Trump’s Presidency: Its Causes and Effects
I don’t think what H.L. Mencken said here is what happened in the U.S. While it’s true that the education level of the common American has fallen, and that Trump isn’t good at anything but lying to and manipulating credulous people. But the real driver behind Trump’s presidency isn’t actually stupidity in and of itself, but rather:
• His capacity to stir up fear and resentment toward racial and religious minorities, and
• The backing he receives from the super-rich in exchange for the enormous transfer of wealth they have received.
As all this drama is going on with Mueller, the caravan, family separations, coddling of tyrants, condoning white supremacy, trade wars, pulling out of agreements, destroying the environment and so forth, we need to keep in mind that the Libertarians are quietly getting what they’ve been dreaming of for over 100 years, i.e., the dismantling of federal government and the regulation that it represents.
U.S. history from 1980 to the present has been characterized by a push towards neoliberalism, The election of Donald Trump, however, has thrown gasoline on this fire, representing the greatest gift that people like the Koch brothers could have ever received. And, again, all this is happening with very little public response, largely because Trump and the media that covers him have us so distracted with the daily outrages coming from the White House that few have the capacity to look at what’s really going on.
If it can be done at all, it will take a very long time to reverse all this damage to our society. Let’s hope that Trump is on his way out, and we can get started on this process soon. It certainly would be quite the Christmas present.
Craig,
Now I know most Californian progressives have lost touch with reality, but even for you this is a real flight of fantasy!
President Trump and the Koch Brothers are hardly on good terms! In fact, the Koch’s actively oppose Trump and have spent considerable sums trying to destroy his influence.
The truth is none of the traditional wealthy conservative supporters contributed to the Trump campaign, while the Clinton campaign became the party of choice for billionaires, raising nearly 10 times the amount of the Trump campaign.
Today, the main opponents of Trump are Democrat billionaires, especially media owners who acquired media outlets to oppose his anti-globalization policies.
The President has never condoned white supremacy or anti-antisemitism. Such claims are untrue, and unsubstantiated, but continue to repeat these slurs based on nothing more than your own hatred and bias.
Why ? Because American voters ended an elitist fantasy for an American utopia? In time, when the Mueller Inquiry fizzles out, all the rhetoric fades, the American people will shake their heads and say, “what was that all about” ?
The President has faults, mostly because he isn’t really a politician with deep rooted party support, his agenda is more immediate, and he struggles against a press corp outraged their once powerful control is eroded by by social media.
The President has literally stolen the hearts of the US working and rural classes from the Democrats leaving them the party of billionaires and the suburban affluent.
The President’s policies have largely benefited blue collar workers, (especially black and Hispanic)while his policies have disrupted large numbers of affluent, traditionally republican, white collar workers in largely administrative employment.
The President has maintained his support base, despite 76% of the traditional media being vehemently, sometimes even crazily, determined to destroy him personally.
In the end, The President represents a new era for America. A “Wake Up” call. The President himself is only a correction, but Presidents to follow, no matter their persuasion, will live in the new political paradigm he has created.
The Obama legacy is already being recognized as a watershed moment of decay in US history.