Biden’s Presidency

[Tom_Mazanec]

If I were younger I would not take the hyperdrive warp speed vaccination. But I am a sexagenarian and my hazard calculations are biased by my higher vulnerability. So I plan to get vaccinated.

[sidd]

Lauria at consortiumnews:  payback time

"four years of full-blown Russiagate, which was meant to question the validity of Trump’s election,  undermine his legitimacy and hamper his ability to act as president. "

"Don’t be surprised if Fox and other Republican outlets gear up to question Biden’s legitimacy for the next four years, the way Democratic media stirred up Russiagate madness the previous four years. Russiagate may morph into Chinagate "

https://consortiumnews.com/2020/11/12/election-2020-payback-for-russiagate/

Paybacks are a bitch, as a bookie i knew used to say. "Knew" because a few weeks ago I heard he had died. Lung disease, dont know if the current plague was involved.

sidd

[Tom_Mazanec]

sidd:
Sorry about your friend.
And was Russiagate et al payback for Obama being born in Africa etc., which in turn was payback for canceling Dubya...
Edit: I have been following this since Rush’s “Clinton Catastrophe” and it gets worse every time the WH changes hands. It’s gonna be bad this time.

[The Walrus]

Lauria at consortiumnews:  payback time

"four years of full-blown Russiagate, which was meant to question the validity of Trump’s election,  undermine his legitimacy and hamper his ability to act as president. "

"Don’t be surprised if Fox and other Republican outlets gear up to question Biden’s legitimacy for the next four years, the way Democratic media stirred up Russiagate madness the previous four years. Russiagate may morph into Chinagate "

https://consortiumnews.com/2020/11/12/election-2020-payback-for-russiagate/

Paybacks are a bitch, as a bookie i knew used to say. "Knew" because a few weeks ago I heard he had died. Lung disease, dont know if the current plague was involved.

sidd

Hopefully, we will not have to endure another four years with claims of an illegitimate president.

[gerontocrat]

This post could have just as well been posted on The problem of Corporate Democrats and how to kick them out.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/nov/19/dear-joe-biden-are-you-kidding-me-erin-brockovich
Dear Joe Biden: are you kidding me?
Erin Brockovich

The president-elect has tapped a former DuPont consultant to join his Environmental Protection Agency transition board

Dare I say, I had hopes that this new administration would usher in the dawning of a new day. As picks for President-elect Joe Biden’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) transition team were announced, I felt concerned and disheartened about a chemical industry insider being on the list. Are you kidding me?

Michael McCabe, a former employee of Biden and a former deputy Environmental Protection Agency administrator, later jumped ship to work as a consultant on communication strategy for DuPont during a time when the chemical company was looking to fight regulations of their star chemical perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) also known as C8. The toxic manmade chemical is used in everything from waterproof clothes, stain-resistant textiles and food packaging to non-stick pans. The compound has been linked to lowered fertility, cancer and liver damage. The Guardian reported this week that Harvard school of public health professor Philippe Grandjean, who studies environmental health, warns that PFAS chemicals, of which PFOA is one, might reduce the efficacy of a Covid-19 vaccine.

This smells of the dawn of the same old. To quote the Who: meet the new boss, same as the old boss. It should go without saying that someone who advised DuPont on how to avoid regulations is not someone we want advising this new administration.

PFOA pollutes the blood of nearly every American and can pass from mother to unborn child in the womb. This toxic product of industry is a stable compound not easily broken down in the environment or in the human body, giving it the nickname “forever chemical”. Scientists have found it in living beings across the globe – from animals living in the depths of the sea to birds on remote islands.

The Environmental Protection Agency has set no enforceable national drinking water limits for perfluorinated chemicals, including PFOA. Tens of thousands of community drinking water systems across the country have never even tested for these contaminants.

McCabe started managing DuPont’s communications with the EPA about the toxic chemical in 2003, according to an article in the Intercept. This was the time in which DuPont faced a barrage of litigation after the company dumped 7,100 tons of PFOA-filled waste in West Virginia, which made its way into the drinking water of 100,000 people. Countless members of the community faced debilitating illnesses as a result. The legal battle with the company was turned into the film Dark Waters in 2019.

Mind you, DuPont suspected that their product was harmful since the 1960s – experiments they conducted in 1961 showed that PFOS affected the livers of dogs and rabbits. McCabe’s work inevitably contributed to staving off costly clean-up and additional regulation headaches for the company.

