On Trump Era Politics...

[HaventGotALife]

Sounds like it's something you enjoy doing.
So you work it in very well.
For me it sounds like work.
I try to Just try to keep with information I have experience with or from where I live or lived. I don't mind hearing or seeing about the other information but unless I minored in it college at the very least, I don't feel informed enough to really feel I know what the issues are.

It's not all the enjoyable; it is work. I find politics, especially, to be incredibly small. But, I am a citizen. I vote. I value the fact that governments need oversight and affect people's lives. Living with that higher purpose, keeps me doing it on days I am stressed. I consider it like brushing teeth and showering. It has to be done.

We were handed, in blood and energies, a democratic form of government. Science didn't know about bacteria in the Middle Ages, and the Vatican controlled everything. It led to 31 million people dying, fifty percent of the population. Defying the church, and I am Catholic, led to Martin's theses nailed to the door. It led to the Enlightenment thinkers from Spinoza to Jefferson, that defied papal authority to plant the seeds for new governments. It led to freedoms of expression and a capitalist economy, where the engine of discoveries and education, powered the liberation of millions--from food consumed, to products produced, and systems of government laid.

With that, often other forces have been at war with freedom and democracy. It was in the war of 1812 that the White House burned. It was the Civil War that liberated millions and gave us the legal justifications to end all oppressions. It was the invasion of Normandy that liberated Europe. And the bomb that ended Japan's reign of totalitarianism.

Now, this history is more complex, no doubt, full of fits and starts.

But, I am reminded of a movie moment that makes "I don't have time," seem like an excuse. If you know the movie, you will understand:

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Earn this.

 

[rhubarbodendron]

Donald Trump's election seems to have inspired a wave of nationalism across the developed world, which puts freedom and Democracy at-risk

No, there has been a lot of nationalism in Europe and everywhere else since the 1980s, only it was far less public and therefore remained unnoticed by anyone but the citizens of the respective countries. Trump is not the desease but only a symptom (admittedly a particularly nasty one). What we now need is a cure but it mustn't be one that kills the patient.
In my opinion the only way to fight all these political and social excesses is to set a positive example. Others will automatically follow and this way few become many and finally the majority (as happened with nationalism).
We must live in a way that broadcasts that xenophobia, racism, sexism, isolationism and all sorts of other isms are a no-go and that there are different ways to deal with each other and with problems than violence and prejudice. Using one's common sense and most of all common decency must get into fashion again.

 

[Nakita Akita]

It's not all the enjoyable; it is work. I find politics, especially, to be incredibly small. But, I am a citizen. I vote. I value the fact that governments need oversight and affect people's lives. Living with that higher purpose, keeps me doing it on days I am stressed. I consider it like brushing teeth and showering. It has to be done.

We were handed, in blood and energies, a democratic form of government. Science didn't know about bacteria in the Middle Ages, and the Vatican controlled everything. It led to 31 million people dying, fifty percent of the population. Defying the church, and I am Catholic, led to Martin's theses nailed to the door. It led to the Enlightenment thinkers from Spinoza to Jefferson, that defied papal authority to plant the seeds for new governments. It led to freedoms of expression and a capitalist economy, where the engine of discoveries and education, powered the liberation of millions--from food consumed, to products produced, and systems of government laid.

With that, often other forces have been at war with freedom and democracy. It was in the war of 1812 that the White House burned. It was the Civil War that liberated millions and gave us the legal justifications to end all oppressions. It was the invasion of Normandy that liberated Europe. And the bomb that ended Japan's reign of totalitarianism.

Now, this history is more complex, no doubt, full of fits and starts.

But, I am reminded of a movie moment that makes "I don't have time," seem like an excuse. If you know the movie, you will understand:

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Earn this.

To truly understand any historical event, one must study it within the proper context — what is commonly referred to as “contextualization.” But as generation after generation pass, we internalize notions about why people behaved the way they did in the past.

And often, we interpret stories of events through the lens of popular culture — many of which are not entirely accurate.

As I feel that to understand a lot of stuff current events as well as history you would almost have to major in each event in college to even grasp a small amount of the truth.
You know that President Lincoln had no intentions of freeing the slaves when he ran for office for example. Popular culture tells us otherwise.
I can't presume to try to imagine why the clergy of ancient times acted the way they did. Popular culture tells me what I should think.
Popular culture tells us the Earth is warming because of people, that Donald Trump is bad, nationalism is bad socialism is good and on and on.
I suppose I've just given up on it all.
I like Donald Trump. I find him an unorthodox breath of non-career politician freshness. In the past America had non-career politician presidents.
I've given up
Trying to put blame on people that lived a century or more before me as well never understand what their true motivations could have been.
I've given up thinking the world will get better and people will get along better.

 

[Doom Shepherd]

Popular culture tells us the Earth is warming because of people

No, science and math do that. And they're the same no matter what your cultural background is. It's only culture that makes people choose to ignore the science or not.

 

[HaventGotALife]

To truly understand any historical event, one must study it within the proper context — what is commonly referred to as “contextualization.” But as generation after generation pass, we internalize notions about why people behaved the way they did in the past.

