some of the other 68% start losing credibility with the system as well. As well, the 32% will be emboldened to break more laws. There really isn't a winning strategy here. It is about finding a good enough balance.

I'm pretty sure that smart rational people in Washington are thoroughly discussing how far to go with the law. They might not be in agreement amongst themselves, but I'm pretty sure the final result will be somewhere near the middle.

Those of us on the outside have little influence over these machinations in the next few years. We can only hope they find that right balance.

While we are waiting, we could be building a new kind of democracy so people like Mr. Trump are not elected to public office. But, as we have discussed before, the people are not interested in this idea.