Are we the people supposed to trust a former DuPont man in a transition team tasked with reviewing the Chemical Safety Board? Is this how the newly elected leadership wants to start what is supposed to be a healing and unifying administration? Are we already falling back on the old and antiquated, hide-and-seek, conceal, dodge and deny leadership or are you going to come out and be the change and the hope needed when it comes to the environment?

I don’t see how picking someone from industry is moving us toward that goal.

The science is in. Research has linked exposure to this chemical to the following illnesses: kidney and testicular cancer, ulcerative colitis, thyroid disease, pregnancy-induced hypertension and high cholesterol.

What will it take to get our leadership to work with the people?
This newly elected president says we need to listen to the science. Are you really listening to the science or are you listening to an industry insider, who is controlling the message?

With a lack of federal guidance on these dangerous chemicals, states have been left to create their own rules to enforce guidance and regulations. This chemical, and others like it, have been poisoning us for decades. Now is the time to act.

This is not about being rightwing or leftwing. It doesn’t matter what side of the aisle you are on. We cannot keep making picks from this inside, leaving we the people, once again on the outside.

What will it take to get our leadership to work with the people?

Stop working against and separately from your communities. Put your transition team on the ground and make them talk with those affected by these chemicals. Go out and see for yourself, learn and hear from those who you represent about what the heck is happening to them on the ground – those living and breathing in the toxic mess we have created.

It is time to keep your promise and give the people a voice and a seat the table in order to find a meaningful solution for the environment and for the people. Don’t close the door on us again.

We are in this mess because we continue to do the same old thing.

Let us not forget where these chemicals came from and who is responsible for putting them in our environment. Let us not bring the fox back into the hen house. DuPont executives should have no place in the Environmental Protection Agency.

I call on Joe Biden to do the right thing.

[kassy]

It´s still the better turd...

[interstitial]

It´s still the better turd...

A lottery of registered voters is starting to sound like a better method to pick politicians. The current system is designed to eliminate people with integrity.

[sidd]

Re: lottery of registered voters

Sortition. Athens used it, back in the day. Among others.

sidd

[be cause]

Wow ! The excitement mounts ...

[Tom_Mazanec]

Wow ! The excitement mounts ...

And he hasn’t even started his term!

[NevB]

Wow ! The excitement mounts ...

And he hasn’t even started his term!

Hopefully this is where the boredom begins.

No personal financial scandals -> boring
No personal sex scandals -> boring
No attacks of tradition international allies -> boring
No persecution of the upright and decent patriots that stand up to fascists -> boring
(reality Winner https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reality_Winner , Colonel Vindeman https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Vindman and many others)

<rant>
I really hope this can be as boring as possible other than the prosecutions of Donny and every single one of his enablers that then changes the political climate in the USA and then the rest of the worlds democratic nations.

I hope that all the things decent governments support by decent people do soon become really boring again.
</rant>

<cynical extreme>
After this happens (or bloody anarchy that kills billions and could lead anywhere) we can then begin to think about maybe doing something about climate change
</cynical extreme>

[Tom_Mazanec]

Just keep in mind what a poster on the Alt-Hist forum said...a POTUS has a little bit of power to make things a little bit better, and a great deal of power to make things a great deal worse.

[Tom_Mazanec]

Could the GOP act as a dog in the manger for Biden? Do they have enough power in Congress to hobble him?

[The Walrus]

Could the GOP act as a dog in the manger for Biden? Do they have enough power in Congress to hobble him?

You never know.  The Dems had enough power in the House to hobble some of Trumps actions.

[interstitial]

Could the GOP act as a dog in the manger for Biden? Do they have enough power in Congress to hobble him?

mostly it depends on the results of Georgia run off election if Democrats win both seats they have the slimmest majority possible 50 50 with the VP Kamela Harris providing the deciding vote. 

[Tom_Mazanec]

Thanks, interstitial.
I checked, the elections are January 5. I'll be paying attention.

[interstitial]

All of trumps false complaints about voter fraud may suppress republican turnout. I hope so.

[The Walrus]

Predictit gives Republicans a better than 60% to win each seat.  It should be noted that predictit overestimated Democratic performance in November.

