I believe that the cruelty of Trump’s immigration policies will reverberate for years, and will tie in with Americans disliking each other. We have all been immigrants at some point; does this mean we hate ourselves? Racial profiling, judging others by ethnicity or skin color, is to me un-American. I’m not sure how we can reverse this up swelling of racism, nativism, and cruelty. It is so disheartening.
I think the biggest irreversible impact of Trump's reign is the impact on the environment. His encouragement of as much environmental degradation and attacks on renewable energy may be the death knell for this planet. The incredible increases in temperatures, flooding and other climate impacts, may no longer be reversible.
Agree 100%. The Trump regime's demonization of immigrants and racist policies are horrific, and mimic some of what has been going on in the South for years, but maybe as more people see this horror in other communities and regions, we'll have the awareness to confront the lie of white supremacy once and for all and mature into a healthy multi-cultural and multi-ethnic nation. I think Chris is right about many of Trump's other personal authoritarian moves that will be harder for someone else to emulate. But as Lois says, the chemical composition of the atmosphere and oceans is of a different order of magnitude with grave implications for the survival of the entire human species, not to mention others. I hope other nations step up to combat the destruction that Trump is supercharging (or that we find other global strategies that don't rely on nation states), but it feels very grim right now.
For me it's his planet-destroying practices that are most horrific.They are various and will cause irreparable harm to our environment and ultimately to mankind. This man must be stopped or we are doomed as a species.
I do agree with your answer. I have lived through polarization and seen it change, although slowly. I grew up in inner city Cleveland in the 60’s. My immediate family, extended family, neighborhood and school environment all had one mantra- the blacks were taking away what is ours. The environment led to a lot of discontent leading to riots - both by the black community and the gay community (Stonewall riots in 1969). Civil rights laws were passed to “stop our cities from burning”. Over time communities began to talk to each other and discover what we were taught was wrong. It took time but it did happen.
After reading previous comments, I do feel attacks on the environment may be worse. That is the issue that makes me wonder if we will survive this presidency.
I fully appreciate that the basic issue at hand is internal, in the United States. And, yes, if festered, these divisions will exacerbate any remedial efforts.
So, what are the basic values of our constitution? Where do we, as a society, need to focus our attention, that by the way, begins within each of us?
Once differences, or better said, diversity becomes our societal wealth; where soft skills are applied, knowing that we each want the best, assuming those interests are for the good of all. We hold an extraordinary potential, to express our values that embrace all members of the human family. Are we ready to apply peaceful action, equality at all levels (respect for all), and place ourselves within the context of the human family around the globe? Peace begins within.
IMHO, no damage is irreparable; even Japan & Germany learned & made restitution to regained self/world respect, & self/world forgiveness. Assuming the USA survives essentially intact from ‘all this’ (there IS a chance an unleashed fury may head our way) we’ll be like a ‘scam victim’ who fell for ‘IT’, then joined in, spreading the harm. To recover, we reflect on where/how/when ‘WE’ went wrong BUT withOUT negative, non-productive reactions. To blame ONLY the Scammer(s) prevents learning/healing & history will repeat. So, we repair what we can, mourn for what we can’t repair/replace & by acknowledging our faults, we can earn back self/world respect & forgiveness.
My Gran would say: “Go forth and do better; I would say: “Let’s not fuck it up again”.
Can you tell which one of us went to charm school?
I just finished reading John Kenneth Galbraith's "American Capitalism", and before that "Money", and before that "The Unaccountability Machine". These all relate to a global system of exchange built on agreements, trust and predictions. Many things have been possible to the USA for 60+ years in a global system where it was trusted to treat its debts and obligations a certain way (that is, not entirely honorable, but mostly predictable). Destroyed trust takes so long to rebuild and in the meantime, lack of trust suppresses cooperation and increases costs.
I believe this speaks to your 2nd bullet point - though I agree with all your points, I think this one may be more long-term damaging than we can know right now. Like the trust destroyed within families, trust destroyed between countries can have long-term effects.