And often, we interpret stories of events through the lens of popular culture — many of which are not entirely accurate.

As I feel that to understand a lot of stuff current events as well as history you would almost have to major in each event in college to even grasp a small amount of the truth.
You know that President Lincoln had no intentions of freeing the slaves when he ran for office for example. Popular culture tells us otherwise.
I can't presume to try to imagine why the clergy of ancient times acted the way they did. Popular culture tells me what I should think.
Popular culture tells us the Earth is warming because of people, that Donald Trump is bad, nationalism is bad socialism is good and on and on.
I suppose I've just given up on it all.
I like Donald Trump. I find him an unorthodox breath of non-career politician freshness. In the past America had non-career politician presidents.
I've given up
Trying to put blame on people that lived a century or more before me as well never understand what their true motivations could have been.
I've given up thinking the world will get better and people will get along better.

Yes, I also know that Lincoln continued to negotiate with Congress to end the war once it started. That one of his measures included separating slaves from their masters, and ship them to a colony in Central America because the races could never co-exist.

I know that he suspended the writ of habeus corpus during the Civil War. The Supreme Court ordered him to release the dissidents captured in the South, and he never did. He was granted "special wartime powers" as the War raged, and established it as legal precedent. The difference, now, is the War on terror can morph, and appears endless.

I still am able to see what actions were taken to expand freedoms. I know Jefferson never wanted to include his most famous lines in the Declaration of Independence. They did it, and while it included only white, male landowners, the blood of generations have expanded them to include most everyone.

This means they aren't perfect men of vision, but their effect is the same--we had freedom handed to us, and we must continue to fight for it. We cannot take it for granted. This wasn't perfect, it was to create "a more perfect union." TR fought to preserve American businesses from becoming more powerful than the government. We need that fight, again.

We have never had technology that creates production from waste. We need it, today.

But we did have 1 million dollars lost in licensing fees through Nixon's FCC, to squeeze Wapo's companies to stop running the Watergate stories, and Kathren Graham kept running them, anyway. It still means some things have been better, in the past. Just not all.

So, take heart. The only way to know, is to try. I know the depth and tonnage of my ignorance, and why. That doesn't mean stopping. It means being open-minded to new information.

And I don't need to listen to anyone tell me Trump is a bad President. I know from listening to him, listening to reactions to him from leaders around the globe, to seeing policies. This isn't hysteria, it's an honest assessment.

 

[Tenacity]

What we now need is a cure but it mustn't be one that kills the patient.

Nationalism isn't a inherently bad system, but as with most large political/social systems it needs to have practical restraints and controls placed upon it. Similarly globalism/internationalism do have their pluses, but can't be allowed to run unrestrained.

It isn't a all or nothing situation, you don't completely get rid of nationalism owing to the possibility of excesses.

Political leaders should look to their own people and countries first, and then take international matters into consideration.

Trump is not the desease but only a symptom (admittedly a particularly nasty one).

When someone (Trump or anyone) get something wrong they need to be called on it, also when they get something right, it should be noted.

If you think Trump hasn't had his share of good ideas and successes, either you're a ideology or haven't been paying attention.

Which doesn't mean you have to like him, but I don't have to like him (and I don't) to think he's doing basically a good job. One example, the wall is a bad idea, but I do think that immigration/migration needs to be orchestrated and regulated through the Federal government.

No, science and math do that. And they're the same no matter what your cultural background is. It's only culture that makes people choose to ignore the science or not.

It's popular culture that will get people on-board with a concept, using science and math intertwined with ridiculous exaggerations won't.

 

[Crazyewok]

Nationalism isn't a inherently bad system, but as with most large political/social systems it needs to have practical restraints and controls placed upon it. Similarly globalism/internationalism do have their pluses, but can't be allowed to run unrestrained.

It isn't a all or nothing situation, you don't completely get rid of nationalism owing to the possibility of excesses.

Political leaders should look to their own people and countries first, and then take international matters into consideration.When someone (Trump or anyone) get something wrong they need to be called on it, also when they get something right, it should be noted.

If you think Trump hasn't had his share of good ideas and successes, either you're a ideology or haven't been paying attention.

Which doesn't mean you have to like him, but I don't have to like him (and I don't) to think he's doing basically a good job. One example, the wall is a bad idea, but I do think that immigration/migration needs to be orchestrated and regulated through the Federal government.It's popular culture that will get people onboard with a concept, using science intertwined with ridiculous exaggerations won't.

Depends what you mean by ridiculous exaggeration?
If the earth heats up, were is a lot of trouble.

 

[BillJ]

Trump is a piece of human garbage, and the sooner he is removed from office the better off the United States will be.

 

[urbandefault]

I'ma give y'all some advice, no charge.

Live your life. Don't let the networks and social media determine your happiness. Turn off the noise and go look at a lake and throw rocks at some ducks or something.

I promise you that the world is not gonna end in your lifetime. Get some ice cream and smile.

