Where Trump Is Taking the Country; Where the Country Is Taking Trump
A commenter suggests that Trump may be sincere about a great number of issues, and that he’s willing to be persuaded by new points of view. He concluded by asking what happened to the 2GE Alerts (newsletters).
I’m sure Trump is sincere about a lot of stuff: e.g., supporting fossil fuels tax breaks for the super-rich, defunding social programs and public schools, making healthcare affordable only to rich and/or healthy people, and the racist policies that are pouring forth from his Attorney General. Having said that, it’s really impossible to know, because his words and actions are so wildly erratic; there’s no reason to believe that he himself knows what he’s going to be tweeting ten minutes from now.
You’re correct in that there is some evidence to the effect that Trump can be persuaded. We haven’t seen a lot of movement in his positions, but it’s certainly possible that some will come along.
I predict that he’s going to find himself in need of far more public support than he has now if he’s to survive four years, and that this will require shifting so as to become more popular. What could easily happen is a) mounting evidence of treason/collusion, obstruction of justice and conflicts of interest, b) the GOP (majority) congress refuses to impeach, c) voters, now sick of Trump’s policies that help only the rich, tell their congressmen, unequivocally, that they either impeach or get thrown out of office, and d) GOP congressmen flips en masse against Trump to save their jobs. It’s not like they had any spine in the first place, or any real affection for Trump.
Re: the Alerts, the only thing I have to say in my defense is that most of my posts recently have been political, because I tend to write about what’s on my mind, and nowadays, it’s hard to care about anything else than getting this national embarrassment out of power. That, however, doesn’t make good fodder for Alerts; it’s offensive to some, and preaching to the choir to the rest.
Craig,
I’m sure all your readers, even when they disagree, find your articles stimulating.
It’s true political, especially partisan, posts can provoke robust debate, but isn’t that a good thing? It gets people thinking about the issues and encourages research and involvement.
Many of the debates your comments provoke wander off target as more people join in to explore other subjects, share experiences and knowledge. On any forum, these are often the best threads.
I think you’ve taken the election of the new administration with excessive pessimism. The new administration may create a temporary slowing down or reappraisal of Clean technology and environmental science.
This doesn’t need to be a cause for despondency. It’s most unlikely President Trump will be impeached. As both the President and the nation settle down over the next 4 years, it will be more than ever important for clean tech advocates to keep reminding the general public of the benefits of clean technology.
Some impetus in certain directions may be lost, but voices like yours and other clean tech advocates are needed more than ever.
The main thing, is not to give up ! The US political system is very robust and four years isn’t very long. Most Western societies lurch from left to right, from time to time. In the UK the Thatcher Government was seen at the time as very divisive and extreme, yet in hindsight it’s remembered as a reformist government with enormous achievements that transformed the nation.
Your voice is too important to be reduced to simply preaching to an ever decreasing group of fellow travelers.
Voice’s like yours are especially important to remind others that with or without government support clean technology is relevant and worth implementing, if only because it’s superior technology, fascinating, environmental, and fun.
Sooner or later, the initial wild passion for every Crusade begins to wane. High hopes and expectations become exhausted with mounting opposition and the disappointment of a more realistic appreciation of the size of the problems.
It’s my sincere hope you can revive your passion, while adapting to new political circumstances.
The current President may not have been your choice (he certainly wouldn’t have been mine) but he’s there for four years. His administration will only be a slight bump in the road for clean technology. In fact, as Elon Musk points out, it may actually provide a time for reappraisal and culling impractical projects.
Craig, don’t despair or become too obsessed by the antics of the current administration. Much can still be achieved, progress can be attained without government involvement.
Don’t let obsessing about the President, or any politician, deter or distract you from focusing on what’s truly important.
Articles such as https://theconversation.com/with-a-tight-federal-budget-heres-where-to-focus-clean-energy-research-funding-75966 encourage an optimistic viewpoint even in times of reduced government budgets.
All over the US economic activity in the domestic and even export sector is reviving,
http://host.madison.com/wsj/business/sand-industry-back-in-business-in-western-wisconsin/article_07188ca7-2a6b-50a7-add7-ef6d22796bfa.html
The domestic blue collar jobs reduce the need for welfare and stimulate new growth. Each of the industries need newer cleaner, technology to remain economically competitive. They certainly need energy, lot’s of energy if the effect of this revival in economic activity is to spread wealth throughout the wider community.