I completely agree with you on how our relationships have been transformed by the current administration. I think the response comes from within each of us. What I mean is our own moral integrity and our outward responses to what is projected around us. In my case, as soon as I heard bigoted remarks from a presidential candidate, I was completed turn off by it. Why others responded differently, I don’t know. Was it something lacking within each of them? For myself, I have always felt compassion for others it’s something I inherited from my mother and it may be my faith and belief in God as well. Whether others are lacking in feeling for others, or an anger of mistrust lurking in their subconscious remains to be seen. One thing I find challenging is communicating with those who don’t feel/see as I do, because they go into automatic defense mode. How can you converse with that kind of response?
I think polarization may diminish as Trump supporters wake up to the very real effects of the harm caused by this administration. I was going down the road regarding climate change (huge) and also destruction of NIH, FDA, CDC, etc. However, long term, I agree the erosion of checks and balances is the greatest concern.
Thinking about the possibilities you discuss, I’d go first with the deep devisions between people as having the greatest, longest effect. Second - environmental degradation.
The real end game of Project 2025 is being missed. It is a full-scale plan to destroy the foundations of our democracy—gutting agencies, silencing experts, and handing unchecked power to extremists. Watch this video to see what’s really at stake and why we need to stop it now - before it is too late: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZPHbV1xujYTDa-wq9F5/
Good answer. But may I point out that the lack of trust we're seeing domestically is but one dimension. The other dimensions are International (Cutting Foreign Aid), Within Alliances (Damaging the Western alliance and rules-based global trade) and Trust in the Federal government (I posit checks and balances, weaponization of the Federal Government and the ugly budget bill are all covered here).
So if we are to address this/these problem(s) we must have a multi- front plan, with concrete actions (some of which we will not be able to accomplish), the political will in Congress, and a task force ready to jump in and assist when opportunity arises. Sort of sound to me like Josh Marshall's DOJ on Exile. Do you know Josh, of TPM? Worth a consult.
To me, it isn’t necessary that we LIKE each other as much as that we respect each other and grant each other the grace to exist and thrive!
I believe that the cruelty of Trump’s immigration policies will reverberate for years, and will tie in with Americans disliking each other. We have all been immigrants at some point; does this mean we hate ourselves? Racial profiling, judging others by ethnicity or skin color, is to me un-American. I’m not sure how we can reverse this up swelling of racism, nativism, and cruelty. It is so disheartening.
True, but have you ever noticed how MAGAs bristle when they’re told that their own families were immigrants?
I think the biggest irreversible impact of Trump's reign is the impact on the environment. His encouragement of as much environmental degradation and attacks on renewable energy may be the death knell for this planet. The incredible increases in temperatures, flooding and other climate impacts, may no longer be reversible.
Agree 100%. The Trump regime's demonization of immigrants and racist policies are horrific, and mimic some of what has been going on in the South for years, but maybe as more people see this horror in other communities and regions, we'll have the awareness to confront the lie of white supremacy once and for all and mature into a healthy multi-cultural and multi-ethnic nation. I think Chris is right about many of Trump's other personal authoritarian moves that will be harder for someone else to emulate. But as Lois says, the chemical composition of the atmosphere and oceans is of a different order of magnitude with grave implications for the survival of the entire human species, not to mention others. I hope other nations step up to combat the destruction that Trump is supercharging (or that we find other global strategies that don't rely on nation states), but it feels very grim right now.
For me it's his planet-destroying practices that are most horrific.They are various and will cause irreparable harm to our environment and ultimately to mankind. This man must be stopped or we are doomed as a species.
Loss of lives all over the world. Cutting off critical food sources to various nations which were budgeted for by our Congress IS obscene.
Abandoning the Gaza residents (mostly women and children) to starvation or bombing by Israel IS obscene.
I do agree with your answer. I have lived through polarization and seen it change, although slowly. I grew up in inner city Cleveland in the 60’s. My immediate family, extended family, neighborhood and school environment all had one mantra- the blacks were taking away what is ours. The environment led to a lot of discontent leading to riots - both by the black community and the gay community (Stonewall riots in 1969). Civil rights laws were passed to “stop our cities from burning”. Over time communities began to talk to each other and discover what we were taught was wrong. It took time but it did happen.
