tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20417751.post461522303125707918..comments2024-01-22T18:22:29.391-08:00Comments on hedera's corner: Regulationshederahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01696592301686568456noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20417751.post-4709965763490581502017-03-11T05:41:10.926-08:002017-03-11T05:41:10.926-08:00I see Trump as an old-fashioned kind of politician...I see Trump as an old-fashioned kind of politician. <br /><br />He's very like Reagan and Dubya, in that his experience and ability to "govern" are limited by a lack of education, experience and brain capacity. In other words, they're unqualified to hold the office.<br /><br />But Trump's version isn't about "pretending" to be President, it's about running a dog and pony show, simply to divert the Press (and the citizenry) from the real meat and potatoes governance that's happening as we watch. <br /><br />Tweeting and blustering on social media the way Trump does isn't about governing, It's about diversion. Reagan and Dubya tried to make a case for the shit they did. It usually was an embarrassment, but they both had what is called "charm" to make their case. Trump, on the other hand, doesn't waste time trying to make arguments; he just dances and sings dirty songs. <br /><br />The Congress, and the cabinet heads, are busily passing legislation and issuing orders that fall right inside the traditional Republican agenda. We all know what that is: The Republican Party has been the part of the rich and big business, throughout its history. That hasn't changed. No matter what Trump says--and what he says may sometimes carry appeal to some Red State voters--it has literally nothing to do with what is happening in Washington. <br /><br />Magicians know that the key to deceiving the audience is to present something that draws your attention away from the trick. One way is to have a sexy model "assistant" traipse around in a skimpy bikini. Another is lots of smoke and mirrors--music and literal smoke and contraptions that go flap and clunk and whistle. The thing is, most people WANT to be deceived. Magicians are fun to watch, and while we're watching, someone may be breaking into your car in the lot, or kidnapping your kid, or setting your house on fire. But while you're watching the show, you're distracted.<br /><br />But there's really no magic going on in Washington. It's business as usual. Raising military spending, repealing financial industry regulations, approving pollution and resource exploitation, abusing labor, cutting the taxes if the rich . . . all the usual suspects. <br /><br />We hear a lot about how Trump is different. Yes, he is. But the actual fact is he's no different that George W. was when it comes to actual consequences. It's a kind of lying. And Trump has always been very good at that. It's almost as if Americans WANT to be seduced by the lies and promises. It's as if we've grown so tired to being told we can't have things, it's a relief just to be told we WILL get them, even when we know, in our hearts, that the used car we're being sold is a lemon. Curtis Favillehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06213075853354387634noreply@blogger.com