A broken cycle?

[David Horn]

(08-01-2019, 10:29 AM)beechnut79 Wrote:

(08-01-2019, 10:21 AM)David Horn Wrote:

(08-01-2019, 09:17 AM)beechnut79 Wrote: I feel that the reason many question whether there is a broken cycle is because we have become so stalemated almost to the point of blind obedience to the status quo. And while there have been some efforts at organized protest, most have fallen flat, the Occupy movement being the prime example. Yet many including some on this board are predicting that the 2020s will be the most turbulent decade since at least the 1960s. If so we now have only five month in which to fasten our seat belts. What do you all see?

Eric sees endgame, and he may be right.  The biggest obstacle to that is our social milieu -- primarily social media.  We need to admit that we are all manipulated to some extent, and, for some, to a huge extent.  When the difference between fact and fiction is limited to my opinion/your opinion, how can we ever achieve enough clarity to set goals and march toward them.

Right now, almost half of the country believes Trump, even though they admit that he lies all the time.  That's unhealthy, but not easily overcome.  Another large swath is not concerned enough to do anything about it.  Maybe if he tries to run for a third term, people will wake up.

That would require another Constitutional change. The 22nd Amendment passsed in 1951 forbids him from doing so.

Since Trump seems to ignore the rules, and his supporters back him to the hilt, constitutional constraints may not be enough by themselves.  Even trying an end run should be enough of a warning flag to everyone not already a Trumpist, but we're all so inured to his behavior, it may not be.  If he gets reelected in 2020, I wouldn't discount him working his way around the problem, starting as soon as the election is called.  That's what all true dictators do, and he has the DNA for the job.