Are there any queers in the theater tonight?
Get them up against the wall!
There’s one in the spotlight, he don’t look right to me,
Get him up against the wall!
That one looks Jewish!
And that one’s a coon!
Who let all of this riff-raff into the room?
Ken Goldstein worries less about Trump himself and more about the hate he has unleashed in his supporters: The Us. vs. Them mentality, the lack of an ethical vocabulary and common ground, and candor being confused for stream of conscious bigotry. That is not what makes America great.
It is almost impossible to believe that a material segment of our population has grown so disaffected and so ignorant that they can cheer on the repugnant egomaniac that is Donald Trump. There are no two sides to this one, nothing to argue. Just go away if you think otherwise, we have no common ground.
Hate is winning. Candor is being confused for stream of conscious bigotry. Donald Trump is a spoiled man-child with deeply psychotic tendencies. To support him is the antithesis of patriotism; it is an expression of self-victimization, nothing more.
This is not about whether Trump wins or loses his party’s nomination, or even the Presidency. It’s about the reality that we live alongside an enormous segment of the population that finds him credible and inspiring. That takes our common ground to zero. Trump may lose, but his supporters have shown us who they are and what they believe. How do we reconnect as a nation with values that shattered?
It’s not really Trump himself that’s keeping me up nights. It’s all the public venom he is unleashing. He’s making it vogue to gather in the name of Us and Them. He has proven that our education system has utterly failed in establishing even a basic shared vocabulary and understanding of ethical purpose. He causes people to believe that “saying whatever’s on your mind” is the same as “telling it like it is.”
Expressing a foul thought unedited and unsupported loudly and repeatedly does not bear any resemblance to making it true. It is bad theater—a poor stage performance without discipline—not intelligent and useful discourse.
A hundred years of socially progressive advancement is going out the window in favor of simplistic notions of aggrandized superiority. The genie doesn’t go back in the bottle after November. Trump’s followers feel validated in their disaffection. There is nothing good that can come of that, and it will neither make their lives better, nor make America great again. It keeps us on a path to dangerous democratic decision-making regardless of the election results.
That’s what’s freaking me out. I’m sitting next to these people on planes and trains, and standing in the checkout aisle next to them at the grocery store. I don’t sense that I am part of their vision of American greatness, so perhaps I go on the hit list, too.
And you. And you. And you.
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GREED, plain and simple. All of our political and social issues can be traced back to greed. And narcissism seems to be taking over human beings, and narcissism breeds greed; greed yields hate, intolerance, indifference…etc. And if you’re not about greed and hate you’re weak.
Just for grins, see Instapundit on the latest news from Rotherham. People think various things about the issue, but one of the things they think is that the powers that be betrayed the most vulnerable and punished those trying to do something about it.. Since the establishment doesn’t seem to be concerned about that, many people cast about for an alternative. Trump’s the only one. That doesn’t mean he’s a good bet, or that I would vote for him. I’m saying that the establishment brought this on themselves. Nobody wants a Rotherham here….. Hmmm. Let’s put it this way. A… Read more »
And to be honest, I am simply tired of all the lies being told by our supposedly respectable leaders that we voted in for that premise. On both sides of course. During the last major elections, my campaign slogan was “I want them all out, and I want them all out now!” it appears that a majority of Americans feel the same way.
Ken. Just a question. Do you have any idea how while nicely sounded, the Democratic party has sold all of you, us,out? Quick example. Democrats hate the idea of voter ID. You know all the reasons. I won’t bother to repeat them. But do you know that every single recipient of Obama care MUSTshow proper ID to get Healthcare? Now why would that be? So every presumably registered democrat already has basic ID. And therefore the argument that it puts an undue stress on minority voters is simply bullshit and just another lie. Lots more examples like this. Lots.
Oh dear, you simply have been asleep the last 8 years, haven’t you? I feel safer overseas than living in America. I left in 2012, I should have stayed overseas in 2005, oh well, lessons learned. America is now more divided upon race, gender and class than ever before; and it has occurred under Obama, not Trump. It is the progressive Hegelian motifs to pit and incite opposing sides against each other…and when there is not an opposing side, one will be created and funded. It is how they have worked for the last 150 years. I don’t suspect it… Read more »
While I think your cynicism less than endearing boris, I also think you’re right. I think about where I might go as an ex pat. Seriously. Fortunately I have enough cash to make Australia or new Zealand accept me for no benefit of theirs. But other than those two I have no where else to think of. Your thoughts?
While I think your cynicism less than endearing at times, boris, I also think you’re right. I think about where I might go as an ex pat. Seriously. Fortunately I have enough cash to make Australia or new Zealand accept me for no benefit of theirs. But other than those two I have no where else to think of. Your thoughts?