[Paddy]

If I were younger I would not take the hyperdrive warp speed vaccination. But I am a sexagenarian and my hazard calculations are biased by my higher vulnerability. So I plan to get vaccinated.

I'm young enough to be low risk (not quite 40), but I plan to get vaccinated anyway, primarily since I could otherwise spread the virus if infected.

[Tom_Mazanec]

Good point, Paddy.
I live alone, but do go out on occasion. Good reason for getting a shot.

[crandles]

Probably a very silly random thought but...

Do you think Biden should pardon Trump for the attempted 2020 election steal?

Not at all sure it would be seen as a forgive and forget gesture that might help healing and co-operation (in congress). Um yeah, probably very little chance of that, but why not try?

Could possibly induce some cognitive dissonance in some republican supporters which might make them realise that maybe it is them that are on the wrong track? 

Suspect it would be dismissed as PR gimmick but what is your assessment of scope for good / harm?

[kassy]

Why would Bidon pardon Trump for something he does not believe he has done?

[SteveMDFP]

Why would Bidon pardon Trump for something he does not believe he has done?

I don't think Biden would or should do so.  Maybe Pence will take office for a week so a pardon for Trump could be done.

I think putting Trump in prison for a range of crimes (including trying to induce legislators to overturn election results) would create severe, dangerous unrest.  Also, any judge sentencing Trump to prison would be either terribly naive or brave--assassination of the judge would seem probable to me.

One better approach might be for Biden to issue a conditional pardon.  That is, if Trump gives a full confession in a "truth and reconciliation" manner, he'd be pardoned of all confessed crimes, but only those crimes he confessed to.  This might deflate the cult of personality in the country, while avoiding unrest.

[Freegrass]

Steve Schmidt (awesome guy from the Lincoln project!) just became a democrat... This means that the moderate repukes are now trying to take over the DNC... AOC and Bernie (the social left) will have to find a new party now...

On becoming a Democrat, former Republican strategist Steve Schmidt says “At the end of the day, there's now one pro-democracy political party in the United States of America and that's the Democratic Party. And I am a member of that party because of that. I'm a single issue voter. I believe in democracy."

https://thehill.com/homenews/news/530393-longtime-gop-strategist-steve-schmidt-announces-hes-registering-democrat

[Freegrass]

#DiaperDon will continue to destroy the country that didn't reelect him...

GO TRUMP!!!!
MAKE AMERICA SMALL AGAIN!

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1339083004216532993

Trump's allies slam Mitch McConnell for congratulating Biden https://mol.im/a/9057747 via
@MailOnline
. Mitch, 75,000,000 VOTES, a record for a sitting President (by a lot). Too soon to give up. Republican Party must finally learn to fight. People are angry!

[Freegrass]

Steve Schmidt (awesome guy from the Lincoln project!) just became a democrat... This means that the moderate repukes are now trying to take over the DNC... AOC and Bernie (the social left) will have to find a new party now...

On becoming a Democrat, former Republican strategist Steve Schmidt says “At the end of the day, there's now one pro-democracy political party in the United States of America and that's the Democratic Party. And I am a member of that party because of that. I'm a single issue voter. I believe in democracy."

https://thehill.com/homenews/news/530393-longtime-gop-strategist-steve-schmidt-announces-hes-registering-democrat

Just asked Steve on twitter this;
https://twitter.com/FreeGrass69/status/1339099438527156224

Do you support the Green New Deal?
Are humans the custodians of God's gift to humanity?

I'm an agnostic...
Nature created us...
So nature = God.

Maybe I should have thanked him for joining the real party of Jesus...

"Hear, O Israel! The Lord Our God, The Lord is One; Thou shalt love thy Lord, thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind", before also referring to a second commandment, "And the second is like unto it, thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

Sounds like socialism to me...

[crandles]

Why would Bidon pardon Trump for something he does not believe he has done?

I don't think Biden would or should do so.  Maybe Pence will take office for a week so a pardon for Trump could be done.

I think putting Trump in prison for a range of crimes (including trying to induce legislators to overturn election results) would create severe, dangerous unrest.  Also, any judge sentencing Trump to prison would be either terribly naive or brave--assassination of the judge would seem probable to me.

One better approach might be for Biden to issue a conditional pardon.  That is, if Trump gives a full confession in a "truth and reconciliation" manner, he'd be pardoned of all confessed crimes, but only those crimes he confessed to.  This might deflate the cult of personality in the country, while avoiding unrest.

