4 ms·

You act like his entire life hasn't been "executing a complex and demanding job"? Running a small business is hard enough, I can't even imagine running an empir

You act like his entire life hasn't been "executing a complex and demanding job"? Running a small business is hard enough, I can't even imagine running an empire. Trump has been one step ahead of every last person this entire election cycle. It's been fascinating to watch and I'm done doubting him, underestimating him, or second-guessing why he does or says anything. Now I'm simply at the point where I'm just trying to learn from it, because there are lessons for any business owner or public figure inside. In fact, if he were to win, I'm not even convinced [X] "won't happen".

mikeash 11y ago
It doesn't have to be hard to run an empire badly. A shell script that just repeats "Sell all assets and invest in SPY" would outperform Trump at running his empire, and it would have the side bonus of not being a crazy asshole.
- MicroBerto 11y ago
  How many people have you hired in your life?
  - mikeash 11y ago
    How is that remotely relevant?
    - MicroBerto 11y ago
      Clearly it's easy, right? If you've never give through the experience of hiring good people, you have absolutely no clue how difficult it is. So convenient to drive from the back seat though, yeah? I never said Trump was "right". I said he's been a step ahead every time, which he has. But it's easy to trivialize things and call him an asshole because it fits your narrative. Walk a mile in those shoes and then tell me how simple it is. You have no clue. Empires are not built from shell scripts. If only it were that easy.
      - over 11y ago
        Being a crazy asshole is Trump's strongest suit. Hatred is a powerful motivator.
      - mikeash 11y ago
        I'm sure it's hard to do well. My point is that Trump hasn't done well. The fact that he built a not particularly successful business empire with inherited money doesn't say much about his skills or smarts. Hiring good people is hard, for sure. Has Trump ever done it?
        MicroBerto 11y ago
        I find this line laughable. Everyone seems to think that turning a million into billions is a cakewalk. Most people wouldn't even know where to begin and would lose their minds during any downturn. The others would buy a small house and whither away savings. The rest would waste it all on idiocy. If you're running a billion dollar empire and it hasn't burnt to the ground, you can be sure that he's hired good people. Why don't you go put $1,000,000 in a market simulator and tell me how your "shell scripts" do over the next 20 years. Given that you haven't answered the original question, I'm guessing that you have hired very few or even zero people ever?
        mikeash 11y ago
        Trump inherited tens of millions. Other people have done the "market simulator" thing and the result is that Trump has not outperformed the market. My shell script would have done about as well at growing Trump's wealth as Trump did. Turning tens of millions into a few billions over the past forty years is a cakewalk. I don't know why you think it's "laughable" to say this. It doesn't even require smart investing, just the minimal amount of non-stupid investing. I haven't answered your original question because it's simply not relevant. You're trying to make an ad-hominem argument against me. I'm not exactly going to jump at the chance to help you with that.
        MicroBerto 11y ago
coliveira 11y ago
If what you're trying to learn is how to manipulate people, then I agree, he is a master. There is a name for this type of people, they're called con men. Trump is a sales person. He has trained himself to sell anything, and he is just selling a quick solution for people that feel disenfranchise by the current political system.
- MicroBerto 11y ago
  He is selling exactly what a serious amount of people in this country want. If you don't know that then you don't understand America. Go work in a factory for a year.
  - coliveira 11y ago
    Except that he cannot provide it. Most of his proposals would require to overturn centuries of laws and other American traditions. Promising that is akin to trying to sell the statue of liberty.
    - MicroBerto 11y ago
      Building a border? Forcing existing immigration laws to be upheld?
      - coliveira 11y ago
        I mean simple things like deporting 11 million people, killing families of terrorists, legalizing torture, and closing the US to China imports, just for starters.
        MicroBerto 11y ago
        > deporting 11 million people Not impossible. Other Presidents weren't even trying and they removed between 1-2 million. I don't think you understand the amount of power ICE has if unhandcuffed and fully supported. Plus, they can come back in legally. With papers. Through the door. What on earth is so hard about that??? > killing families of terrorists We already do this - not directly, but if we know a family is shielding a high-value target, we will hit the entire building. > legalizing torture This is perhaps hyperbole, but wanting to play on a level playing field is not exactly an earth-shattering request. There are ways to intimidate without 'torture'. > closing the US to China imports Doubtful, but pushing for tariffs from Congress is within reason and would be supported by a great part of America.

mikeash 11y ago

It doesn't have to be hard to run an empire badly. A shell script that just repeats "Sell all assets and invest in SPY" would outperform Trump at running his empire, and it would have the side bonus of not being a crazy asshole.