The lobbyists exist because the government disposes of so much money and power–frequently unaccountable power–that having lobbyists is a practical necessity. Simplify the tax code and a bunch of lobbyists disappear. Reduce the regulatory burden, ditto. Health care is an imposition on other people. It can’t be a “right” unless you are willing to insist the government forcibly take resources from some people and give them to others. Don’t be afraid to say it. The gay marriage thing is a hoot. You’ll note the happy couple never accidentally encounter Muslim bakeries. Sanctity’s got nothing to do with it. What is… Read more »
Ken, Let’s say that much of what you say about Mr. Trump is indeed correct… The bottom line is that we MUST get rid of this Democrat and Republican Establishment that has ruined the greatest nation ever. I see Mr. Trump is the beginning of this process. It is a necessary process. I am a staunch conservative though not dogmatic in my views. I left the Republican Party in 1992 as it became more like the Democrat party. The only difference being that we found a great way to grow government without raising taxes: borrowing and debt. Now Mr. Rubio… Read more »
Thanks for your feedback, Jules. I haven’t given up on my party (yet). Progressive values are just too much a part of me. I guess I still think of myself as an immigrant even though I’m third generation American. I believe a woman’s right to choose is inviolable. I believe all human beings have a right to choose the sanctity of marriage. I believe health care is a human right. At the same time I have run a number of companies, invest in new companies, and believe that capitalism when it is a fair contest lifts people out of poverty.… Read more »
As optimistic as you portray, I sense defeat as well, with good reason. We’re in a mess. Unfortunately I don’t think we’re going to get out of it anytime soon. Unless the people really unite against them. Maybe it will in a few more years of this nonsense. Then us, as citizens, regardless of core beliefs of party, will actually disband them and go after them together. This really needs to happen. Our country really is at stake. You might think this exaggeration but I assure you it’s not. At least from my point of view. We are at a… Read more »
Spot on. Trump has unleashed my hatred. I hate that drugs pour in from the mexican border and the government does virtually nothing about it. Kids are dying, I hate that inner cities are over run by illegal aliens destroying communities I hate that the Vets are wait listed for care. I hate that they are fighting a seemingly endless war I absolutely hate to watch the inner cities in this country in riot mode due to policies that have supressed the african american communities. They have been decimated bu horrendous trade deals(thanks alot Clinton). I hate watching my hispanic… Read more »
I think of Donald Trump as a genius opportunist. He has a remarkable instinct for gauging his surroundings to derive the maximum personal profit from that environment. He is capitalizing his Presidential campaign from the large reservoir of anxiety that has accumulated in the American people. Many of our fellow citizens seem to feel that Trump will be able to dispel what we fear. I can sympathize with that response, though personally I have come to the conclusion that Donald Trump is offering only his self-aggrandizement as a solution for the challenges that we face as a nation. As Franklin… Read more »
With all due respect to both of the highly divergent (and likely irreconcilable) relative positions & perspectives here: To point out that Donald Trump is profoundly immodest to a fault is not ungracious, ungenerous, or undue- it’s as readily apparent as pointing out that he breaths air and expels carbon dioxide. Rather though, it is incumbent upon each of us ourselves to resolve what we make of that immodesty- Is it a fault? And if so, do we fault him for it? If it is a grievous fault, if we believe that so, then certainly we should hold him to… Read more »
You presume, for example, that building a wall with Mexico is, objectively, a bad idea. Or that Trump’s supporters don’t know what it will do. Wrong. Obama started a war….things were so good in Irag 2010-2011 that the admin was saying a free, liberal, prosperous Iraq would be one of the admin’s signal achievements. You probably didn’t know everybody knows that. But, according to dem practice, Obama pissed away that for which men had died. Now look. Speaking of hate, how about you of the Right Sort of People and Rush Limbaugh? Just for grins. Anyway, your planted axiom is… Read more »
We shall agree to disagree, Sir. All opinions are welcome here as long as they are articulated respectfully. We respect your candor and heartfelt sentiments.
It pains me that Trump’s followers don’t see that he is their oppressor. He has taken their money in casinos. He has taken their money in federal bankruptcies (while saying the government should stay out of finance). In the unlikely event he is elected, he will cost them the attention they need to rebound in fighting with Congress over torture, building a wall to separate us from Mexico, banning Muslim immigrants, and creating a registry of enemies. None of that will happen, he will not be able to do any of it, but we would be at a standstill while… Read more »
You seem to be using a lot of broad, hateful epithets to describe Donald Trump, despite telling us that “hate is not the answer.” I guess it’s only “hate” when you disagree with the message, huh?
Hillary is a gender based feminist. Only difference is that her hate for men is in vogue…and we need harbor no illusions, it is there. Trump just wears his on his sleeve because it is to his advantage to do so. Hillary hides hers for the same reason.
There is hate, then there is directional hate. Neither better then the other. Best we can do is to see both clearly regardless of whether that hate is to our advantage or our detriment.
I’m writing in, Pat Paulson…as always.
Shows your age, DJ. Lol!
BTW, I’m still undecided
Hate is winning” or maybe losing … the flavor of this article and others reek of hate.
The genie is not going back into the bottle and the genie has opened Pandora’s box to boot. Brit what came out of it was not “hate.” . What it is, is pent up frustration with politicians and a government.
And BTW, no one is on the hit list UNLESS they aren’t performing, caught up in lies, cover ups, etc.
“should” doesn’t trump (sorry) “did”.
’cause once something “did”, “should” no longer applies.
And sometimes “did” is earned, irrespective of the “should” of the situation.
I suppose progressives could start by not hating those who think differently, were born south of the Ohio River, or shop at WalMart. Or, on nthe other hand, have all that money the progressives want.
“Hate is not an answer. Never has been. Never will be. That’s a cornerstone of most expressions of faith. It’s not a bad touchstone of commonality.” I agree with your quote there Ken, though I would be obligated to point out -only in passing, mind you- that even hate could be employed to possible constructive potential (though not advisably, nor likely prudently- as it has been observed, the ends don’t simply justify the means). And so, the problem, to put it mildly, is that the limited of benefits of hate are outweighed by its enormous liabilities (to say nothing of the… Read more »
Hate is not an answer. Never has been. Never will be. That’s a cornerstone of most expressions of faith. It’s not a bad touchstone of commonality.