4 ms·

> Disrupting that with no replacement waiting is a short path to a completely failed state. This is one potential outcome, and in a banana republic I may even

> Disrupting that with no replacement waiting is a short path to a completely failed state. This is one potential outcome, and in a banana republic I may even agree that it is the most likely outcome. But the USA is a lot more robust than it appears, and I feel highly certain that the (largely manufactured) polarization that we observe is actually quite shallow. My concern is that if we throw Trump out and elect yet another insider, we will immediately resume the former status quo...lip service towards the genuine problems in the world, and plenty of catering to powerful corporations and the military industrial complex (I have the feeling way are waaaaaaaaay overdue for an "existential threat" from some tinpot middle eastern dictator). And then before too long: War with China. It's not a good choice, and it is risky, but I continue to believe that the chaos Trump sows acts as sand in the gears of the powerful, and exposes the media and other politicians for the propagandists they are. Most people seem to be still fully under their spell (many to immediately fall into another trap: conspiracy theory, which is fixable, being mostly a symptom), but many have woken up. What's missing is, the people that have woken up don't know what to believe, or believe in. The West has no vision for the future, other than the same old bullshit story politicians of both sides of the aisle have been selling people for decades (as our military lays waste to 3rd world countries over completely manufactured pretenses, while the media runs cover for them). We need a new story, and it has to be at least fairly true, and plausible, and acknowledge the real barriers to achievement, rather than making up a whole bunch of fantasy land fake problems. That's my take on it anyways.

mindslight 6y ago
This is interesting. I wish I were writing your comment. It seems like we're coming from a similar place but have much different read on the present situation - you're optimistic. > I continue to believe that the chaos Trump sows acts as sand in the gears of the powerful Arbitrary chaos tends to benefit the powerful, as they're able to take advantage of it. For example I had been hoping that the pandemic-induced economic slowdown would have unwound the debt treadmill by a bit. Instead the powerful just had the government print money to prop up asset prices. Meanwhile Main St continues to suffer. > My concern is that if we throw Trump out and elect yet another insider, we will immediately resume the former status quo...lip service towards the genuine problems in the world, and plenty of catering to powerful corporations and the military industrial complex From what I can tell, Trump has not stopped the sabre rattling and foreign military interventions. How are things better by not even paying lip service? Don't mistake upsetting specific individuals with upsetting the overall system. > exposes the media and other politicians for the propagandists they are He may call them for what they are, but his own reality distortion field prevents him from gaining any high ground. I had been working to keep an open mind on this, putting aside the media's complaints about Trump, and trying to see what he was actually doing (eg I appreciated when he scrapped the individual mandate). Covid itself was my breaking point, as it was an objective threat that he just rejected dealing with. I (still) agree the media is a giant propaganda operation, but in 2020, I listen to them over Trump. > What's missing is, the people that have woken up don't know what to believe, or believe in. The West has no vision for the future, other than the same old bullshit story politicians of both sides of the aisle have been selling people for decades (as our military lays waste to 3rd world countries over completely manufactured pretenses, while the media runs cover for them). We need a new story, and it has to be at least fairly true, and plausible, and acknowledge the real barriers to achievement, rather than making up a whole bunch of fantasy land fake problems. I agree with this in general. But IMO Trump looks like yet another conspiracy red herring rather than a productive path forward.
- mistermann 6y ago
  > Arbitrary chaos tends to benefit the powerful It depends where they're positioned. If they're on solid footing, agreed. But if they're 100 feet up on a highwire with no safety net, not so secure. > From what I can tell, Trump has not stopped the sabre rattling and foreign military interventions. It's a subjective call, but the only sabre rattling I've heard much from is Trump. It's when the media starts acting in unison (like when Trump suggested pulling troops from the middle east), that's when my ears perk up. > How are things better by not even paying lip service? I believe Trump in all he does demonstrates how illusory our political system is, and how closely it is joined at the hip with the media. He's managed to get plenty of serious people to say very silly things, intentional or not, and I think a lot of people are starting to catch on that there is a curtain on the stage, and that there are in fact things going on behind that curtain. This is a stark contrast to Obama, who was an absolutely brilliant performer, like the David Blaine of politicians. > He may call them for what they are, but his own reality distortion field prevents him from gaining any high ground.... Here I completely agree. Very often I cannot help wondering if he truly is as incompetent as people say, because sometimes it sure seems like it (covid, particularly opposing masks!!!??, the debates...all sorts of examples). At the very least, he is highly inconsistent. I imagine he is hyped up on amphetamines most of the time as well, which likely takes its toll some days, so perhaps that helps explain his truly incompetent days. > But IMO Trump looks like yet another conspiracy red herring rather than a productive path forward. Sometimes for a new forest to grow, you have to burn the old one down. Mother nature operates in mysterious ways. But even if Trump can successfully derail the system, he is in no way a man with a vision for a new one that serves everyone's interests - "Make America Great Again" minus the bad stuff would be a huge improvement over now, but it is still fundamentally flawed, and I don't see a lot of people lined up with better stories.

