What does a TRUMP presidency look like?

[Josquius]

"If you are seeing this. I am dead."

[Valmy]

2PM EST. 
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Who is "The Gang"?

Though I guess it is about time we just admit our government is nothing more than a criminal gang, looting a decaying apparatus of what once resembled a state.

[Syt]

It's an It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia reference.

[Valmy]

It's an It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia reference.

Gotcha. Sorry I haven't seen much of that show. 

[Syt]

From reddit, apply salt as necessary.

[garbon]

I would say that is rather low on the things to be worried about. We have somehow managed to survive without guidance to eat beans and I don't think that will be our downfall.

[Josquius]

I thought these health crazy people were really into beans and lentils.

[HVC]

The food pyramid/guidelines is just an agribusiness PR thing anyway .

[Norgy]

That man.
Or whatever he is.

He saves some roadkill for dinner. Has a tapeworm.

And gives health advice that is from the 17th century.

It's like George Best handing out financial advice high on coke and with two prossies in bed. There really is no amount of salt in this world that could make RFK junior plausible.

Mum loved RFK. He was so handsome. So well-spoken.

And this is the end-product? One thing is the whole anti-vaccine, autism shit that he peddles.
But falconry? Health advice? A GOVERNMENT POSITION? I want normal America back where I could argue against war in Iraq and say don't support Pinochet or the Contras in Nicaragua while still being thankful for NATO.

Fuck it, I am going to get high tonight.

[The Minsky Moment]

Well now have an America that's not going to do something silly like invade a random Middle Eastern country.
Because the military is too busy planning attacks on Canada, Denmark, and Chicago.  You know, the real enemy.

[Norgy]

Well now have an America that's not going to do something silly like invade a random Middle Eastern country.
Because the military is too busy planning attacks on Canada, Denmark, and Chicago.  You know, the real enemy.

Denmark's record at war has been a bit weak the past four centuries.
They play soccer better than all the other Nordic countries, though.

[crazy canuck]

I want normal America back

I am not sure we are going to see it again

[Tamas]

I want normal America back

I am not sure we are going to see it again

Yeah it won't be what it was.

[crazy canuck]

I want normal America back

I am not sure we are going to see it again

Yeah it won't be what it was.

There is a school of thought that says the Americans made a conscious effort to win over the world with soft power, through trade agreements and aid, to win the cold war.  When the cold war ended, so did their calculus of national self interest.

At first that seems a compelling explanation, but there is a timing problem.  The Americans continued to value international trade agreements well after the fall of the Soviet Union.  And another cold war of sorts had already started with China, complete with competition to bring other nations within their influence.

So in the end, I don't buy the end of the cold war hypothesis for why American policy has changed so dramatically.  The scarier conclusion is that values of Americans themselves has changed - and if that conclusion is correct, this is the version of the United States of America we are going to see for a long while.

[Jacob]

The scarier conclusion is that values of Americans themselves has changed - and if that conclusion is correct, this is the version of the United States of America we are going to see for a long while.

Yeah, I tend to agree.

Which then raises the question of what has driven - and drives - such value changes.