I think you have that backwards:

Biden issuing a pardon would ensure Trump wasn't tried for trying to overturn election results (which might cause severe, dangerous unrest). A conditional pardon might result in Trump refusing and people taking what has happened as a sign Biden wants them to arrest and try Trump which might cause unrest.

Biden announcing he is going to issue a pardon would certainly be a pr stunt - arrest and trying Trump isn't going to happen (unless perhaps conditional pardon refused).

but is perhaps more conciliatory than the current situation of Biden criticising Trump for his legal throw the spaghettii everywhere and hope some sticks. I don't see this as encouraging congress cooperation.

With pardon, Biden gets to take the high ground of saying Trump shouldn't have done this but I am not bitter, I forgive him.

Conditional pardon seems a bad idea to me, looking like he is daring Trump to refuse and allow aggressive battles to continue.

[Zeug Gezeugt]

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/nov/19/dear-joe-biden-are-you-kidding-me-erin-brockovich
Dear Joe Biden: are you kidding me?
Erin Brockovich

The president-elect has tapped a former DuPont consultant to join his Environmental Protection Agency transition board

It's another neoliberal corporatist administration, like the last one, as the US remains a plutocracy as far as I know.

The only real difference I can see is that the f*%$ing Neoconservatives are back in full control of defence and intelligence and will no doubt reinvigorate the now 2 decade "war that will not end in our lifetimes" (Cheney).

While Trump was obviously an embarrassing buffoon fascist for liberal minded Yanks, and followed the usual environmentally and pandemically destructive conservative domestic agendas, he was also the first president since Carter to not start a new war. Although he's still got about a month to assassinate yet another Iranian Hero of the Revolution to spark the long awaited Persian regime change war.

Which I'm sure Biden's insane American Nazi imperial war machinists, once re-installed at the head of the Pentagon and national security agencies, will be happy to engage with, although they'll probably need to use tactical nukes this time around.

Or ... sanity rules and the USA becomes a real global leader in the fight against climate change and biosphere destruction (HA!)

How do people feel here about the new 'Democratic' US administration?

[Paddy]

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/nov/19/dear-joe-biden-are-you-kidding-me-erin-brockovich
Dear Joe Biden: are you kidding me?
Erin Brockovich

The president-elect has tapped a former DuPont consultant to join his Environmental Protection Agency transition board

It's another neoliberal corporatist administration, like the last one, as the US remains a plutocracy as far as I know.

The only real difference I can see is that the f*%$ing Neoconservatives are back in full control of defence and intelligence and will no doubt reinvigorate the now 2 decade "war that will not end in our lifetimes" (Cheney).

While Trump was obviously an embarrassing buffoon fascist for liberal minded Yanks, and followed the usual environmentally and pandemically destructive conservative domestic agendas, he was also the first president since Carter to not start a new war. Although he's still got about a month to assassinate yet another Iranian Hero of the Revolution to spark the long awaited Persian regime change war.

Which I'm sure Biden's insane American Nazi imperial war machinists, once re-installed at the head of the Pentagon and national security agencies, will be happy to engage with, although they'll probably need to use tactical nukes this time around.

Or ... sanity rules and the USA becomes a real global leader in the fight against climate change and biosphere destruction (HA!)

How do people feel here about the new 'Democratic' US administration?

I don't think that "war that will never end" ever did lose much vigour - the Trump administration was happy enough to ramp up drone bombings, while also making them less accountable, and the list of active battlezones has expanded to include Somalia and Yemen.

I think, however, in the current climate it would take a new 9/11 to push US public opinion in favour of launching a more conventional war again, or to push the Biden administration to doing more than drone strikes +/- air strikes.  However, the thing about the future is that it's always full of surprises, many of them nasty.

[Zeug Gezeugt]

Hi Paddy,

I think, however, in the current climate it would take a new 9/11 to push US public opinion in favour of launching a more conventional war again, or to push the Biden administration to doing more than drone strikes +/- air strikes.  However, the thing about the future is that it's always full of surprises, many of them nasty.

Cheney and Obama have both warned that the next 9/11 could be a nuclear terrorist attack, but hopefully the hawks won't go that far!