mindslight 6y ago

This is interesting. I wish I were writing your comment. It seems like we're coming from a similar place but have much different read on the present situation - you're optimistic. > I continue to believe that the chaos Trump sows acts as sand in the gears of the powerful Arbitrary chaos tends to benefit the powerful, as they're able to take advantage of it. For example I had been hoping that the pandemic-induced economic slowdown would have unwound the debt treadmill by a bit. Instead the powerful just had the government print money to prop up asset prices. Meanwhile Main St continues to suffer. > My concern is that if we throw Trump out and elect yet another insider, we will immediately resume the former status quo...lip service towards the genuine problems in the world, and plenty of catering to powerful corporations and the military industrial complex From what I can tell, Trump has not stopped the sabre rattling and foreign military interventions. How are things better by not even paying lip service? Don't mistake upsetting specific individuals with upsetting the overall system. > exposes the media and other politicians for the propagandists they are He may call them for what they are, but his own reality distortion field prevents him from gaining any high ground. I had been working to keep an open mind on this, putting aside the media's complaints about Trump, and trying to see what he was actually doing (eg I appreciated when he scrapped the individual mandate). Covid itself was my breaking point, as it was an objective threat that he just rejected dealing with. I (still) agree the media is a giant propaganda operation, but in 2020, I listen to them over Trump. > What's missing is, the people that have woken up don't know what to believe, or believe in. The West has no vision for the future, other than the same old bullshit story politicians of both sides of the aisle have been selling people for decades (as our military lays waste to 3rd world countries over completely manufactured pretenses, while the media runs cover for them). We need a new story, and it has to be at least fairly true, and plausible, and acknowledge the real barriers to achievement, rather than making up a whole bunch of fantasy land fake problems. I agree with this in general. But IMO Trump looks like yet another conspiracy red herring rather than a productive path forward.

mistermann 6y ago
> Arbitrary chaos tends to benefit the powerful It depends where they're positioned. If they're on solid footing, agreed. But if they're 100 feet up on a highwire with no safety net, not so secure. > From what I can tell, Trump has not stopped the sabre rattling and foreign military interventions. It's a subjective call, but the only sabre rattling I've heard much from is Trump. It's when the media starts acting in unison (like when Trump suggested pulling troops from the middle east), that's when my ears perk up. > How are things better by not even paying lip service? I believe Trump in all he does demonstrates how illusory our political system is, and how closely it is joined at the hip with the media. He's managed to get plenty of serious people to say very silly things, intentional or not, and I think a lot of people are starting to catch on that there is a curtain on the stage, and that there are in fact things going on behind that curtain. This is a stark contrast to Obama, who was an absolutely brilliant performer, like the David Blaine of politicians. > He may call them for what they are, but his own reality distortion field prevents him from gaining any high ground.... Here I completely agree. Very often I cannot help wondering if he truly is as incompetent as people say, because sometimes it sure seems like it (covid, particularly opposing masks!!!??, the debates...all sorts of examples). At the very least, he is highly inconsistent. I imagine he is hyped up on amphetamines most of the time as well, which likely takes its toll some days, so perhaps that helps explain his truly incompetent days. > But IMO Trump looks like yet another conspiracy red herring rather than a productive path forward. Sometimes for a new forest to grow, you have to burn the old one down. Mother nature operates in mysterious ways. But even if Trump can successfully derail the system, he is in no way a man with a vision for a new one that serves everyone's interests - "Make America Great Again" minus the bad stuff would be a huge improvement over now, but it is still fundamentally flawed, and I don't see a lot of people lined up with better stories.