I am not a Republican. I am no longer a Democrat. I am an Independent. This is because we no longer have two parties - we have one, the Demopublicans, and they are ruled by their uber-rich elite puppet masters. They swing into the wind - no matter which way it is blowing, as you stated in your essay. We have become an out-of-the-closet and in-your-face Oligarchy.
I agree with a couple of Mr. Trump's ideas; but not most of them. I also agree with a couple of the Democrat's ideas; but not most of them. I believe there are many Americans who feel as I do, and this is why the Demopublicans have lost most of America. We are Middle-America, and we demand to be heard. We want middle-of-the-road commonsense legislation that benefits us all not just the rich ruling elite.
We want inexpensive complete health care. We want inexpensive continuing education. We want forever secure Social Security. We want security for women and children; and we especially want complete honesty from our elected officials. I certainly hope the Washington, DC elites hear and actually listen to Middle-America before some radical group decides they are tired of waiting.
There will be a new party that represents middle America and it cannot arrive soon enough. Hopefully our next Teddy Roosevelt will show him or her self to lead us back to our true values.
I would also add the powerful influence of what psychologists call “preference falsification,” which is essentially deliberately misstating your true preferences to conform to one’s perception of the what the group believes.
Preference falsification is a common human behavior to ensure cooperation within groups, but it is easily exploited by ideological activists who are willing to intimidate or threaten anyone who speaks up against them.
Essentially, everyone lies about their true preferences because they think no one else agrees with them, while not realizing that the majority of the people privately agree with them but are also lying.
Very interesting. I just read about half of "Stalin: Paradoxes of Power" (Kotkin). (It actually got too boring to finish). Anyhow, that's very instructive as a study in WHO creates a revolution and who maintains it.
The Bolsheviks in 1917 were entirely true believers, but they quickly attracted a lot of "professionals" as you put it; they even had some of the old Tsar's army officers working for them.
Realistically, you can't govern without them. There aren't enough true revolutionaries to run a government.
In fact, just last night I watched a documentary on Hitler's "Night of the Long Knives." Hitler found that the SA, which had helped him gain power, had become an obstacle to staying in power. He needed the conservative "professional" class to join him, and the SA was a turnoff to them.
I am not a Republican. I am no longer a Democrat. I am an Independent. This is because we no longer have two parties - we have one, the Demopublicans, and they are ruled by their uber-rich elite puppet masters. They swing into the wind - no matter which way it is blowing, as you stated in your essay. We have become an out-of-the-closet and in-your-face Oligarchy.
I agree with a couple of Mr. Trump's ideas; but not most of them. I also agree with a couple of the Democrat's ideas; but not most of them. I believe there are many Americans who feel as I do, and this is why the Demopublicans have lost most of America. We are Middle-America, and we demand to be heard. We want middle-of-the-road commonsense legislation that benefits us all not just the rich ruling elite.
We want inexpensive complete health care. We want inexpensive continuing education. We want forever secure Social Security. We want security for women and children; and we especially want complete honesty from our elected officials. I certainly hope the Washington, DC elites hear and actually listen to Middle-America before some radical group decides they are tired of waiting.
There will be a new party that represents middle America and it cannot arrive soon enough. Hopefully our next Teddy Roosevelt will show him or her self to lead us back to our true values.
Excellent article.
I would also add the powerful influence of what psychologists call “preference falsification,” which is essentially deliberately misstating your true preferences to conform to one’s perception of the what the group believes.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preference_falsification
Preference falsification is a common human behavior to ensure cooperation within groups, but it is easily exploited by ideological activists who are willing to intimidate or threaten anyone who speaks up against them.
Essentially, everyone lies about their true preferences because they think no one else agrees with them, while not realizing that the majority of the people privately agree with them but are also lying.
Very interesting. I just read about half of "Stalin: Paradoxes of Power" (Kotkin). (It actually got too boring to finish). Anyhow, that's very instructive as a study in WHO creates a revolution and who maintains it.
The Bolsheviks in 1917 were entirely true believers, but they quickly attracted a lot of "professionals" as you put it; they even had some of the old Tsar's army officers working for them.
Realistically, you can't govern without them. There aren't enough true revolutionaries to run a government.
In fact, just last night I watched a documentary on Hitler's "Night of the Long Knives." Hitler found that the SA, which had helped him gain power, had become an obstacle to staying in power. He needed the conservative "professional" class to join him, and the SA was a turnoff to them.