Random thoughts/comments

(Nov 13, 2020 04:30 PM)Leigha Wrote: Looks like most of Biden’s “plans” are little more than reversing what Trump did. He sounds like he wants to slow everything down and go back to a lock down. The Repubs get in, they do one thing...Democrats get in, they do the opposite. No progress lasts.

It’s just funny to me that Biden’s big plan is to reverse everything Trump did. 

He has to be the greatest panderer of all time. Pandering isn’t just about pleasing others though, it’s about pleasing others because you have ulterior motives.

Would be an ad hominem based approach ("everything is tainted because of who Trump is"), rather than a rational evaluation of whether or not each change of Trump's was advantageous to the US or not. Of course, the Party's very orientation is that the US should be a self-sacrificing "life boat" for the rest of the world, anyway, so it was pretty much moot beforehand.

That's why China and Iraq wanted Biden to win. Would also include bye, bye Space Force, too, if relentlessly pursued to that degree. I don't like Trump, but that takes a back-seat to my distaste for incremental progress toward Leftist authoritarianism (which is far more deceptive than the Rightist kind -- the latter is like a loud, abrasive horn -- couldn't extendedly fool anyone in this era even if it wanted to).

But OTOH, critical vetting of a rival POTUS's projects would likely yield skewered results, as well, since motivated reasoning pervades even the social-sciences nowadays (not just political think-tanks as a whole, of either party). The prescribed background theories and goals that a group entertains affects how they process/interpret data and the conclusions outputted.

Totally agree with you CC - I don’t care for Trump but this new leftist agenda has a fascist feel to it. Not sure why fascism has long been tied to a far right ideology.

Biden wins Arizona and Georgia. Trump takes North Carolina.

So ''they'' say. . .

(Nov 13, 2020 08:25 PM)Leigha Wrote: Totally agree with you CC - I don’t care for Trump but this new leftist agenda has a fascist feel to it.

Yah, we both know where MR is coming from in terms of Trump's personality, behavior, etc.

A Democrat administration now and then didn't worry me in the past. But this "new ripple" started to over the last year (if not before).

Like a neighbor caging his dog and taunting/goading it with a stick for months, Trump may have brought the radical elements and reality impairment out of the Beast of Burden way ahead of time -- via his own comments and crazy antics. ("Let the poison out, Iggy! Let the poison out!" --German woman who was directing Iggy Pop's performance in one of his videos decades ago)

Which is to say, I really wouldn't want such a dog released to roam freely after it had been driven nuts like that, to the point of becoming ideologically rabid. Its usually hidden "poison" can now be glimpsed glowing red through some cracks in the (strategic) crusader-altruism facade.

Quote:Not sure why fascism has long been tied to a far right ideology

Since today's Establishment is southpaw supporting, it doesn't much focus on, cognitively discriminate, or negatively highlight left-wing populism and left-wing nationalism. Sort of like a fish being oblivious to its aquatic environment, or we considering our atmospheric one to be a norm.

(Nov 13, 2020 10:03 PM)Magical Realist Wrote: Biden wins Arizona and Georgia. Trump takes North Carolina.

https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t...e=5FD4A400

Arizona doesn't certify it's election until Nov 30th, GA Nov 20th, and NC Nov 24th.

You've been duped by someone with Photoshop.

(Nov 13, 2020 10:46 PM)C C Wrote:

(Nov 13, 2020 08:25 PM)Leigha Wrote: Totally agree with you CC - I don’t care for Trump but this new leftist agenda has a fascist feel to it.

Yah, we both know where MR is coming from in terms of Trump's personality, behavior, etc. 

A Democrat administration now and then didn't worry me in the past. But this "new ripple" started to over the last year (if not before).

Like a neighbor caging his dog and taunting/goading it with a stick for months, Trump may have brought the radical elements and reality impairment out of the Beast of Burden way ahead of time -- via his own comments and crazy antics. ("Let the poison out, Iggy! Let the poison out!" --German woman who was directing Iggy Pop's performance in one of his videos decades ago)

Probably the best analogy I've heard so far! lol 

Quote:Which is to say, I really wouldn't want such a dog released to roam freely after it had been driven nuts like that, to the point of becoming ideologically rabid. Its usually hidden "poison" can now be glimpsed glowing red through some cracks in the (strategic) crusader-altruism facade.

