Human Nature

[arewethereyet]

Democracies were designed to offset the worst tendencies of human nature by dividing power between various branches of government.  The idea was that no one person or group should be given too much power because of the human tendency to abuse power.  

The confluence of several trends in the U.S. has undermined Amercans' understanding that for all of its failings and gridlock, democracy is still the best possible system of government.  Those trends include not-so-fair-and-balanced news sources, the declining impact of our educational systems, misinformation and disinformation available on the internet, a lack of critical-thinking skills, too much money in politics, taking our institutions for granted because of habituation, and the rise of a demagogue, which was enabled by all of these factors.

All I am saying is that the customer isn't always right, or in this case the voters, especially when they are convinced that demanding the impossible is acceptable.  And of course "the impossible" depends on the specific circumstances at the time.  What is impossible now may become possible later.

So now, because we elected Trump again, we have to learn the hard way why democracy is so important.

[bold mine]

So it turns out that it isn't human nature to blame for trump but confluence of factors that you can name without issue (though whether it is right diagnosis is a question for experts I guess).

Voters aren't always right, obviously. But another thing is just as obvious - whoever couldn't defeat clown like trump was shit candidate for president. It ain't stormfront or some kkk forum so there is no need to pretend that trump is anything but dumb walking failure and to say it plainly a cretin. So I'll repeat myself - if one can't win with absolute idiot then it is not voters who are at fault.

As for impossible - it's perhaps favorite word of neoliberal politicians. Sound safety net, welfare programs, appropriately taxing the wealthy... all these things are "impossible". If politicians can't provide basics such as above mentioned then why should they get someone vote? No one is owed votes, not being fascist it's not reason enough to get a vote. If all politicians have to offer is a status quo that outrageously favors the wealthy and fuck up the rest then people voting for like of trump is nothing that should surprise anyone. When world looks like shit extremists get votes - it was simple as that in '30 and is just as simple now.

I think a lot of things factored into Trump's second election.  One is that he has riled up the like-minded with all the zeal of a revivalist preacher.  They also were angry that he was beaten by Biden and bought into the whole the election was rigged narrative.

It was not a great move to wait till three months before the election for Biden to step down and Harris to be expected to ramp things up enough to win.  She didn't lose by much but when you take the devout MAGAts and then add the idea of a woman of color as president...it wasn't going to go as well as hoped by those of us who see the man behind the curtain.

There are still people pissed about Obama being elected...a black man was one thing but a woman of color...MAGA forbid.

I think the Dems were caught flat-footed and didn't have a clue how to promote Kamala when that was suddenly a thing.

The Dems need to get their act together if there is any hope of getting power back.  Even then, it will take a long time to attempt to undo the clusterfuck that we are living with and through now.