I am settling into the belief/hope that America did not choose this but rather rejected the party presiding over the last four years. Inflation, a less stable international world, culture war drama. The number of independents is way up, almost the dominant party in America. That indicates a huge number of people choose neither party righ…
I am settling into the belief/hope that America did not choose this but rather rejected the party presiding over the last four years. Inflation, a less stable international world, culture war drama. The number of independents is way up, almost the dominant party in America. That indicates a huge number of people choose neither party right now. [I'm leaving aside Trump's base. They could have chosen Haley. They DID choose this.]
That Trump contributed significantly to all of the above, and that Biden/Harris managed them well, is at best vague to them. That Trump is an actual authoritarian is also vague; he went on Rogan and seemed fine. A lot of boy who cried wolf syndrome from Dems as well. You can't call Romney Hitler and then point to Trump and say, "No, seriously, this time for real!"
It's not a flattering portrait of America. We're vague, non-intellectual, rationalizing. But I still think we're not vicious in the way that "they chose this" would require. Even now, I hear so many people saying "I don't think he'll really do [tariffs/mass deportations/suspend the constitution/revoke licenses of news organizations]."
But it leaves some hope that they will reject Trump again as horrible things happen. And then they'll probably reject the Dems. And then...
Which is also not great. And the existential issues that are about to happen promote the possibility of a future in which people DO want a dictator to fix things. And I hear you about elections in four years. I share that fear. That's where I just have to hope that what is left of the system holds.
I am settling into the belief/hope that America did not choose this but rather rejected the party presiding over the last four years. Inflation, a less stable international world, culture war drama. The number of independents is way up, almost the dominant party in America. That indicates a huge number of people choose neither party right now. [I'm leaving aside Trump's base. They could have chosen Haley. They DID choose this.]
That Trump contributed significantly to all of the above, and that Biden/Harris managed them well, is at best vague to them. That Trump is an actual authoritarian is also vague; he went on Rogan and seemed fine. A lot of boy who cried wolf syndrome from Dems as well. You can't call Romney Hitler and then point to Trump and say, "No, seriously, this time for real!"
It's not a flattering portrait of America. We're vague, non-intellectual, rationalizing. But I still think we're not vicious in the way that "they chose this" would require. Even now, I hear so many people saying "I don't think he'll really do [tariffs/mass deportations/suspend the constitution/revoke licenses of news organizations]."
But it leaves some hope that they will reject Trump again as horrible things happen. And then they'll probably reject the Dems. And then...
Which is also not great. And the existential issues that are about to happen promote the possibility of a future in which people DO want a dictator to fix things. And I hear you about elections in four years. I share that fear. That's where I just have to hope that what is left of the system holds.