Trump must not be ignored. Period. Full stop.

For about 10 years, many labor leaders and union members, politicians and pundits have responded to Donald Trump in two main ways: “This too shall pass” or “He’s just a symptom of a bigger problem – the whole system.”

The former dismisses Trump as a momentary woe that will vanish, if uncomfortably, like a kidney stone.

The latter suggests enduring current pains to muse about future reforms that might be addressed when there’s a chance, like some lazy medical provider who suspects a diagnosis and hopes for a cure down the road.

Both are foolish.

Trump must not be ignored.

The Billionaire In Chief didn’t emerge from a vacuum, of course, but Americans cannot delay addressing current pain and trauma, which puts the body politic in jeopardy of further deterioration. Trump’s rise may be a sign of a diseased democracy, but it’s dangerous to not aggressively fight the malaise before it metastasizes beyond treatment.

Already, without probable cause or evidence of wrongdoing, masked and armed agents in camouflage roam U.S. cities, detaining and “disappearing” people (even U.S. citizens and immigrants “working through the system”), and attacks are ordered against foreign vessels, killing more than 60 people in recent weeks. The rich get richer, and the poor are abandoned. Workers are arbitrarily fired and labor relations are neutered more than Congress. Laws are violated and courts are ignored. Lies about crime, elections and dangers (vaccinations, renewable energy, history, empathy) are tolerated, as is revenge against opposing voices and perceived enemies ranging from universities and law firms to journalists and scientists.

There’s a manufactured air of dread, and regular Americans feel eroding expectations, if not hope.

Meanwhile, the nonpartisan Oxfam America this month released a report, “The Rise of a New American Oligarchy and the Agenda We Need,” that shows that the 10 wealthiest people in the country together have enriched themselves almost $700 billion since Trump’s inauguration.

“Under Trump, wealthy Americans are getting ahead while everyone else is falling behind,” said U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.). “Our economy should work for all Americans, not just the wealthy.”

There’s no doubt that inequality, chaos and crises must be addressed, but postponing treatment of immediate symptoms risks our collective loss of control, worsening vision, and drastic mood swings linked to so-called free enterprise, market economy, 21^st century capitalism, whatever term is used.

Prioritizing the country’s condition – triage – may be logical, but we should not sacrifice action now. This is trauma. So we should apply pressure, as to a wound; relieve pain, like for some acute throbbing in the head or gut; stabilize and comfort in the ways an EMT or nurse, a Good Samaritan or physician makes it easier to breathe  -- or just offer reassurance.

This is an emergency, and critical care in this moment must happen.

Millions of everyday Americans rallying is a vital, urgent step to see others involved and willing to stand together. Millions of voters sending a clear signal from Virginia to California is a sign of strength. But a conversation is still needed to see how we can create a social “medicine” to combat a malady threatening to let society drift into life support.

A serious self-examination of government and society is needed, but not at the expense of handling the real symptoms by refusing, resisting and – yes – ridiculing the disease we’ve contracted.