Ideologically rabid. Yep. Well, I hope what is to come, isn't as bad as we envision. They say our fears often never come to fruition, but without the proper checks and balances, they just might. Gah, we shouldn't have to fear our government.  Fear might be too strong of a word used here.

Quote:Since today's Establishment is southpaw supporting, it doesn't much focus on, cognitively discriminate, or negatively highlight left-wing populism and left-wing nationalism. Sort of like a fish being oblivious to its aquatic environment, or we considering our atmospheric one to be a norm.

Maybe the ''anti-fascist'' leftists have been the real fascists all along. Dun dun dunnnn!

In truth, moderate leftists are fine. Moderate Republicans are fine. There are radicals on both sides really, and I just hope the US doesn't govern in a radical way, that's all.

From https://hbr.org/2017/04/if-humble-people...arcissists

If Humble People Make the Best Leaders, Why Do We Fall for Charismatic Narcissists?

Quote:The research is clear: when we choose humble, unassuming people as our leaders, the world around us becomes a better place. Yet instead of following the lead of these unsung heroes, we appear hardwired to search for superheroes, over-glorifying leaders who exude charisma. While charisma is conductive to orchestrating positive large-scale transformations, there can be a “dark side” to charismatic leadership. Charismatic leaders can be narcissistic and self-serving, and ultimate destructive to the organizations they lead.

Do Trump supporters want Trump's policies or just Trump at any price? It swings the other way when there are people that want anything but Trump - also at any price.

https://hbr.org/2017/04/if-humble-people...arcissists

That’s ^^ an insightful article, confused.

Not sure if you’ve heard of “servant leadership,” but it takes the position that no one should lead (or can effectively) if he/she refuses to serve. I believe that. Trump isn’t humble and he’s paying the price because he’s from that old school way of thinking that you need to be arrogant and hard-nosed to succeed, to lead. Trump didn’t seek counsel from those around him during his Presidency, he always knew better than everyone else.

A leader that only surrounds himself with “yes people” will not last. But he won’t concede to his shortcomings and will go on to make the same mistakes. That said, Biden isn’t a servant leader either - the difference is though that with Trump, he doesn’t fake who he is. lol

Props to him for that. Biden is a wolf in sheep’s clothing so beware. He will likely not be the “leader” that the US needs right now, but he’ll tell ya what you want to hear.

(Nov 14, 2020 10:02 AM)confused2 Wrote: If Humble People Make the Best Leaders, Why Do We Fall for Charismatic Narcissists? [...]

Do Trump supporters want Trump's policies or just Trump at any price? It swings the other way when there are people that want anything but Trump - also at any price.

There's nothing charismatic about a 74-year-old frat boy. Pretty much every Trump supporter I've encountered has more or less indicated they don't care for the history of his personal behavior, although they do like the way he bluntly speaks his mind without any PC mediation.

So in terms of anecdotal experiences it seems to revolve around policies (they believe he does or tries to generally do what he promises, although the specifics may turn-out to be different). Given the incompetency and self-interested activity of the social sciences nowadays (junk science almost singularly relies on that category's contributions), I doubt abstract data from survey-taking would genuinely offer a more accurate assessment.

MAGA folk don't trust Wisdom Kings who want the masses to listen to what they want. MAGA folk instead want the opposite. That informal, anti-intellectual orientation is what helped get Bush elected, too.

It kind of follows from that part of the population that strives to be independent (individualism) versus the part that is dependent on the Establishment. Doesn't mean like some Tarzan dropped in a jungle and fending entirely on his own -- but instead working out survival, school of thought, and social concerns at the local level of family, friends, and immediate community.

In contrast, alienated people and those in living in anomie and crab mentality neighborhoods have to rely more on centrist government and authority to intervene for them (in exchange for votes and running a pipeline into their bowels, like Google's free software and services).

In this election, it was stupid of Trump beforehand to gradually select slash weed-out everyone until he only had an entourage of sycophants. Listening to advice over the last week to keep a low profile and let the legal technicians futilely try to rescue him from the voting results is just a "too late" nugget added to the heap of disaster.