Human Nature

[Ivan Denisovich]

@Thumpalumpacus

Trump is a fauxpulist, for example.  He's not white welfaring his chosen people to the promised land.  He's cashing in on marks.

... and at the same time selling supporters stuff like being able to be openly bigoted. It's a shitty quid pro quo where the cunts in the underclass feel empowered, and the cunts in the upperclass feel -- well, are -- enriched.

Blaming politicians for this is a sort of "Great Man" sense of history. Sure, a "Great Man" comes along every so often, but don't think for a moment he isn't riding the tides. Hitler capitalized on centuries of Central European antisemitism. Abe Lincoln made hay out of an abolitionist movement that was gaining ground for decades. Winston Churchill earned the good part of his reputation by giving voice to British stubbornness in 1940.

I think that Hitler had luck with Great Depression as without it I can't really see his party ever becoming anything other than fringe. In 1928 elections he got merely 2.63%, only after financial crisis started his party got more votes. Other than that I would agree "Great Men" are great because they seize the moment. Lenin made correct decision when he urged takeover instead of waiting for example but no matter his personal skill and charm it wouldn't work in different circumstances (namely without Russian state being already in pieces).