What you Americans think about your president

03/04/2025 11:14:54 AM · #26

Originally posted by Lydia:

Margaret, #1 goes both ways. If someone doesn't like Trump, they see everything he does as something nefarious.

Not always true, but frequently, yes.

03/04/2025 11:48:42 AM · #27

Originally posted by posthumous:

Trump is okay for a reality tv con man. What concerns me is that people voted for him, even after a 4 year demonstration of what a terrible president he is. I think it's because there is an entire misinformation industry.

The first term was an attempt at dictatorship. I think this term is more about setting up a plutocracy.'''

I finally checked what plutocracy means and it definitely describes well the current situation. My number 4 anti-Robin Hood fits very well with this :)

All that's is unclear to me now is where the bromance with Putin will go to? It is bigger that plutocracy, is there a good term for that? It isn't just about the wealthy, it is also about the absolute rulers.

03/05/2025 10:36:11 AM · #28

Even more concerned by now. I am also very scared about what is happening and how it happened. I read a lot about why a person like Trump could become an American president. This is what I found:

1. personality cult - the followers can only see good things in their leader, are blind to any criminal acts committed by him, of any wrongdoing

2. misinformation - a new word for propaganda, without any doubt with a big support from Putin's Russia to which your president is now very grateful and wants to give it all of Ukraine, I understand this is called transactional politics

3. career politicians - they will work for anyone who can advance their greed for power and money

4. Musk - the anti Robin Hood

5. fear - crushing any opposition

6. Musk again - enormous money thrown into gaining and keeping power

7. total control of communications - X, Facebook etc.

The only hope now is that the Americans will wake up when they realize that all those promises of better economic times won't happen. But by then it might be too late to change anything :(

I have never imagined that in my lifetime US will become a Plutocratic Autocracy.

Message edited by author 2025-03-05 10:40:14.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

03/05/2025 12:44:43 PM · #29

Food for thought:

What Happens Next in a Plutocratic Autocracy?

Here’s what might be happening soon:

More Crackdowns on Political Opponents

Critics of the government face arrests, lawsuits, financial ruin, or exile.
Political opposition is either co-opted, silenced, or labeled as criminals.
Dissent within the Republican Party is crushed, ensuring full loyalty to Trump’s faction.
Surveillance & Social Media Manipulation Increase

AI-driven monitoring of critics on X (Twitter), Facebook, and Google.

Musk’s influence over X helps control public narratives, amplifying pro-Trump voices and suppressing opposition.
More people are afraid to speak because of job loss, doxxing, or physical threats.

Weaponization of Government Agencies

The DOJ, FBI, and IRS could be used to punish political enemies.
State and local governments might be forced into compliance with federal orders.
Laws could be rewritten to criminalize dissent (e.g., new anti-protest or “domestic terrorism” laws targeting opposition movements).

Economic & Corporate Control Over Society

Billionaires (Musk and others) increase influence in government decisions.
Business elites align with Trump’s regime to protect their wealth and power.
Unfavorable businesses, unions, or activist organizations face legal and financial pressure.

Media Show Elections & “Managed Democracy”

Future elections may still happen, but they are functionally meaningless.
Gerrymandering, voter suppression, and media control ensure permanent one-party rule.
The judiciary is stacked with loyalist judges, making legal challenges impossible.

Control Over Military & Law Enforcement

Police forces become more militarized and used to suppress protests.
The national guard or private security groups might be deployed against citizens.
High-ranking military officials who oppose the government are replaced with loyalists.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

03/05/2025 07:01:51 PM · #30

That about sums it up ...

posthumous

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

03/06/2025 11:48:42 PM · #31

On the bright side, if he doesn't dismantle democracy in 2 years he will lose congress to the Democratic Party. By then, a lot of people will be personally hurt by the "efficiency" of Musk plus a recession is on the way and possibly inflation will continue. That will spell electoral doom for the GOP. The Republicans are good at winning elections but they are terrible at governing. And Trump is even worse.

blindjustice

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

03/07/2025 06:58:14 AM · #32

Originally posted by MargaretNet:

I am very curious

Do you really have to ask here? He's a self inflicted embarrassment like no other.

Message edited by author 2025-03-07 11:55:11.

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 16-35 f/4 ED VR

03/07/2025 08:30:39 AM · #33

Originally posted by blindjustice:

Originally posted by MargaretNet:
I am very curious

Do you really have to ask her? He's a self inflicted embarrassment like no other.

Who is her? Americans? They elected him so more than 50% of voters think that he is great. I was wondering how many DPCers think that. I was pleased to see that not too many.

My problem is that I am really scared what he will do to the world, myself included. I have already started preparing for a major financial chaos. I also don't think that it will be easy for Switzerland to stay neutral.

It is most unfortunate as I had no right to vote but now what the American president does, is my problem too.

mbrutus2009

Nikon D850

03/07/2025 09:02:33 AM · #34

Lol.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

03/07/2025 09:05:15 AM · #35

Originally posted by MargaretNet:

Originally posted by blindjustice:

Originally posted by MargaretNet:
I am very curious

Do you really have to ask her? He's a self inflicted embarrassment like no other.

Who is her? Americans? They elected him so more than 50% of voters think that he is great. I was wondering how many DPCers think that. I was pleased to see that not too many.

My problem is that I am really scared what he will do to the world, myself included. I have already started preparing for a major financial chaos. I also don't think that it will be easy for Switzerland to stay neutral.

It is most unfortunate as I had no right to vote but now what the American president does, is my problem too.

I think he meant "ask here"...

03/07/2025 09:17:37 AM · #36

Originally posted by MargaretNet:

They elected him so more than 50% of voters think that he is great. I was wondering how many DPCers think that. I was pleased to see that not too many.

