Who Can Beat Trump?

[pbrower2a]

(09-16-2018, 07:37 AM)David Horn Wrote:

(09-15-2018, 09:45 PM)Bob Butler 54 Wrote:

(09-15-2018, 09:59 AM)David Horn Wrote: Yes, there are racists of all races, and dissing Christians is pretty easy, given their own proclivities.  This is why we are moving to the extremes.  We are seeking safety in numbers, by allying with those who love what we love and hate what we hate.  It's intellectually dishonest, but pretty much what's happening.

I would watch the above.  I am beginning to see the conservatives and autocratic folk as clinging tightly to what Kinser calls a tribe, and rejecting the idea that all men, all tribes, should be equal.  What you can do to make things better for people like you would be fine by those values.

I am dubious.

It's the autocrat playbook:

• Find a disaffected group and claim them as your own
  
• Be certain that the word gets out that you and only you can be their champion
  
• Expect fealty as your due, since you are 'sacrificing for them'
  
• Rinse and repeat.
  

Trump is playing this song on heavy rotation.  The only question: when, if ever, does it just get old?  If the answer is 'never', then we are in serious danger of open violence, with Trump standing, arms folded, and nodding to the crowd.  Trump may lead a minority, but so did George Washington.  There is no inherent strength I numbers in the difference in intensity is too great.

Now here is the counter-play:

• Find disaffected groups and and tell them that they can hope only for incremental change, most of it the result of their personal efforts
  
• Be certain that the word gets out that such is all that can work
  
• Stick to it, and laud the results when they happen. Give credit to those who do the work.
  
• Rinse and repeat.
  

This is the FDR way of doing things. Let the violence be shovel against earth, brick against mortar, and hammer upon nail. It solves some problems -- maybe not all, but enough. Maybe slowly, but it can organize people who have been milling about without purpose.

We might need some CCC and WPA programs to get some people -- the people that the American economy forgot. Maybe some of them will need remedial education. Fine. Let them have it.

Nobody needs make wild promises, but we can solve some problems that we neglected in the 3T.

One must admit: the demagogue who wins power is the one who makes the wildest promises. Once in, he has power without responsibility. Donald Trump is the classic demagogue, and it is astonishing that someone like he could win enough votes in America.