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You make a great argument, but I fear that until we have no global population of have-nots, even an educated society can fall victim to manipulatiors who need n

You make a great argument, but I fear that until we have no global population of have-nots, even an educated society can fall victim to manipulatiors who need not believe their own rhetoric. I doubt Trump truly believes what he says about Mexicans and Muslims, but he sees clearly that they are effective scapegoats, and frustrated people are easy to placate with blame on someone else.

stcredzero 11y ago
You make a great argument, but I fear that until we have no global population of have-nots, even an educated society can fall victim to manipulatiors who need not believe their own rhetoric. The key point to keep in mind, is that such mental phenomena underlie all widespread forms of social injustice. I think people who sincerely believe their own rhetoric aren't just as vulnerable. They are significantly more so. "Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." -- C. S. Lewis
- tamana 11y ago
  Lewis knew nothing of the power of global systems and automation, highly efficient at maintaining exploitation.
  - stcredzero 11y ago
    Here, Lewis is speaking directly to internal psychological shortcomings and self awareness. The efficiency of "the enemy" is irrelevant. Here's another lesson of history -- Any ideology that heavily relies on the awfulness of an enemy to justify its own actions -- These should be highly suspect.
ams6110 11y ago
Trump is brash and crude (part of his appeal) but if you listen to him he's always talking about illegal vs. legal. He's said very supportive things about legal immigrants from wherever they come. He does avoid nuanced language when talking about illegals. If you read his book you know that his mode of getting what he wants is to start from an almost preposterously extreme position, then negotiate. That way he can "give up" things he didn't really want to begin with. He thinks in terms of deals. Whatever is said before the final deal is signed is just hot air. It's forgotten as soon as the ink dries.

You make a great argument, but I fear that until we have no global population of have-nots, even an educated society can fall victim to manipulatiors who need not believe their own rhetoric. I doubt Trump truly believes what he says about Mexicans and Muslims, but he sees clearly that they are effective scapegoats, and frustrated people are easy to placate with blame on someone else.

stcredzero 11y ago

You make a great argument, but I fear that until we have no global population of have-nots, even an educated society can fall victim to manipulatiors who need not believe their own rhetoric. The key point to keep in mind, is that such mental phenomena underlie all widespread forms of social injustice. I think people who sincerely believe their own rhetoric aren't just as vulnerable. They are significantly more so. "Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." -- C. S. Lewis

tamana 11y ago
Lewis knew nothing of the power of global systems and automation, highly efficient at maintaining exploitation.
- stcredzero 11y ago
  Here, Lewis is speaking directly to internal psychological shortcomings and self awareness. The efficiency of "the enemy" is irrelevant. Here's another lesson of history -- Any ideology that heavily relies on the awfulness of an enemy to justify its own actions -- These should be highly suspect.

ams6110 11y ago

Trump is brash and crude (part of his appeal) but if you listen to him he's always talking about illegal vs. legal. He's said very supportive things about legal immigrants from wherever they come. He does avoid nuanced language when talking about illegals. If you read his book you know that his mode of getting what he wants is to start from an almost preposterously extreme position, then negotiate. That way he can "give up" things he didn't really want to begin with. He thinks in terms of deals. Whatever is said before the final deal is signed is just hot air. It's forgotten as soon as the ink dries.