DPC membership is quite liberal in general (my personal opinion only).

As for % of voters ... it's the Electoral College votes that matter, not always matching up to the general population that voted.

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

03/07/2025 09:17:56 AM · #37

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Originally posted by MargaretNet:

Originally posted by blindjustice:

Originally posted by MargaretNet:
I am very curious

Do you really have to ask her? He's a self inflicted embarrassment like no other.

Who is her? Americans? They elected him so more than 50% of voters think that he is great. I was wondering how many DPCers think that. I was pleased to see that not too many.

My problem is that I am really scared what he will do to the world, myself included. I have already started preparing for a major financial chaos. I also don't think that it will be easy for Switzerland to stay neutral.

It is most unfortunate as I had no right to vote but now what the American president does, is my problem too.

I think he meant "ask here"...

It is the Rant, isn't it?

posthumous

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

03/07/2025 10:15:30 AM · #38

Originally posted by MargaretNet:

They elected him so more than 50% of voters think that he is great.

Sorry, I've edited this several times, because at first I thought you said all americans, not just voters. But you're still incorrect. They don't think he's great. That's not how American democracy works. We only get two choices.

I looked at a poll and 33% of Americans have a "very favorable" view of Trump. I think that's very sad, but it's not more than half. It's about the same as Nazi voting results in the 1930's.

Message edited by author 2025-03-07 10:37:31.

blindjustice

Canon EOS-7D

03/07/2025 11:55:50 AM · #39

Originally posted by MargaretNet:

it was a typo. you are way too high strung.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

03/07/2025 10:30:21 PM · #40

Trump did not win a MAJORITY of the popular vote, rather a PLURALITY, meaning he got more votes than any other single candidate, but overall more people voted for "not Trump" than "Trump" ... the results are further distorted but the fact that nearly all states allocate their Electoral College votes on a winner-take-all basis, meaning if a candidate gets one single vote more than the opponent, they get all of the electoral votes. The Electoral College is further distorted by both large and small states getting two senators, meaning populous states ave fewer electoral votes/voter than smaller states; this is why there have been several recent elections (including Trump's first) where the winning candidate (usually Republican) received fewer votes than the loser.

Message edited by author 2025-03-07 22:32:40.

03/08/2025 11:46:09 AM · #41

Originally posted by blindjustice:

..you are way too high strung.

True, I will try to relax. Living in Switzerland helps a lot :)

03/08/2025 12:30:31 PM · #42

Originally posted by MargaretNet:

Originally posted by blindjustice:
..you are way too high strung.

True, I will try to relax. Living in Switzerland helps a lot :)

As long as you have lots of money. Switzerland appears to be the most expensive place to live in the world.

Cost of Living Index 2024
Cost Of Living Comparison
Most Expensive Countries In The World

03/08/2025 01:45:55 PM · #43

To be honest I am not sure what you are driving at, Barry. If you shop in the neighboring countries like France or Germany, the prices are average for EU. And, 17% of Swiss population live below poverty line. It is likely that this figure is higher in the US but the problem is that if you look at averages rather than medians you will get a very wrong image. This is what I found out living here, so unless you come to live here for a few years your image of Switzerland might be very unrealistic.

03/08/2025 01:59:22 PM · #44

Originally posted by MargaretNet:

... your image of Switzerland might be very unrealistic.

Not my thoughts, just something I noticed when I Googled some background info on Switzerland.
Then, when I searched specifically for "Most Expensive Countries To Live In" Switzerland was listed as the most expensive across the board on multiple reports, etc.
I'm sure if a person can afford living in Switzerland it probably IS a very relaxing and beautiful place to live. AND, it looks like none of the political strife we deal with here in the US! :-)

03/08/2025 02:51:22 PM · #45

I am very to happy to live here in Switzerland and the reasons are:
- I can walk in the woods without being scared
- the drivers smile when they give the way
- generally, people smile when we meet them on our hikes

so I feel safe here which is a big one for me.

Yes, some are not that nice but overall the Swiss are the nicest people I have ever met and we have been to quite a few countries. I think they have the wrong image, they are not rich and they are much nicer than most people think. The rich are the foreigners (definitely not me and my husband!) who come to Switzerland for tax reasons. Like Putin's wife and children living in Ticino. That's why we don't go there any more.

PS Ticino is the Italian part of Switzerland on lakes Maggiore and Lugano.

Voigtlander Ultron 35mm f/1.7 Aspherical MF Wide Angle - Black

03/08/2025 03:57:19 PM · #46

Thanks Margaret. That’s good context to know. Sounds very nice indeed.

Paul

Leica SL

03/09/2025 03:38:34 PM · #47

“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world: the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.” George Bernard Shaw.

Whatever we think of President Trump, he is tremendously disruptive. A change maker. If one doesn’t like what he is doing, one can also find compensatory movements in other world leaders and societies. A global adjustment is occurring. Some of that adjustment will be positive. The American pendulum will no doubt swing back, and I wonder whether the net effect of the global movements Trump has induced might actually lead to a better world than if he had never had his second term.

There has been a lesson in his presidency. People had contended some things were impossible when they were not. Things were taken for granted when they should not have been. Global resilience to shock is, I believe, going to be bolstered as a result of that lesson. I do understand though that there are massive global risks in the period between learning the lesson and that learning being embedded in the global order of things.

03/10/2025 12:42:43 AM · #48

Originally posted by Paul:

...I do understand though that there are massive global risks...

Yes, that. And I don't think that "unreasonable" is the right word. Sorry, Paul.

03/15/2025 12:57:19 PM · #49

See this and tell me what YOU think:
https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/watch-this-french-senators-take-on-trump-and-musk_uk_67cad850e4b001cf5788688c

PS This guy is from center right of politics.

Message edited by author 2025-03-15 13:06:05.