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I agree somewhat, but I don't think that it's going to be Trump specifically disrupting institutions, so much as everyone else round him.

by pm 10y ago

MaxfordAndSons 10y ago
Exactly. The disheartening thing is that he's so persuadable it's conceivable that damage could be prevented, but anyone half decent abandoned and denigrated him during the campaign, and he cares about loyalty, so his inner circle is already self-selected for maximum sycophancy and valuelessness.
alphonsegaston 10y ago
All autocratic rulers are some form of a cipher, both for the cabal that does their dirty work and the totalitarian masses that enable them. It's irrelevant whether this is done by Trump directly, his administration, or thugs on the street. You can employ whichever tool accomplishes your aim, then reign it in to give the appearance of political normalcy.
rayiner 10y ago
They said that about GWB too. No institutions got dismantled. Despite the rhetoric, there is broad, bi-paratisan support for our big institutions: http://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2015/11/Overview-1.png http://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/201.... 87% of Americans think there is a "major role for government" in ensuring safe food and drugs. 75% of Americans think the same about protecting the environment. 70% think the same for education. 61% think that about healthcare. The FDA, EPA, Dept. of Ed., DHHS aren't going anywhere. Americans don't dislike our institutions. They dislike the people running our institutions (74% think politicians put their own interests ahead of the country's).
- losvedir 10y ago
  Exactly. I feel like some of this rhetoric is a little overblown. That said, there are, I feel, realistic causes for concern. Although GWB didn't "dismantle institutions" he did get us into an unnecessary war with Iraq. Similarly, I'm getting a little afraid with Trump's appointments about what's going to happen in Iran. (That said, had Hillary won, I'd be feeling the same right now, probably, but towards Russia.)

I agree somewhat, but I don't think that it's going to be Trump specifically disrupting institutions, so much as everyone else round him.

by pm 10y ago

I agree somewhat, but I don't think that it's going to be Trump specifically disrupting institutions, so much as everyone else round him.

MaxfordAndSons 10y ago

Exactly. The disheartening thing is that he's so persuadable it's conceivable that damage could be prevented, but anyone half decent abandoned and denigrated him during the campaign, and he cares about loyalty, so his inner circle is already self-selected for maximum sycophancy and valuelessness.

alphonsegaston 10y ago

All autocratic rulers are some form of a cipher, both for the cabal that does their dirty work and the totalitarian masses that enable them. It's irrelevant whether this is done by Trump directly, his administration, or thugs on the street. You can employ whichever tool accomplishes your aim, then reign it in to give the appearance of political normalcy.

rayiner 10y ago

They said that about GWB too. No institutions got dismantled. Despite the rhetoric, there is broad, bi-paratisan support for our big institutions: http://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2015/11/Overview-1.png http://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/201.... 87% of Americans think there is a "major role for government" in ensuring safe food and drugs. 75% of Americans think the same about protecting the environment. 70% think the same for education. 61% think that about healthcare. The FDA, EPA, Dept. of Ed., DHHS aren't going anywhere. Americans don't dislike our institutions. They dislike the people running our institutions (74% think politicians put their own interests ahead of the country's).

losvedir 10y ago
Exactly. I feel like some of this rhetoric is a little overblown. That said, there are, I feel, realistic causes for concern. Although GWB didn't "dismantle institutions" he did get us into an unnecessary war with Iraq. Similarly, I'm getting a little afraid with Trump's appointments about what's going to happen in Iran. (That said, had Hillary won, I'd be feeling the same right now, probably, but towards Russia.)