I don’t know. During COVID they were willing to die, gasping their last in hospitals, refusing to admit COVID was real. If Trumpism starts to hurt, they will use a scapegoat for blame.
But the risk is that the reign of the unqualified will result in so much damage to America that it will take decades to regain any reputation of competence.... and that most fragile of attributes - trust.
I think that ship has sailed. The trust in America is long gone. We need a come to Jesus moment with American voters and the only hope we have that we will have that moment is to let the Trump voters get it full bore. Trump voters are much more dependent on the government programs (excluding of course the billionaires) and they need to get it in full with all the consequences.
Fewer than 50% of the Americans who voted, voted for Trump.
As has been well documented since then, they did so for a wide variety of reasons.
As is also obvious, the fallout from bad Trump choices is going to harm both pro- and anti-Trump voters.
"Get it good and hard" was funny the first time H.L. Mencken said it. It's overuse as a revenge fantasy against fellow Americans who voted differently in 2024 is starting to get old. (And the fallback position "oh, I didn't mean it as a revenge fantasy, I just sorrowfully mentioned it as a historic inevitability" is wearing thin too.).
A little more curiosity about these voters and a little less knee-jerk umbrage would probably serve us better. Otherwise they'll probably just vote the same way again.
IMHO, based on my voting experience since 1976, people will continue to vote against the overall interest of the majority of the American people until they feel the impact of their vote on themselves. I thought Americans had finally come around to reality in 2008 after the complete disaster of wars with tax cuts for the wealthy and financial deregulation and then bailouts for the perpetrators, but no. Democrats need to stay united with rational Republicans and Independents and let the country feel the full effect of Trump policy and appointment insanity. Stop cooperating and force the Republicans to pass legislation on their own and increase the debt ceiling without Democrats votes or require major concessions such as universal healthcare and/or increased taxes on the wealthy. Otherwise this craziness will never end and will in fact expand to its inevitable conclusion of a permanent oligarchy and no middle class. Wake up.
Every organization that aims to build bridges has been mostly organized by Democrats. We HAVE listened and tried to understand, but their views are incoherent. I don't know how they realize unless they feel some pain.
The American people voted for this, and they need to get it good and hard. Maybe that will snap people back to reality, but I’m not holding my breath.
I don’t know. During COVID they were willing to die, gasping their last in hospitals, refusing to admit COVID was real. If Trumpism starts to hurt, they will use a scapegoat for blame.
Yea, that’s why I said I’m not holding my breath in my original post. Stupid is as stupid does.
But the risk is that the reign of the unqualified will result in so much damage to America that it will take decades to regain any reputation of competence.... and that most fragile of attributes - trust.
I think that ship has sailed. The trust in America is long gone. We need a come to Jesus moment with American voters and the only hope we have that we will have that moment is to let the Trump voters get it full bore. Trump voters are much more dependent on the government programs (excluding of course the billionaires) and they need to get it in full with all the consequences.
Fewer than 50% of the Americans who voted, voted for Trump.
As has been well documented since then, they did so for a wide variety of reasons.
As is also obvious, the fallout from bad Trump choices is going to harm both pro- and anti-Trump voters.
"Get it good and hard" was funny the first time H.L. Mencken said it. It's overuse as a revenge fantasy against fellow Americans who voted differently in 2024 is starting to get old. (And the fallback position "oh, I didn't mean it as a revenge fantasy, I just sorrowfully mentioned it as a historic inevitability" is wearing thin too.).
A little more curiosity about these voters and a little less knee-jerk umbrage would probably serve us better. Otherwise they'll probably just vote the same way again.
IMHO, based on my voting experience since 1976, people will continue to vote against the overall interest of the majority of the American people until they feel the impact of their vote on themselves. I thought Americans had finally come around to reality in 2008 after the complete disaster of wars with tax cuts for the wealthy and financial deregulation and then bailouts for the perpetrators, but no. Democrats need to stay united with rational Republicans and Independents and let the country feel the full effect of Trump policy and appointment insanity. Stop cooperating and force the Republicans to pass legislation on their own and increase the debt ceiling without Democrats votes or require major concessions such as universal healthcare and/or increased taxes on the wealthy. Otherwise this craziness will never end and will in fact expand to its inevitable conclusion of a permanent oligarchy and no middle class. Wake up.
Every organization that aims to build bridges has been mostly organized by Democrats. We HAVE listened and tried to understand, but their views are incoherent. I don't know how they realize unless they feel some pain.