How can you not say a few words ๐
Some are just question (not rhetorical questions, I am genuinely curious about some of them)
1. Trump managed to convince rustbelt voters that they need to stick it to the system. They did.
2. But now that he will be President, what will his achievements be? Can he get more done than the existing establishment? it is conceivable, but it is not likely. These same voters may not back him next time around.
3. I am willing to buy some sort of Hayek-ian argument about what revives an economy, but Trump was not making that argument. In terms of economics, trade etc, what will he do that will revive the American rust-belt?
4. Which of the apocalyptic visions will come true? Will Russia get Ukraine and the Baltics? will Muslims in America get it worse than African-Americans? Will Trump nuke some country in the Middle East? and so on..
5. Trump has some instincts that are more humane than those of the Republican establishment. For example, he thinks poor people should not die on the streets and maybe they should get medicaid. But he will not be king. He will be president with the SAME Republican House and Senate as before, with a narrow electoral victory behind him. Why would he be able to somehow carry out a revolution? Isnt it more likely that he will mostly end up with the same corrupt, security-statist, police-prison-prosecutor based ripoff that the Republican half of the ruling elite have been practicing for years?
6. On the other hand, he WILL have some freedom to change things in foreign policy. Harder line against Muslims, almost certain. But will Russia get to expand its empire? What about China? India? Pakistan?
6. What lesson will the liberal elite learn from this? If any..
Last picture dedicated to my millennial friends who thought Hillary is the Wall street candidate and at least if Donald wins, the rich will get a bit of their comeuppance ๐
“dark men in mien and movement, flashing in their mocking mirrors the obscure soul of the world, a darkness shining in brightness which brightness could not comprehend.โ (James Joyce, Ulysses)
PostScript: Cathy Young on surviving the Trumpocalypse
The Reason also has a theory about the role of PC culture.
btw, I seriously believe ALL leftists and liberals will do well to stay away from left-liberal social media and journalism for one week. Things will get better for them (and for everyone else) ๐ Really, the mutually reinforcing freakout is ridiculous (especially since some of the “intellectual elite” assisted in bringing this about through their own “woke” bullcrap)
PPS: The PC culture post from reason (see above) has triggered some pushback. My response:
I dont think that this one thing (political correctness) caused her to lose. It was just one factor. But it WAS a factor. I only know of universities through my kids and from social media etc, but it does seem that the better liberal universities have limitations on free speech (including, but NOT limited to insults and smears) that seem to exceed what can be considered reasonable. Beyond any formal restrictions (which also exist) there is a definite social pressure to conform to ideologies that are self-evidently true to their inventors and fans (as all ideologies are) but that seem laughable to outsiders. And you are not supposed to laugh. This pressure not to laugh can be oppressive. Like triggered students themselves, other modern people also tend to make a big deal of such subtle and almost immaterial “oppressions”. It is a two way street..
btw, If i was writiing this article I would not stress PC as such, but the relentless race-baiting (“White privilege” being its mildest form, “performativity of Whiteness” type “academic studies” being its apogee) and the mirror-image stylized (and frequently fake or tendentious) history and cultural studies that are taken for granted as the default truth (just like their mirror image “White man’s burden” themes were taken for granted 150 years ago)….all this has made it easier for White racism to make a comeback among decent people (it never went away among the indecent ones). All of which is just one part of why Hillary lost.
btw, if you think i am completely off base, do read Lena Dunham.
Listen from 3-30 mark onwards (btw, I dont think Bernie could have won, but we will never know)