Although they'd probably need one to justify the use of tactical battlefield nukes if they ever get to launch a ground war against Iran, or China and Russia. The Pax Americana demands full spectrum dominance of any and all potential competitors!

The doves, however, will as you say stick with drones, missiles, and stealth planes.

So do you think Biden's forever-war cabinet is more dove or more hawk?

I'd guess the more dovish hawks would at least, in principle, have more resources available to address various urgent environmental concerns as our climate disaster slowly unfolds.

[Tom_Mazanec]

From our favorite gadfly, John Michael Greer:
Into the Unknown Region
https://www.ecosophia.net/into-the-unknown-region/

Let’s move on. Another thing we don’t know about 2021 is exactly what policies the incoming Biden administration will pursue once Biden takes office in January. I assumed during the election campaign that if Biden won, he would lead a headlong flight back to the disastrous mix of neoliberal economics and neoconservative foreign policy that the younger Bush set in motion and Obama copied with such clueless enthusiasm:  that is to say, the policies that made Donald Trump inevitable. It’s quite possible that Biden (or rather, his handlers) will still do this, but there are several curious details that suggest an alternative view.

[Tom_Mazanec]

Not to ruin the party, but the 2021 forecast is nightmarish
https://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/531925-not-to-ruin-the-party-but-the-2021-forecast-is-nightmarish

The year’s end is a time for reflecting on the past year and preparing for the new one. Most people are looking forward to moving past COVID-19 and its lockdowns and returning to “normal life.” But, for Joe Biden, still popping Champagne corks after the Electoral College vote, 2021 may be creeping up to become his worst nightmare. America was severely broken and fundamentally changed during 2020 and it will take a long time to fix it — a job that President-elect Biden is unprepared to handle.

[Sciguy]

It looks like the Democrats are going to win both Senate seats in Georgia, which will mean they effectively have won the Senate (a 50 - 50 tie with vice - President elect Harris casting the tie breaking votes).  This means Biden will get his cabinet secretaries and Supreme Court (and other Federal justices) approved. 

I wouldn’t be surprised to see a couple of Republican senators switch parties in the next year.  Trump’s anti-democratic coup attempt will leave many Republicans questioning their party loyalty. 

[sidd]

Well, you got Manchin to do the lieberman shuffle ...

sidd

[John Palmer.]

Progressive representatives (Squad, Justice Dems,...) now have the golden opportunity to exert a positive influence toward the Left reaching up to the President, at least for the next two years.

With much less obstacle in the Senate, and a small margin in favor of Dems in Congress, their votes have never been so important. Will they use them for the People as they claim? Will they make the Dems as uncomfortable as AOC claims?

People should be very vigilant of what each Rep and Senator votes, and which law the President passes or vetoes. Unfortunately the MSM is not reliable for this important follow-up. The Corporate-owned MSM is Fake News made for the common interests of the State, the Military Industry, the Health Industry, Silicon Valley and Wall Street.

We live in truly tyrannical years...

[SteveMDFP]

Progressive representatives (Squad, Justice Dems,...) now have the golden opportunity to exert a positive influence toward the Left reaching up to the President, at least for the next two years.
 
With much less obstacle in the Senate, and a small margin in favor of Dems in Congress, their votes have never been so important. Will they use them for the People as they claim? Will they make the Dems as uncomfortable as AOC claims?

I think this is not plausible.  The Democratic party has a number of "blue dogs," who are much more conservative than most Democrats.  These handful, voting alongside Republicans, wield a functional veto against notably progressive legislation.  There is no way around this obstacle to legislation for the next 2 (and likely 4) years. 

Reinstating the practice of earmarks may alleviate this obstacle to a modest degree.  That strategy comes with its own downsides.

[John Palmer.]

Progressive representatives (Squad, Justice Dems,...) now have the golden opportunity to exert a positive influence toward the Left reaching up to the President, at least for the next two years.
 
With much less obstacle in the Senate, and a small margin in favor of Dems in Congress, their votes have never been so important. Will they use them for the People as they claim? Will they make the Dems as uncomfortable as AOC claims?

I think this is not plausible.  The Democratic party has a number of "blue dogs," who are much more conservative than most Democrats.  These handful, voting alongside Republicans, wield a functional veto against notably progressive legislation.  There is no way around this obstacle to legislation for the next 2 (and likely 4) years. 

Reinstating the practice of earmarks may alleviate this obstacle to a modest degree.  That strategy comes with its own downsides.

