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They don't have to be right in the assessment, they just have to make it look like they tried real hard and any failures are not their fault. For example steel
by saint_fiasco 9y ago
They don't have to be right in the assessment, they just have to make it look like they tried real hard and any failures are not their fault.
For example steel tariffs are meant to benefit Trump voters (at the expense of the rest of the country). If it turns out they don't actually benefit Trump voters, he still gets points for being the only one willing to try.
It's similar to the security theater that the government uses to fight terrorism. It doesn't matter if it doesn't work, because being seen trying and failing gives more points than not doing anything.
- dragonwriter 9y ago> They don't have to be right in the assessment They do to support the prediction that “it doesn't take a genius to see that the heartland will see improving conditions going forward”, based on Trump's political need for heartland votes. I agree with you that things don't actually have to get better for Trump to get votes if he can sell it as something else blocking his efforts, but that just further undermines the claim I was responding to.
- saint_fiasco 9y agoI understood that comment with an emphasis on "see" improved conditions. As in, the change might only be in perception.