Keeping One’s Mouth Shut About Trump Is Wrong
No, he’s not simply a president I dislike; he stands and acts in direct opposition to the principles held by decent people everywhere. If he were another G.W. Bush, i.e., a garden-variety Republican jackass, I’d be essentially quiet, and I think most of the enormous number of people around the world who share my sensibilities would do the same.
I agree. He’s basically selfish and evil. Fortunately, leaders in other countries generally agree. His behavior has also encouraged others like him to act even worse.
Craig,
No one is asking you to not oppose the policies of the President or administration, but your hatred of President Trump has become obsessive and focused on his personality.
Yet the very moral defects you claim are so repulsive in the President, you overlook in those you like or support.
My observation, “If your hatred of Trump is more important than your love for the environment, then you really have lost your moral compass, and that’s really sad.
Trump will come and go, but the environment will still be here, and needing help, long after the Trump Presidency has become a foot note in history “, remains valid.
As President, Trump is no Andrew Jackson. Trump obeys the edicts of the Constitution and Courts.
Refreshingly, he is candid and open about his policies. What’s most disconcerting for his enemies is he simply doesn’t care about the media or the opinions of a chattering elite who have held politicians in thrall for too long.
He revels in being ‘politically incorrect’ and outrageous. He doesn’t play the hypocritical game that’s been forced on professional politicians for decades.
The problem for those focused on hating his personality not his actions or policies, is a loss of objectivity and perspective.
Isn’t it better to be like Elon Musk and seek to accomplish what can be accomplished during this period, than simply scream a continuous stream of increasingly irrelevant hysterical abuse?
Or are you afraid that your ‘devil incarnate’ may not really be all that bad, and your fears prove excessive ?
So far, on any analysis, Trump’s foreign policy decisions have proved surprisingly moderate, restrained and effective.
Elon Musk and other leaders in ” clean technology” have shown it’s possible to pragmatically work with President Trump ( without endorsing all his policies or utterances), and the President is flexible enough to accept advice and modify his views.
If these leaders in their chosen fields can remain focused on their long term goals, where is the value in you focusing on an obsessive and futile crusade to ‘remove’ an elected President?
Marco, Yes, I would say the thing to do with President Trump is to change his thinking on Climate Change and the use of carbon-emitting fossil fuels. President Trump has been known to change his mind in the past. The two big issues we need to jolt his brain on are: 1) “Climate Change” and 2) “Peak Oil”, “The point in time when the maximum rate of global petroleum extraction is realized and there after the rate of production goes into a terminal decline.” Senators Jeff Merkley and Bernie Sanders are introducing a new bill for 100% clean energy by 2050. Get Trump behind this bill and he may just turn out to be one of the greatest presidents ever.
Richard,
“Peak Oil” like so many fearful predictions, never existed. The technology being developed to extract petroleum products has completely removed concept of “peak oil” for a very, very long time.
There is some sign of President Trump revising his views on climate change in line with the views held by the more conservative climate change scientists.
The idea that the US could magically dispense with fossil fuels within 50 years, is unrealistic.
Senators Jeff Merkley and Bernie Sanders are either cynically optimistic, or idealistically naive. Passing legislation to achieve a “symbolic” ideologically impractical objective is a recipe for economic disaster.
(Do you want the US to end up like Venezuela ? )
Environmentally friendly technology will slowly replace fossil fuels, but only when the technology and scientific advances prove more economic and convenient for consumers.
Governments can help by providing incentives, particularly for R&D, but must be wary of creating another disaster like the Ethanol industry.
As Frank points out, like most politician’s, the President has a considerable ego, but he’s also a flexible thinker, not hidebound to any rigid ideology. He’s also a loving father to his children and grandchildren and considers himself a patriotic American.
In the opinion of many influential leaders in “clean technology” for these reasons, may be persuaded to support practical environmental projects.
As the coal industry has discovered, the President can be very supportive of Carbon sequestration and even more enthusiastic about technology turning the harmful emissions by the coal industry into valuable and environmentally beneficial products.
Environmentalists often damage their own cause by making wild claims and demanding ill-conceived and impractical action.
The general public has grown tired of grandiose rhetoric and impractical, expensive projects, especially when the US economy is being strangled by unsustainable national debt.
I would say the thing to do with President Trump is to change his thinking by making it in his best interest to do so. That would be done by showing him that his approval rating, adulation rating, and financial position would be improved if he changed his thinking.