So many emperors, so few clothes. Maybe today's oligarchs embrace Trump's recklessness because the risk of America-uber-alles is more predictable than the risk of international competition.
Perhaps. As I write at the end of the piece, I don’t think that much of my own analysis here, but I do think we on the left have a tendency to underestimate the irrationality of the ruling class
I think you give Trump too much credit. I don't see him as the one who comes up with any independent thoughts or as someone who is creating any strategy beyond what fills is own pockets. Instead I see him as someone who the ruling class can easily manipulate via their huge $ contributions so that they can have him be the mouthpiece of their austerity measures. Sure it's his signature on the executive documents, but isn't it more likely that it's the billionaires' accountants, actuaries, and consultants feeding Stephen Miller the game plans and strategies rather than the sociopathic ideas from Trump himself?
I appreciate the comment. But I don’t think Trump’s policies can be reduced to just “austerity measures” that materially benefit the oligarchs. There’s something more irrational and erratic going on (Greenland, nonsensical tariffs, etc). Plus, I don’t see Stephen Miller and the billionaires’ interests as being in lockstep. Obviously, there’s plenty about Trump’s policies that are naked giveaways to billionaires, and the tech industry in particular. But historically the wealthy are risk averse, and the Trump regime embraces risk? What makes today’s oligarchs so reckless? That’s what I’m trying to think about
Not sure I am seeing the risk as you do. Is there a big risk in the pursuit of Greenland? With the continued shrinking of the earth's natural resources, Greenland is an obvious target, especially given its marriage w Denmark -- a nation that will never fight militarily w the US over its rights, making it a fairly easy annexation.
Although I agree with you on the undetermined strategy w the tariffs, I would again cite Trump's severe lack of intelligence as a big factor in my assumption that it's the ruling billionaire class pulling his strings.
The major reason for me pointing this out is not to contradict your essay, but rather to reassert that our solution to our ongoing exploitation and oppression will not go away when he leaves office. Too many of us on this and other social media platforms think that we can vote our way out and are, IMHO, waaay too focused on the Red vs. Blue theatrics rather than where the real battle needs to take place, the proletariat vs. the bourgeoisie. Building up our collective class consciousness will continue to be our friend within this struggle.
So many emperors, so few clothes. Maybe today's oligarchs embrace Trump's recklessness because the risk of America-uber-alles is more predictable than the risk of international competition.
Perhaps. As I write at the end of the piece, I don’t think that much of my own analysis here, but I do think we on the left have a tendency to underestimate the irrationality of the ruling class
Trump 1.0 reminded me that barbarism gonna barbarize
I think you give Trump too much credit. I don't see him as the one who comes up with any independent thoughts or as someone who is creating any strategy beyond what fills is own pockets. Instead I see him as someone who the ruling class can easily manipulate via their huge $ contributions so that they can have him be the mouthpiece of their austerity measures. Sure it's his signature on the executive documents, but isn't it more likely that it's the billionaires' accountants, actuaries, and consultants feeding Stephen Miller the game plans and strategies rather than the sociopathic ideas from Trump himself?
I appreciate the comment. But I don’t think Trump’s policies can be reduced to just “austerity measures” that materially benefit the oligarchs. There’s something more irrational and erratic going on (Greenland, nonsensical tariffs, etc). Plus, I don’t see Stephen Miller and the billionaires’ interests as being in lockstep. Obviously, there’s plenty about Trump’s policies that are naked giveaways to billionaires, and the tech industry in particular. But historically the wealthy are risk averse, and the Trump regime embraces risk? What makes today’s oligarchs so reckless? That’s what I’m trying to think about
Not sure I am seeing the risk as you do. Is there a big risk in the pursuit of Greenland? With the continued shrinking of the earth's natural resources, Greenland is an obvious target, especially given its marriage w Denmark -- a nation that will never fight militarily w the US over its rights, making it a fairly easy annexation.
Although I agree with you on the undetermined strategy w the tariffs, I would again cite Trump's severe lack of intelligence as a big factor in my assumption that it's the ruling billionaire class pulling his strings.
The major reason for me pointing this out is not to contradict your essay, but rather to reassert that our solution to our ongoing exploitation and oppression will not go away when he leaves office. Too many of us on this and other social media platforms think that we can vote our way out and are, IMHO, waaay too focused on the Red vs. Blue theatrics rather than where the real battle needs to take place, the proletariat vs. the bourgeoisie. Building up our collective class consciousness will continue to be our friend within this struggle.