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[zeek]

Originally Posted by ZNPaaneah

My opinion is that the US is on a path that is not sustainable.

1. We have a govt run by Corporations, particularly Big Oil, which has been willing to get us involved in wars that are not truly about self defense, all with the result that we have run up huge national debts, damaged our reputation around the world, while our leaders spew lies. Trillion dollar wars for oil, doesn't bother you? That all preceded Trump.

Why oh why would would anyone think Trump could get away with some of his most outlandish statements. Perhaps because no one cared about lies, fraud, assassinations, and trillion dollar wars up to this point.

Hmm, Let's see ...

List of conspiracy theories

I think Zeek prefers liars that make him feel comfortable, hide the lies better so that he can pretend he isn't agreeing to be lied to, whereas Trump is so transparent and obvious you feel "What, does this guy think I'm an idiot!" Well, yeah.

I appreciate your perspective. Like too many today, you've lost faith the institutions of free society.

The question is whether the future belongs to the new populists like Donald Trump or to the free societies that began to be built in the 18th century and that have gradually developed and strengthened—with many imperfections and hypocrisies and backsliding—in the 250 years since?

During the Cold War the most important challenges to free societies came from Communism. More recently the most important challenges came from Islamic extremists.

Today, the greatest challenge comes from the "populists". This challenge comes from within. Will the free societies be able to able to survive and thrive against the threat of populism that seeks to divide and destroy it?

The new populism is a scam and a lie that exploits anger and fear to gain power. It has no care for the people it supposedly champions and no respect for them. It will deliver nothing—not only because its leaders are crooks, but because they have no plans except to pad their own pockets.

Since the economic crisis of 2008 and the euro-currency crisis that began in 2010, the so-called populists have won election after election in this country and in Europe. Countries that formerly seemed secure against populism, like Germany, are trending in ominous directions.

But hope is not lost. With the midterm elections, the American electorate set a limit: It looks like the tide is beginning to turn.