After reading previous comments, I do feel attacks on the environment may be worse. That is the issue that makes me wonder if we will survive this presidency.
I fully appreciate that the basic issue at hand is internal, in the United States. And, yes, if festered, these divisions will exacerbate any remedial efforts.
So, what are the basic values of our constitution? Where do we, as a society, need to focus our attention, that by the way, begins within each of us?
Once differences, or better said, diversity becomes our societal wealth; where soft skills are applied, knowing that we each want the best, assuming those interests are for the good of all. We hold an extraordinary potential, to express our values that embrace all members of the human family. Are we ready to apply peaceful action, equality at all levels (respect for all), and place ourselves within the context of the human family around the globe? Peace begins within.
IMHO, no damage is irreparable; even Japan & Germany learned & made restitution to regained self/world respect, & self/world forgiveness. Assuming the USA survives essentially intact from ‘all this’ (there IS a chance an unleashed fury may head our way) we’ll be like a ‘scam victim’ who fell for ‘IT’, then joined in, spreading the harm. To recover, we reflect on where/how/when ‘WE’ went wrong BUT withOUT negative, non-productive reactions. To blame ONLY the Scammer(s) prevents learning/healing & history will repeat. So, we repair what we can, mourn for what we can’t repair/replace & by acknowledging our faults, we can earn back self/world respect & forgiveness.
My Gran would say: “Go forth and do better; I would say: “Let’s not fuck it up again”.
Can you tell which one of us went to charm school?
Starting with Trump's first presidency and continuing in his second term, I have no faith (belief) in what our government tells the American people.
I just finished reading John Kenneth Galbraith's "American Capitalism", and before that "Money", and before that "The Unaccountability Machine". These all relate to a global system of exchange built on agreements, trust and predictions. Many things have been possible to the USA for 60+ years in a global system where it was trusted to treat its debts and obligations a certain way (that is, not entirely honorable, but mostly predictable). Destroyed trust takes so long to rebuild and in the meantime, lack of trust suppresses cooperation and increases costs.
I believe this speaks to your 2nd bullet point - though I agree with all your points, I think this one may be more long-term damaging than we can know right now. Like the trust destroyed within families, trust destroyed between countries can have long-term effects.
I completely agree with you on how our relationships have been transformed by the current administration. I think the response comes from within each of us. What I mean is our own moral integrity and our outward responses to what is projected around us. In my case, as soon as I heard bigoted remarks from a presidential candidate, I was completed turn off by it. Why others responded differently, I don’t know. Was it something lacking within each of them? For myself, I have always felt compassion for others it’s something I inherited from my mother and it may be my faith and belief in God as well. Whether others are lacking in feeling for others, or an anger of mistrust lurking in their subconscious remains to be seen. One thing I find challenging is communicating with those who don’t feel/see as I do, because they go into automatic defense mode. How can you converse with that kind of response?
I think polarization may diminish as Trump supporters wake up to the very real effects of the harm caused by this administration. I was going down the road regarding climate change (huge) and also destruction of NIH, FDA, CDC, etc. However, long term, I agree the erosion of checks and balances is the greatest concern.
To me it’s simply TRUTH has been murdered.
Thinking about the possibilities you discuss, I’d go first with the deep devisions between people as having the greatest, longest effect. Second - environmental degradation.
The real end game of Project 2025 is being missed. It is a full-scale plan to destroy the foundations of our democracy—gutting agencies, silencing experts, and handing unchecked power to extremists. Watch this video to see what’s really at stake and why we need to stop it now - before it is too late: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZPHbV1xujYTDa-wq9F5/
Good answer. But may I point out that the lack of trust we're seeing domestically is but one dimension. The other dimensions are International (Cutting Foreign Aid), Within Alliances (Damaging the Western alliance and rules-based global trade) and Trust in the Federal government (I posit checks and balances, weaponization of the Federal Government and the ugly budget bill are all covered here).
So if we are to address this/these problem(s) we must have a multi- front plan, with concrete actions (some of which we will not be able to accomplish), the political will in Congress, and a task force ready to jump in and assist when opportunity arises. Sort of sound to me like Josh Marshall's DOJ on Exile. Do you know Josh, of TPM? Worth a consult.