MicroBerto 11y ago
How many people have you hired in your life?
- mikeash 11y ago
  How is that remotely relevant?
  - MicroBerto 11y ago
    Clearly it's easy, right? If you've never give through the experience of hiring good people, you have absolutely no clue how difficult it is. So convenient to drive from the back seat though, yeah? I never said Trump was "right". I said he's been a step ahead every time, which he has. But it's easy to trivialize things and call him an asshole because it fits your narrative. Walk a mile in those shoes and then tell me how simple it is. You have no clue. Empires are not built from shell scripts. If only it were that easy.
    - over 11y ago
      Being a crazy asshole is Trump's strongest suit. Hatred is a powerful motivator.
    - mikeash 11y ago
      I'm sure it's hard to do well. My point is that Trump hasn't done well. The fact that he built a not particularly successful business empire with inherited money doesn't say much about his skills or smarts. Hiring good people is hard, for sure. Has Trump ever done it?
      - MicroBerto 11y ago
        I find this line laughable. Everyone seems to think that turning a million into billions is a cakewalk. Most people wouldn't even know where to begin and would lose their minds during any downturn. The others would buy a small house and whither away savings. The rest would waste it all on idiocy. If you're running a billion dollar empire and it hasn't burnt to the ground, you can be sure that he's hired good people. Why don't you go put $1,000,000 in a market simulator and tell me how your "shell scripts" do over the next 20 years. Given that you haven't answered the original question, I'm guessing that you have hired very few or even zero people ever?
        mikeash 11y ago
        Trump inherited tens of millions. Other people have done the "market simulator" thing and the result is that Trump has not outperformed the market. My shell script would have done about as well at growing Trump's wealth as Trump did. Turning tens of millions into a few billions over the past forty years is a cakewalk. I don't know why you think it's "laughable" to say this. It doesn't even require smart investing, just the minimal amount of non-stupid investing. I haven't answered your original question because it's simply not relevant. You're trying to make an ad-hominem argument against me. I'm not exactly going to jump at the chance to help you with that.
        MicroBerto 11y ago

coliveira 11y ago

If what you're trying to learn is how to manipulate people, then I agree, he is a master. There is a name for this type of people, they're called con men. Trump is a sales person. He has trained himself to sell anything, and he is just selling a quick solution for people that feel disenfranchise by the current political system.

MicroBerto 11y ago
He is selling exactly what a serious amount of people in this country want. If you don't know that then you don't understand America. Go work in a factory for a year.
- coliveira 11y ago
  Except that he cannot provide it. Most of his proposals would require to overturn centuries of laws and other American traditions. Promising that is akin to trying to sell the statue of liberty.
  - MicroBerto 11y ago
    Building a border? Forcing existing immigration laws to be upheld?
    - coliveira 11y ago
      I mean simple things like deporting 11 million people, killing families of terrorists, legalizing torture, and closing the US to China imports, just for starters.
      - MicroBerto 11y ago
        > deporting 11 million people Not impossible. Other Presidents weren't even trying and they removed between 1-2 million. I don't think you understand the amount of power ICE has if unhandcuffed and fully supported. Plus, they can come back in legally. With papers. Through the door. What on earth is so hard about that??? > killing families of terrorists We already do this - not directly, but if we know a family is shielding a high-value target, we will hit the entire building. > legalizing torture This is perhaps hyperbole, but wanting to play on a level playing field is not exactly an earth-shattering request. There are ways to intimidate without 'torture'. > closing the US to China imports Doubtful, but pushing for tariffs from Congress is within reason and would be supported by a great part of America.