General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Trump is displaying alarming signs of mental illness [View all]Martin Eden
(13,569 posts)... then he's less likely to accomplish what he wants, right?
Wrong. Others in his orbit with a definite agenda (Musk, Miller, et al) can manipulate the orange fruitcake and use his power to threaten anyone who stands in their way.
The worst president ever has surrounded himself with the worst people, intent on doing real damage.
The big money interests are smart enough to know the economy is going to take a hit, but they're willing to pay a short term price to achieve their long term goals of tearing down the regulatory & welfare state.
FDR's New Deal and LBJ's Great Society have endured for generations in a representative democracy where popular government programs are difficult to legislate out of existence.
What we're facing now is a combination of Norquist's "starve the beast" and Bannon's "tear it all down" nihilism. That's why unqualified far right loons are being appointed to head government agencies. Career public servants will be forced out or flee to the private sector when they see the writing on the wall.
It's easier to wreck something than to piece it back together, especially when the expertise necessary to accomplish such a difficult task has found a more stable future elsewhere.
Our best chance to salvage our government institutions is to marshall public backlash against the economic pain this will cause, and take back the House and Senate in 2026.
This will not be easy, as the cowardly mainstream media is already beginning to obey in advance under the incoming threat of retribution.
The battle ahead is just beginning.