It's Inevitable

[RecoveringJournalist]

Something I've been thinking about since Trump's rise to the top. Does anyone else think a president like him OR like Bernie is inevitable if not in this go around, then in 2020, 2024, etc?

Here's my logic. People on both sides of the political aisle are P..I..S..S..E..D off at the establishment. They have varying reasons, but the sentiment is there.

Let's say for the sake of the argument that Hillary becomes President. The anti-establishment libs will be very reluctant to trust her. And no matter what she does, the interests of big money will not take a back seat to the interests of the people if she's in office. So that anger will not go away.

Meanwhile in Breitbartland, the anti-establishment cons will light themselves on fire in anger, an anger which will be fueled by right-wing extremist websites, Fox, etc. And it will make them even MORE determined to win in the next go around.

And THAT'S when someone who watched Trump's rise this year - a rise that defies all intelligence - starts to think "A-ha! I can con these people even better if I plan things out in advance!" The same people who are crazy about Trump might go crazy about him/her. And if he uses his head, he might bring some libs along for the ride and just get the job done! I mean Trump has had to do VERY little work to rise to the top. Imagine what a schemer could do!

This TRULY frightens me! As everyone knows, Hitler didn't rise to power in just one election. It took years and years of planning and scheming. Who says that guy isn't out there right now rubbing his hands in gleeful anticipation?

We better work to ensure someone like Bernie gets into office before someone like Trump. As I see it, it's only a matter of time before one or the other.

[2naSalit]

1. Unless...

we, as a people, clean up our act on all levels and get an understanding of what our responsibilities as citizens are. We are responsible for this mess by our complacency and lack of participation... which is our responsibility.

[peacebird]

2. I have voted in every election save one since 1975. Every election. I have worked polls for last 15

Years, taking a vacation day to do it until this year (retired)

I have participated my whole life, so eff that. I have done what is required. I have my Senators and Rep on speed dial. Perhaps YOU have been complacent, and neglected to participate, but I have not.

[Wounded Bear]

3. I'm pretty sure his comments are not directed at you personally....

Thank you for your dedication to the process.

He's addressing the millions who watch more reality TV than real life and somehow believe that the Trump "phenomenon" is somehow reality based. Those who have decided that it's not worth it and given up, thereby handing the reins to the dedicated extremists. If more don't wake up and start to replicate your dedication, we're seriously fucked. Idiocrasy is coming.

[peacebird]

4. Semper Fi!

[2naSalit]

6. Thank you, that is what I meant.

The general percentage of eligible voters who actually vote is appallingly low and there is more than voting to the process.

[2naSalit]

7. I have also participated my whole life

and gone to great lengths, at times, to do my duty as a citizen. Sometimes I even campaign but I most certainly attend public hearings and many other activities that fulfill my responsibilities as a citizen, I'm sure many at this web site do. However, there is a large portion of our citizenry who don't... since we're all in this together, we are collectively responsible for this state of affairs to develop in the first place.

[RecoveringJournalist]

5. Responsible citizens...

are hardly a match for ingrained anger and misinformation that these people have WILLINGLY subjected themselves to for years through their worship of Fox News.

"All propaganda has to be popular and has to accommodate itself to the comprehension of the least intelligent of those whom it seeks to reach." - Hitler

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. Book recommendation, and no you are not off

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_4_7?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=authoritarianism+and+polarization+in+american+politics&sprefix=authori%2Cundefined%2C314

Let's just say the strong man doctrine is here to stay for a while. By the way, it is just the latest in a series of reads I have been doing on this subject... and happens to be an article in Vox

http://www.vox.com/2016/3/1/11127424/trump-authoritarianism

And I expect way too many people to whistle past the graveyard. Now you are a recovering journo I am working media... so starting to slough though the Trump speeches... should be fun... actually they are more fun than the county budget...but not in a good way

[renie408]

9. We are on track for an assassination

And I don't say that lightly. Conservative leaders have spent so much time flogging their base into a frenzy, they have lost control of them. Many of these people are stupid, angry and armed. They have spent eight years being told that the country is being destroyed. Sooner or later, somebody is going to take one for the team and do something seriously crazy.

[Igel]

10. It's like the '30s.

Pretty much everybody had a strong man around. Some are more palatable to the left, some to the right, some were populists of a different color. But strong men relying on a centralized authority to reshape things, often roughshod, ruled the day.

Russia, Britain, much of Europe, the US, China had its own problems, Japan.