Monday, August 21, 2017

May You Live In Interesting Times...

The Washington Post speaks on Trump's isolation on many fronts, including the mass exodus of people and organizations ("the elites strike back") from various groups, as well as the turning away of corporate America in an "evolution of capitalism";

Scott Adams speaks on mass hysteria bubbles, with the anti-Trump contingent leading the way;

I think we are in the midst of far deeper change than even the 60's were, Adams is right re: hysteria, but it is far deeper and broader than the politics of the moment.

6 comments:

  1. Adams seems to be me to be indulging in sophistry at least in part, with an argument along the lines that "People say that Trump is a Nazi, an incompetent, and a demagogue. Trump is not a Nazi. Ergo, Trump is neither incompetent nor a demagogue."

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  2. I think there are logical errors in most political pieces...and since I switched parties it is also fascinating to watch the exact same techniques used on both sides too, George.

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  3. Frank, for once we are in agreement: the changes are very deep, very far-reaching, and, for the most part, very difficult to predict.

    And as to Scott Adams, here's an interesting podcast debate and analysis of his views in The Atlantic:

    https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/08/a-cartoonists-nihilistic-defense-of-donald-trump/537297/

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  4. Also, don't forget that Adams is a cartoonist and satirist. Perhaps we should take him seriously, but not literally.

    ;-)

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  5. Hi Lee and I am flattered you thought that was Frank's post :) And yes re: Adams but he is literal about Trump being a master of persuasion too, I think.

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  6. Sorry about that, Julie! My stupid oversight.

    Master of persuasion? For some, apparently. If we want to think in terms of mass hysteria bubbles, then it applies just as much to his followers. Frankly, I think his virulent attacks on the media are dangerous in the extreme.

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