Yes, I’m just echoing what AOC has been telling us is going to do, and she does have an opportunity to be way more relevant.

If there’s resignation in that the centrists are going to dominate, we may merge the “Biden Presidency” thread with the “Trump’s presidency thread” because, as Biden promised to rich donors in early 2020, “Nothing is going to fundamentally change”.

[Tom_Mazanec]

I won't link to any more articles there, but it is funny that American Thinker is suffering Biden Derangement Syndrome over a moderate Democrat while, back in 2008 and 2012, the mulatto and arguably far more Leftist Obama was accepted as the winner (not that they were happy about it).

[The Walrus]

I agree with Steve.  The razor slim majority in Congress means that legislation has to be palpable to conservative legislators also.  The Democratic Party is not a United front, as we saw in the primaries.

[be cause]

we need a democracy for Biden to become president .. there may not be one readily available .

[SteveMDFP]

we need a democracy for Biden to become president .. there may not be one readily available .

If Congress is unable to certify the electors' votes, Trump still ends his term at noon on Jan 20.  In this scenario, the Speaker of the House is the Constitutional President. 

Of course, the current President might declare a suspension of the Constitution, which he does not have the authority to do.

[Tom_Mazanec]

Of course, the current President might declare a suspension of the Constitution, which he does not have the authority to do.

But will that stop Trump?

[sidd]

Bellum sine fine: Nuland back in.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-biden-diplomats/biden-to-name-sherman-nuland-to-top-diplomatic-posts-politico-idUSKBN29A27G

Fuck the EU, i guess.

sidd

[Freegrass]

Angry Republican leaders float removing Trump from office

https://edition.cnn.com/2021/01/06/politics/trump-capitol-impeachment-25-amendment/index.html?utm_term=link&utm_content=2021-01-07T02%3A38%3A06&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twCNNi

Washington (CNN)After violent pro-Trump protesters stormed the US Capitol on Wednesday, a growing number of Republican leaders told CNN that they believe Donald Trump should be removed from office before January 20. Four of them called for the 25th Amendment to be invoked, and two others said the President should be impeached.

"He has to be impeached and removed," said one current Republican elected official.
A former senior official said the President's actions were egregious enough to remove him even with such a short time left in his tenure.
"I think this has been a huge shock to the system," said the former official. "How do you keep him in place for two weeks after this?"

[sidd]

War without end, redux:

Crosse at wsws on Burns for CIA: A man of experience, for a taste, here he is on Libya's descent into slavery:

“It was right to act in Libya in the way that we did”

https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2021/01/12/brns-j12.html

Sjursen at antiwar: Sherman and Nuland as "steady hands, experienced presiders over perennial war"

https://original.antiwar.com/Danny_Sjursen/2021/01/07/the-neocon-empire-strikes-back-victoria-nuland-and-the-kagans-who-love-her/

sidd

[FrostKing70]

Soon Trump will probably become the first US President to be impeached twice.

FBI is warning of more violence being planned on line for this weekend and leading up to inauguration.

[interstitial]

Soon Trump will probably become the first US President to be impeached twice.

FBI is warning of more violence being planned on line for this weekend and leading up to inauguration.

the 20,000 national guardsmen in DC with more in reserve should keep things from getting too out of control. They are also discouraging people from coming to DC until after the inauguration. Its all just words when commoners have problems but when royalty gets the shit scarred out of them they do something about it. It pisses me off how close we came to a dictatorship.

[gerontocrat]

the 20,000 national guardsmen in DC with more in reserve should keep things from getting too out of control. They are also discouraging people from coming to DC until after the inauguration. Its all just words when commoners have problems but when royalty gets the shit scarred out of them they do something about it. It pisses me off how close we came to a dictatorship.

The bad guys win.
That which was a free space for all is now gated and fenced.
Those who presume to govern us are no longer accessible to us.

[FrostKing70]

Another scary fact from history:

Hitler and the Nazi party attempted a coup in 1923, which little to no consequence.   In 1933, he rose to power.

Reminds me of "Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it".

[Tom_Mazanec]

I don't think Trump can rise to power ten years from now, FrostKing70...he's too old. The one we have to look out for is some Joe Shmoe character who is a Governor or Senator, or maybe even less known personage, who will rise to power as the 99% get poorer and more desperate.