Articles such as,
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamestaylor/2017/05/25/renewable-jobs-claims-based-on-deception-false-comparisons/#e7c57606ca21
may not be easy to accept, but they still stimulate debate and interest.
In conclusion Craig, I implore you to consider re-focusing your thoughts away form the antics of Washington, and redouble your efforts and advocacy. Critics, (even well meaning critics like myself :), don’t matter, at best they should keeps you flexible and open minded, at worst, well, they just don’t matter !
Resume your alerts, encourage and participate in even the most robust debates.
The world needs your voice!
I appreciate the kind words.
At this point, I have other concerns about Trump in addition to his insane policies on energy and the environment:
His dedication to benefiting the super-rich at the expense of ruining the lives of everyone else
His making an absolutely fool out of himself, and thus the U.S. as a whole, on the world stage
The fact that the GOP congress is going to be very reluctant to impeach, because their base is Trump’s base. Things are going to have to get worse before they’ll flip. (I think we maybe close, however.)
Craig,
While I appreciate your viewpoint, I don’t think the world thinks of President Trump in the same way as many Americans. To most of the world he’s the US President and far more entertaining than most.
Most Western democracies with Parliamentary systems are long accustomed to Prime Ministers or opposition leaders as oddball as Trump.
Except for leftist commentators, a lot of the international media is beginning reappraisal of President Trump and his Cabinet.
His missile strike on Syria is an excellent example. The media, and ‘expert’ talking heads completely misread his strategy.
The favorite criticism was he just fired of some missiles with no follow up plan to oust Assad.
But, that’s the point, he never intended to “follow up”.
His objective was always limited. He had no wish to effect regime change, or get involved in a civil war. He hurt the prestige of the regime, without affecting the Syrian people or even the Assad government’s war capacity, the strike was simply punishment for using chemical weapons.
Careful examination reveals the missiles were due for replacement and disposal, so it was cheaper to use them than bring them home for deactivation.
It also proved to the US, Russia, Assad and world the US may retaliate without warning if it feels justified.
President Trump also sent a clear message that he can’t be judged by previous US policy.
The problem you are having with accepting the Trump administration, is you’re a prisoner of your own antipathy toward the President. Mole hills have become Mountains.
By obsessing over the President, you are allowing your focus to shift away from what’s really important.
The rural and rust belt poor, are beginning to see tangible benefits from his election. They would dispute your assessment “super-rich at the expense of ruining the lives of everyone else”.
I’ve just returned from a business trip to an old industrial US valley, where thanks to the President’s policies, employment and hope is returning to the communities and old towns.
It’s not all bad. (it’s not all good either). But you can’t just hunker down wear sackcloth and ashes,while crying ” O woe, the end of days is upon us, doom, doom, despair!”
The Trump era will pass, in due course and in accordance with the constitution. Even if war come to the Korean Peninsula,( although a tragedy) it won’t be “WW3” as so many of excited commentators claim, simply the destruction of the regime in one small rogue nation bereft of allies.
C’mon Craig, take heart ! The world needs your voice and your enthusiasm. The problem with too much passion and idealism, is defeat becomes unbearable.
Maybe, just maybe, the election of Trump will prove to jolt many Americans from complacency, and others lose their rose tinted ideas of what the US means to the World and most Americans ! The US isn’t (and never was) the idealized nation of which you dream.
Maybe Americans are more the President than you imagine. Maybe, you are the minority. When did you last visit and socialize with the inhabitants of Detroit, Cleveland, Arkansas, West Virginia, Mississippi, etc.
So cheer up, what these folk need is employment, not welfare, hope not handouts.
As funding becomes tighter with more demands on dwindling tax revenues, it’s time for experts like you (and me) to step up, take the President at his word and start building clean tech industries in the US.
Okay, it might not be Wind and Solar, it might be coal sequestration, or better building materials, but new technologies can and will take root with or without the support of the administration.
But it won’t happen unless valuable voices like yours remain stagnant. paralyzed by hatred and focused on the imaginary overthrow of a US President.
So c’mon, your country, and the planet needs you !:)