What does a TRUMP presidency look like?

[Razgovory]

I guess Legbiter was correct, we are seeing preference falsification.

Huh? Explain.

Legbiter made a weird, jargony post a few weeks back.  Because I'm crazy, I looked up what he was talking about.  He was referring to a theory where people lie about their opinions publicly so they conform to those around them.  However, people vote their real beliefs when voting is secret.  The result is that opinion can shift dramatically when the stigma around certain beliefs dissipates. 

I am reminded of one of the stories Dguller told about living in the Soviet Union.  He mentioned that when he was in school nobody believed in God, but then suddenly, as the political climate changed, it turned out that many people in his class did admit to believing in God.

[Iormlund]

They seem weirdly eager for a total disaster in so many areas. Between this and the health stuff. They seem to want huge natural disasters and infectious disease to sweep through the country.

I really wonder about that. I can see four main explanations:

1) They genuinely do want bad things to happen for whatever individual or long term political reasons.

2) They have an ideological commitment to letting "the free market" respond rather than government, and are willing to let people die for that ideology.

3) They genuinely believe that the relevant government agencies "do nothing", so cutting them won't make a difference.

4) They think of any potential disasters primarily as a PR and narrative issue, and it's cheaper to spin up solutions as media narratives than actually spend to mitigate risks and/ or provide solutions. If people die or do not die doesn't really matter to them, as long as they can maintain the narratives with the people that matter to their political agendas.

They just don't think most people's lives are worth saving. As simple as that.

[crazy canuck]

They seem weirdly eager for a total disaster in so many areas. Between this and the health stuff. They seem to want huge natural disasters and infectious disease to sweep through the country.

I really wonder about that. I can see four main explanations:

1) They genuinely do want bad things to happen for whatever individual or long term political reasons.

2) They have an ideological commitment to letting "the free market" respond rather than government, and are willing to let people die for that ideology.

3) They genuinely believe that the relevant government agencies "do nothing", so cutting them won't make a difference.

4) They think of any potential disasters primarily as a PR and narrative issue, and it's cheaper to spin up solutions as media narratives than actually spend to mitigate risks and/ or provide solutions. If people die or do not die doesn't really matter to them, as long as they can maintain the narratives with the people that matter to their political agendas.

They just don't think most people's lives are worth saving. As simple as that.

No, I think it is far more pernicious.  To understand Vance and his ilk you need to understand their evangelical beliefs, and in particular their God's role in the world.  Combine that with their belief that government is the enemy, and you get to the point where it is beneficial to destroy the enemy so that God's plan can unfold.

[The Minsky Moment]

This concerns me a great deal, as I think between this and cuts in FEMA there's a real risk of a Katrina level catastrophe this hurricane season.

"You're doing a heck of a job, grok3"

[Valmy]

I guess Legbiter was correct, we are seeing preference falsification.

Huh? Explain.

Legbiter made a weird, jargony post a few weeks back.  Because I'm crazy, I looked up what he was talking about.  He was referring to a theory where people lie about their opinions publicly so they conform to those around them.  However, people vote their real beliefs when voting is secret.  The result is that opinion can shift dramatically when the stigma around certain beliefs dissipates. 

I am reminded of one of the stories Dguller told about living in the Soviet Union.  He mentioned that when he was in school nobody believed in God, but then suddenly, as the political climate changed, it turned out that many people in his class did admit to believing in God.

Yeah that happened a lot with racism in the past.

So actually everybody still hates LBGT people. Shocker.

[Crazy_Ivan80]

Oh, and we fired 800 people from NOAA.  I kept help but think that weather predictions is something useful the government does.

The Project 2025 people see NOAA as among the lead perpetrators in what they call "The climate alarm industry."

This concerns me a great deal, as I think between this and cuts in FEMA there's a real risk of a Katrina level catastrophe this hurricane season.

They seem weirdly eager for a total disaster in so many areas. Between this and the health stuff. They seem to want huge natural disasters and infectious disease to sweep through the country.

it's almost as if they believe they won't lose their head. They don't know history well it seems

[Crazy_Ivan80]

Breaking News:

Putin's lifeless body found in auto-erotic posture.

don't tease us like that

[Razgovory]

They seem weirdly eager for a total disaster in so many areas. Between this and the health stuff. They seem to want huge natural disasters and infectious disease to sweep through the country.

I really wonder about that. I can see four main explanations:

1) They genuinely do want bad things to happen for whatever individual or long term political reasons.

2) They have an ideological commitment to letting "the free market" respond rather than government, and are willing to let people die for that ideology.

3) They genuinely believe that the relevant government agencies "do nothing", so cutting them won't make a difference.

4) They think of any potential disasters primarily as a PR and narrative issue, and it's cheaper to spin up solutions as media narratives than actually spend to mitigate risks and/ or provide solutions. If people die or do not die doesn't really matter to them, as long as they can maintain the narratives with the people that matter to their political agendas.

They just don't think most people's lives are worth saving. As simple as that.

No, I think it is far more pernicious.  To understand Vance and his ilk you need to understand their evangelical beliefs, and in particular their God's role in the world.  Combine that with their belief that government is the enemy, and you get to the point where it is beneficial to destroy the enemy so that God's plan can unfold.

You know, he's not an evangelical.  His wife is not even Christian.

[crazy canuck]

You know, he's not an evangelical.  His wife is not even Christian.

Who are you talking about?

[Zoupa]

Vance is just a greedy cunt hungry for $ and power. I don't think there's any ideological core tenets there.

[Valmy]

it's almost as if they believe they won't lose their head. They don't know history well it seems

If we weren't seemingly getting giant hurricane seasons on an annual basis now, they could have gotten lucky.

Oh and there seems like at least three epidemic scares going on at once right now.

[crazy canuck]

Vance is just a greedy cunt hungry for $ and power. I don't think there's any ideological core tenets there.

I disagree, there has been quite a lot written about how he is guided by his new found religious beliefs.

[The Minsky Moment]

I disagree, there has been quite a lot written about how he is guided by his new found religious beliefs.

Yes I've seen many ambitious politicians acquire such new-found voter demographics, sorry I mean truly heartfelt spiritual awakenings.

[Valmy]

Vance is just a greedy cunt hungry for $ and power. I don't think there's any ideological core tenets there.

I disagree, there has been quite a lot written about how he is guided by his new found religious beliefs.

I am very skeptical it is anything besides a cynical pivot.

[crazy canuck]

I disagree, there has been quite a lot written about how he is guided by his new found religious beliefs.

Yes I've seen many ambitious politicians acquire such new-found voter demographics, sorry I mean truly heartfelt spiritual awakenings.

Yep, I am not claiming they are sincerely held beliefs. But he is tapping into a brand of Christianity that serves as a very effective vehicle for his ambitions.