 

[rhubarbodendron]

You're making a valid point, @Tenacity. The problem is that outside of the US one hears daily about Trump's excesses and nothing of any positive decisions he might have taken. That naturally creates the impression that he doesn't do anything positive.
Could you perhaps, for the benefit of us foreigners, give some examples of good decisions he made nationally? On an international basis none seems to be detectable so far, unless one counts the benefits Russia draws from his decisions.

On the point of leaders having to think about their own nations first I beg to differ. In a world of so tightly enmeshed and interwoven economical and cultural contacts (not to mention the global climatical problems) we must necessarily think as team players and not as egotists. A match can't be won if every single player - including the goalie - wants to score. Only cooperation leads to a success for all. Self-centered people and nations are highly unpopular and will sooner or later inevitably have to suffer backfiring from their own attitude.

 

[USS Firefly]

The only news I hear in the Netherlands is that Trump is evil, dump and a racist

 

[Armus]

To truly understand any historical event, one must study it within the proper context — what is commonly referred to as “contextualization.” But as generation after generation pass, we internalize notions about why people behaved the way they did in the past.

And often, we interpret stories of events through the lens of popular culture — many of which are not entirely accurate.

As I feel that to understand a lot of stuff current events as well as history you would almost have to major in each event in college to even grasp a small amount of the truth.
You know that President Lincoln had no intentions of freeing the slaves when he ran for office for example. Popular culture tells us otherwise.
I can't presume to try to imagine why the clergy of ancient times acted the way they did. Popular culture tells me what I should think.
Popular culture tells us the Earth is warming because of people, that Donald Trump is bad, nationalism is bad socialism is good and on and on.
I suppose I've just given up on it all.
I like Donald Trump. I find him an unorthodox breath of non-career politician freshness. In the past America had non-career politician presidents.
I've given up
Trying to put blame on people that lived a century or more before me as well never understand what their true motivations could have been.
I've given up thinking the world will get better and people will get along better.

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For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[Tenacity]

Depends what you mean by ridiculous exaggeration?

Last time I looked, ocean levels haven't risen by twenty feet just yet. If we don't completely eliminate all green house gases in two years, we're all DOOMED !!!!!!!

Accurate information is good, people will make decisions from that, exaggerated hysterics lead people to think global warming is nothing but a cash grab.

The only news I hear in the Netherlands is that Trump is evil, dump and a racist

Evil, no. Dumb, no. Racist, that just what the political party that loss the last election throw at him.

Trump is unlikable, abrasive, confrontational and loud.

He needs to stay off Twitter.

He believes in transparency, which scares the hell out of professional politicians.

He believes in America First, which internationalists hate.

He doesn't politely back down when insulted, but one of the things rank and file Republican gave been calling for for many years is just this.

The problem is that outside of the US one hears daily about Trump's excesses and nothing of any positive decisions he might have taken.

That isn't a problem, with Trump, it's a problem with the "news" media.

Good or bad, they should report it all.

 

[BillJ]

I'ma give y'all some advice, no charge.

Live your life. Don't let the networks and social media determine your happiness. Turn off the noise and go look at a lake and throw rocks at some ducks or something.

I promise you that the world is not gonna end in your lifetime. Get some ice cream and smile.

It is nice that since I'm a straight white guy, I have no issues going out in public. Other folks aren't quite so lucky.

 

[Awesome Possum]

I'ma give y'all some advice, no charge.

Live your life. Don't let the networks and social media determine your happiness. Turn off the noise and go look at a lake and throw rocks at some ducks or something.

I promise you that the world is not gonna end in your lifetime. Get some ice cream and smile.

Must be nice to not have to live in fear because your rights are slowly being stripped away by the current political party, your right to existence is considered a political debate and religious leaders call you a thread to existence with some calling for the deaths of everyone like you. Must be real nice to be so privileged that you can say something so mind blowingly wrong and unaware of how other's live while truly believing you're right.

 

[Mudd]

I'ma give y'all some advice, no charge.

Live your life. Don't let the networks and social media determine your happiness. Turn off the noise and go look at a lake and throw rocks at some ducks or something.

I promise you that the world is not gonna end in your lifetime.

Most of this is obvious, but the last line doesn't really follow.

 

[Awesome Possum]

Most of this is obvious, but the last line doesn't really follow.

For white, straight, cis men. Everyone else can't really ignore our problems so easily, problems mostly caused by white, straight, cis men.

 

[Amaris]

The only news I hear in the Netherlands is that Trump is evil, dump and a racist

That would be correct, then.

 

[Awesome Possum]

He is running concentration camps and letting his buddies profit off the children imprisoned and suffering in them. I guess if you're fine with that, he's great.

 

[Lord Garth]

2020 is my hope for the future and the chance to correct course. I feel strongly we face extinction without a change in leadership.

I felt extreme anxiety when Trump was elected. Anxiety I would not have felt if McCain had won in 2008 or Romney had won in 2012, even though I didn't vote for them...

... but even as much as I dreaded Trump's election and would dread his re-election, I don't think we face extinction. That's an extremely hyperbolic overreaction. It could be worse. For one thing, John Bolton could've been President. Then we really would've been in trouble.