How Far will the Morbidly Rich & Donald Trump Go?

[LongTomH]

When the Supreme Court, Donald Trump, and Congress have everything they need to take away women's rights, worker rights, Gay, Lesbian and transgender rights, civil rights, and more, how far will they go, will minimum wage go, will social security be history, will America be split by far right governance?

[Cary]

1. They will take as much as they can

That's what fascists do

[Squinch]

2. Morbidly rich. That's going to stick.

[Historic NY]

4. +10000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

that's what they they will die with money in the bank. Nearly dead.

[DBoon]

3. Argentina, Chile, Brazil in the 1970s

nt

[empedocles]

5. Criminal Minds?

DU had a thread recently on 'criminal mind' and trump. Last night saw brief section of piece on Sammy 'the bull' Gravano. Sammy got off easy [by testifying against Gotti], 1 more year in prison and he was free. Sure he could have made a straight living somehow, keep quiet, etc.

But no, he went big, advertised himself, soon was making millions quickly as major drug dealer in the Southwest. In prison again, pretty quickly. Couldn't help himself - didn't know limits, 'criminal mind'.

Robber barons past and present, cannot stop either, guilty or not yet proved guilty in court, cannot stop abusing their powers [and abusing others].

[empedocles]

6. Cannot stop

Historically, Carnegie, Rockefeller just kept gouging, etc and accumulating. Capone controlled a big chunk of a lot of Chicago and kept on going for more. Current billionaires are said to keep close eye on activities of others and who is 'worth' more.

Similiary, trump has amazed by his ability to keep crazily, unbelievably topping himself, [insults, lies, chaos, corruption, stupidity,destruction, . . . ] week after week!

Criminal Minds

[appalachiablue]

7. Author Nancy MacLean, 'Democracy in Chains' TH show guest today. Serious issues.

Thom and Prof. Nancy MacLean, author of "Democracy in Chains," discuss the strategic and calculated efforts by powerful, far right conservative forces in the US to construct an anti democratic system of economic liberty, with a government whose principal purpose is to maintain the courts, the police and the military. And not much else. Utilizing racism and class division, disband the progressive achievements of the 20th century: wage and labor laws, worker rights and protections, voting rights, the safety net, public education, consumer and environmental protections, regulations on business, so much of which already has been altered or in progress for some time.

The radical plan aims to return the country economically and socially to a structure similar to 19th c. Victorian society in the Industrial Age, the Dickens' era with a powerful, ultra wealthy upper class, a small middle class, and a very large lower class comprised of people and workers with few rights, comforts and security, and little social and economic mobility. A 'stable society' in the view of the architects and an agenda familiar to those closely following issues in the news, articles and books on the political and economic climate of the last 10-20 years.

In this system, workers with education and training could fare better in wealthier blue states, and people with less skills and in poorer states could face struggles in homeless encampments already existent in America, or even Latin America-style favelas and barrios. Prof. MacLean emphasizes that the next several years, will be decisive in determining the direction that the country takes.

Thom & guest, economist *Prof. Richard Wolff later discuss a possible economic recession, impacts, trends & future.