General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIn 1920, Mencken predicted Trump:
The larger the mob, the harder the test. In small areas, before small electorates, a first-rate man occasionally fights his way through, carrying even the mob with him by force of his personality. But when the field is nationwide, and the fight must be waged chiefly at second and third hand, and the force of personality cannot so readily make itself felt, then all the odds are on the man who is, intrinsically, the most devious and mediocre the man who can most easily adeptly disperse the notion that his mind is a virtual vacuum.
The Presidency tends, year by year, to go to such men. As democracy is perfected, the office represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. We move toward a lofty ideal.
On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.
cilla4progress
(24,736 posts)That he saw this coming 100 years ago.
So interesting the huge range from the elevated Fanfare for the Common Man to mob rule. The elements making the difference must be examined. Ignore the common folks at your own peril. Once you remove from them the hope of realistic
opportunity to advance, you shift resources away from them, they will turn on you and become unpredictable.
So strange and interesting that they turn to and not away from their oppressors. I guess seeking some shelter there.
dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)in the New Yorker which I am reading.
You might like it:
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/11/28/obama-reckons-with-a-trump-presidency
cilla4progress
(24,736 posts)Will read it. Reckoning is a word I've been thinking of a lot. I guess more in terms of the reckoning this country is going to have years from now after these dark days are over.
cilla4progress
(24,736 posts)By his statement about being a bridge to the social compact post- presidency.
The writing is on the wall: Obama is going to fill the role of leader of the Democrats / progressives going forward. He is the only one with the stature and the popularity and balls. I can even envision a coalition between him and the Bushes, to fight the fascism that Trump is bringing. And Romney, if he too has the moral backbone.
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)It was bound to happen sooner or later.
workinclasszero
(28,270 posts)..which is fast approaching...
When your nation becomes 51% brainwashed right wing drooling idiots, its all over but the cryin. Well it doesn't even take 51% because at least 40% or so don't vote.
Big Lie propaganda turned a culturally rich and educated Germany into a horrible furnace of death and destruction for man, woman and child.
The same thing is happening here. Hate radio, Fox news and CNN, MSNBC etc made it all possible.
Trump and Bannon are a giant leap forward into that hell on earth for this country.
trof
(54,256 posts)No one in this world, so far as I know and I have searched the records for years, and employed agents to help me has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people. Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby.
In the column, Mencken continued his thoughts about the publics choices in reading matter and politicians by adding:
The mistake that is made always runs the other way. Because the plain people are able to speak and understand, and even, in many cases, to read and write, it is assumed that they have ideas in their heads, and an appetite for more. This assumption is a folly.
Looking around at the media and political landscape today, Menckens opinion might be deemed more prescient than ever.
http://www.thisdayinquotes.com/2011/09/no-one-ever-went-broke-underestimating.html
dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)As it happens, I am reading a book on social history in England in 1770-1800's....
and on the subject of education, there was a great argument among the ruling class as to the education of the ruled class.
class distinctions being extremely fixed in that period.
The NAY side of the argument was that the lower classes, ( and women of all classes) if taught to read, would get ideas and not be manageable.
YEA side argued the benefit that at least they could read the Bible for moral instruction and thus be better off.
Sadly, the ability to manage the alphabet is no longer an important distinction in these days of Fox News and Facebook/Twitter.
As Trump, not exactly an over achiever in literacy, has shown.
Hekate
(90,714 posts)"You know -- morons."
Cyrano
(15,041 posts)because it's how we liberals feel about ... the morons.
Perhaps that was an unfair judgement.
But then, unfortunately, the morons confirmed our judgement by electing our current nightmare.
Wellstone ruled
(34,661 posts)Brexit unfolding in England,and you understood the who are the real Puppet Masters,then you understand what just happened here in the USA. Same messaging of blaming a group within your Society for all your Social and Economic Ills. Then make some Bull Crap theme that resonates with the rest of Society.
Bottom line is,who gains by this method,the very wealthy once again. We are about to see the greatest wealth transfer in world History. Public manipulation via the Press(Murdoch),Hedge Fund(Mercer),Political Stooge(Boris Johnson-Donald Trump)and a lay down audio and video Media(FOX News/NBC/MSNBC and ABC and CBS repeating the same false equivalency).
For those who think the Ninety Nine per cent will not be affected,oh boy,think again. Watch for the raid on Social Security and the elimination of Medicare and Medicade. And by the way, big time Income Tax increases for all of us that make less than a 52k net a year. That is about 80% of thea Americ.n Populace.