We should’ve seen a Donald Trump coming

Richard Rorty - Achieving our Country (1998)

Theory of democracy disproven by 2016 Presidential Election

Walter Cronkite said, “We are not educated well enough to perform the necessary act of intelligently selecting our leaders.” I’ve long agreed with this sentiment. The American public is simply too ill educated and susceptible to manipulation by the interest of the elites.

These are the interests that will have us believe climate change does not exist and our neighbors are our enemies. The more divided they keep us with cultural wedge issues, the easier it is for them to cling to power.

Much like a certain fire and brimstone spewing sociopath taking Europe to the brink of destruction in the 1930s was a symptom of economic discontent, the rise of the white supremacist oompa loompa is a symptom of working class America being spit on and robbed by the elites. The real danger to the establishment would have been a figure who appealed to both sides of the aisle. Of course, this will never exist in a system consumed by the tentacles of the vampire squid.

Alas, this was never about Red vs. Blue and never will be. It will always be the rich vs. the poor, and the latter will never have the upper hand.

As such, it’s time to abandon the theory of American democracy, purge the politicians, and embrace an evolved Athenian model where representation is comprised of scientists and academics. Until then, enjoy the spectacle for what it is; the ultimate high stakes game show where the guns and bombs are real.

How Donald Trump has shifted the Democratic Party to the right

There’s no questions that many young people are fed up with pro-war establishment politicians like Hillary Clinton. Hence, the close primaries with Bernie Sanders.

Enter The Donald. Essentially, his racists, xenophobic campaign platform has terrified left leaning progressive Democrats – who overwhelmingly supported Bernie Sanders and vowed never to support Clinton – so much so that they are now finding comfort in her bosom.

Now, the Democrats look like they’re becoming the new Republican Party – while the GOP currently represents an ideology that fuels anti-immigration racism and is so far right that key swing voters could not even begin to stomach them.

This leaves a void on the left in which a third party could occupy in the future as more young voters start giving a shit.

Of course, all of this is mute in the context of traditional American power structures, which keep the poor in debt bondage and the wealthy in power regardless of voter sentiment. The bottom line is – America was bought and paid for long ago – so sit back and enjoy the circus while you can. 

Donald Trump is the President America deserves

No candidate embodies the spirit of xenophobia, racism, and national machismo more than Donald Trump - making him the President America deserves.

It's hard to imagine a more American symbol than Donald Trump. He's greedy, dishonest, and hateful - qualities that have been perpetually ingrained into Americans from the moment we're born and instructed to chase that 'dream'.

Most importantly, Trump represents that those with money are special and that the poor are less than human. To him and his supporters this is the way God intended it to be.

So, I pray, that Donald Trump is elected President. Perhaps, then we'll all learn.

Tolstoy on the meaning of life

"In contrast with what I had seen in our circle, where the whole of life is passed in idleness, amusement, and dissatisfaction, I saw that the whole life of these people was passed in heavy labour, and that they were content with life. In contradistinction to the way in which people of our circle oppose fate and complain of it on account of deprivations and sufferings, these people accepted illness and sorrow without any perplexity or opposition, and with a quiet and firm conviction that all is good. In contradistinction to us, who the wiser we are the less we understand the meaning of life, and see some evil irony in the fact that we suffer and die, these folk live and suffer, and they approach death and suffering with tranquility and in most cases gladly…

In complete contrast to my ignorance, [they] knew the meaning of life and death, labored quietly, endured deprivations and sufferings, and lived and died seeing therein not vanity but good…

I understood that if I wish to understand life and its meaning, I must not live the life of a parasite, but must live a real life, and — taking the meaning given to live by real humanity and merging myself in that life — verify it."

More here: Leo Tolstoy on Finding Meaning in a MeaninglessWorld