When we're disappointed with the results, like in an election, taking the time to figure out the right questions to ask offers the best opportunity for growth
As always, thanks, Steve, for your good insights. The week after the election, I purposely met with a FB friend and deeply evangelical Christian who voted for Trump to understand his reasons. For him, the reasons weren't any of the ads (which, indeed, were effective) but two things: the economy (He's a commited capitalist who wants less governmental regulation) and the border. We had a very friendly time together, and we could, as the Bible says, "reason together."
My concern with the incoming administration, though, and so many who voted for it, is that unlike my friend, they heard Trump (and others!) say who he plainly is -- a demagogue and fascist -- and voted for him BECAUSE of it. I know too many who want a totalitarian, because they feel that's the only way the United States can be re-made in their image. Thus far, the nominated Cabinet members are just the sort they want: spectacularly unqualified for their positions, so much so that they may help destroy their departments. Exactly what so many MAGA folks want.
And don't get me started on Huckabee as ambassador to Israel!
Yes; complex systems; chaos theory. But I think we're going to get the chaos without any theory!
Hi Max, I totally agree with your sentiments, and the economy/border issues were definitely a reason for many if not most. I am also sure that Trump supporters like his cabinet picks and consider them highly qualified to do what they hope to see done, which is to dismantle the imaginary Deep State, or at least to dismantle the norms established over decades of administrations. Whether or not they'll have any regrets later remains to be seen. And there's always the matter of latent causation. The economy during Trump's first term improved thanks in great measure to policies set down during the Obama years, but most folks don't see such connections. And now the Biden administration has gifted him an economy with falling inflation and falling interest rates, which historically has led to booms that have lasted at least 18 months. Whatever damage he may cause by restricting immigration may only be felt after 2028, leading to the successor administration to take the blame for unwise policies. But you never know, maybe it will come crashing down before the 2028 election for all to see.
And of course with complex systems, we can't know if any of what I just speculated about will come to pass.
As always, thanks, Steve, for your good insights. The week after the election, I purposely met with a FB friend and deeply evangelical Christian who voted for Trump to understand his reasons. For him, the reasons weren't any of the ads (which, indeed, were effective) but two things: the economy (He's a commited capitalist who wants less governmental regulation) and the border. We had a very friendly time together, and we could, as the Bible says, "reason together."
My concern with the incoming administration, though, and so many who voted for it, is that unlike my friend, they heard Trump (and others!) say who he plainly is -- a demagogue and fascist -- and voted for him BECAUSE of it. I know too many who want a totalitarian, because they feel that's the only way the United States can be re-made in their image. Thus far, the nominated Cabinet members are just the sort they want: spectacularly unqualified for their positions, so much so that they may help destroy their departments. Exactly what so many MAGA folks want.
And don't get me started on Huckabee as ambassador to Israel!
Yes; complex systems; chaos theory. But I think we're going to get the chaos without any theory!
Hi Max, I totally agree with your sentiments, and the economy/border issues were definitely a reason for many if not most. I am also sure that Trump supporters like his cabinet picks and consider them highly qualified to do what they hope to see done, which is to dismantle the imaginary Deep State, or at least to dismantle the norms established over decades of administrations. Whether or not they'll have any regrets later remains to be seen. And there's always the matter of latent causation. The economy during Trump's first term improved thanks in great measure to policies set down during the Obama years, but most folks don't see such connections. And now the Biden administration has gifted him an economy with falling inflation and falling interest rates, which historically has led to booms that have lasted at least 18 months. Whatever damage he may cause by restricting immigration may only be felt after 2028, leading to the successor administration to take the blame for unwise policies. But you never know, maybe it will come crashing down before the 2028 election for all to see.
And of course with complex systems, we can't know if any of what I just speculated about will come to pass.