Uncle Ed wrote:Kishkumen: Your angst is baseless. For starters, human beings are not going to change in the main. They have not changed in thousands of years. The Founders tried this great experiment, because they had to try. They didn't have any over the top confidence in human nature. And they tried to limit the stupidity of the average voter, to no avail. Finally, even women could vote. Oh, the horror!
So, you think the experiment is over then? Time for a strong man to take action to make the world a better place for you and me (but mostly him)?
Uncle Ed wrote:If the popular vote in over ninety percent of the counties of the US voted for The Donald it is a simple fact of life. You can explain it in denigrating terms all day and it won't change anything. People on the Net are bombarded with propaganda constantly. It is merely more concentrated by our modern wonder world of 24/7/365 social Medía, the new normal. And you think it all went Trump's way because people are too stupid to know when they are being conned.
The fact that Americans who voted for Trump were conned is as plain as the nose on your face. The information was all out there. And, like Symmachus, I am not impressed by the statistic of poorly populated counties largely voting for Trump. Trump won because he won some important counties by tens of thousands of votes.
He may continually lie about how big his victory is, but I go by the facts. In point of fact, he lost the popular vote by a pretty wide margin. I am not going, like some, to complain about the electoral college. *That* would be crying over spilled milk. By the same token, I am not going to allow misleading statistics in the service of Trump's constant stream of lies to go unanswered.
You do think facts are important?
Uncle Ed wrote:Human thinking is not intended to gather a lot of details about a lot of things. We simplify the world around us. We forget things too easily. I heard a radio program this evening about this by a couple of "experts" (they have degrees, and coauthored books at least): We are supposed to bring what we think we know and discuss in groups. Although none of us knows very much by ourselves, together we can forge a path that is more secure. That is what is happening, possibly for the first time in my lifetime. People are waking up.
Yes, everyone is waking up. LOL. It is a great catch phrase, at least. If waking up means voting for unqualified con artists, then waking up is the same thing as going to sleep. Waking up means being knowledgeable and wise, making good, informed choices, not believing propaganda and lies. Propaganda swirls all around us, coming from all sides, and choices are limited. Making the best choice when no choice is close to ideal is difficult, but that is the task we have before us. People who have woken up do not put idiots into office. That's not awake.
Uncle Ed wrote:Trump is a political neophyte. So, what? That's what advisers and counselors are for. He does listen. He has honored the 1995 Congressional law to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital. He has rolled back Gov't interference, especially the edicts Obama put in that do end runs on due process. He is honoring his campaign promises. He is working to improve a decaying economy from too much Gov't interference. He is cutting waste and entitlement. He is doing his best to strengthen the military. Etc. All within one year, and that's just what I can come up with on the spur.
Well, I suppose this well reflects what Fox News has told you to think about what he has done. Recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital was nothing less than pandering to the Evangelical base and Jews on the Right. Successive American presidents, from Bill Clinton on (including George W. Bush), have wisely refrained from making such a provocative move that hinders the peace process. Trump seems intent on starting a war with someone because he has few cards to play as a wildly unpopular and incompetent president. The recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital is just one more evidence of his lack of qualifications for the job.
Almost no reputable economist (and there are many reputable economists!) thinks Trump's tax cuts for the wealthy and the corporations are needed. The economy is booming (no thanks to Trump). Big tax cuts could spike inflation. Moreover, his tax cuts fly in the face of his promises to his supporters. In the long run, they will pay *more* taxes than they do now, and the wealthy and corporations will pay less. Trump promised exactly the opposite. And, these tax cuts have not yet happened. Much of what you are spouting is empty verbiage from Trump.
Trump is doing...
Trump is doing...
Trump is doing...
Yes, Trump's appears on tv, talking vaguely about all the things he is doing. I want to see the facts of what he has done.
And the bottom line here, in my view, is that he promised his voters that he would, essentially, fight for the little guy. That he would lower their taxes, that he would improve their healthcare. None of that is really happening.
Those 90% of US counties voted for Trump. They believed the lies, and now they will pay for believing them.
