djt should be in a mental institution. That having been said, what sacrifices are djt and his cronies going to make? Billionaires have much, much more economic breathing room than hundredaires or thousandaires. It would be good for morale if djt and his cronies led the way in sacrificing for the war in djt’s head.
They're selling worthless "coins" or whatever to their gullible believers and pocketing billions from them. Sacrifice? The word doesn't exist in their vocabulary unless it applies to people who don't have a million/billion to blow on THEIR toys.
Your subtitle says it all "His trade war is like World War 2, only much dumber and entirely self-inflicted." There are many things I love about substack. One of them is the headlines. What it says in the headline is what you get in the post. And the headlines are usually creative and witty and pack a punch. This is how headlines are supposed to be - enticing and informative.
It is beyond belief that a man, hell every single cabinet member, whose family and acquaintances literally spend tens of thousands of $$$$ on ONE piece of jewelry or clothing or a purse, who has everything gold-plated, who takes golfing trips that cost the TAXPAYER millions of $$$ for EACH trip, who overcharges the people protecting him by a factor of 5 and charges to the taxpayer, who is conning people into buying over priced junk made in China while raking in millions/billions for a piece of worthless "coin" has the gall to tell normal kids who are lucky if they get fed, never mind get a toy for Christmas, giving up a favorite toy will make the economy better. Those folks are literally stealing the government to make THEIR personal economies better - the HELL with the rest of us!
Itʻs interesting that you called Trump a MAGA Pied Piper, because I read the other day that Germans who opposed Hitler called him, "the Ratten-fänger" (the rat-catcher). The German title for the Pied Piper story is, "Der Rattenfänger von Hameln."
(A bit of trivia from the *excellent* book, They Thought They Were Free: The Germans 1933-45, by Milton Mayer. I can't recommend this book enough. It's easy to read and, even though Mayer didn't intend to be a prophet, it shines a bright light on our current problems in the US. It's not about Hitler, it's about the everyday people who cheerfully became Nazis. When I read a paragraph that exactly described Chuck Schumer's and Nancy Pelosi's recent ho-hum attitudes, I knew I'd hit the jackpot when I got this book from the library!)
Sorry this is a bit off-topic, but I thought people might be interested. I totally agree with everything you wrote about sacrifice.
I think the most important fact is that the real pain from Trump's tariff war - which like that great genius Hitler he's declared against the whole world- has barely began. Things will only get worse. And worse. And worse. I think it's a fair bet that calls for paying 'a little bit more' will soon sound for what they are - the idle chatter of the very rich and comfortable.
Concerning the farmers I reckon they were badly let down by their leadership. They should have gone ape when Trump talked of bringing in tarrifs in the election campaign. Any fool could have told them that when a trade war starts one of the first industries to suffer is agriculture. It's really easy to buy beef, soy-beans, wheat, pork etc from countries other than America. And that's exactly what's happened. I'd be interested in a political nerd's analysis if this could have an electoral effect in some states or if the rural states are so deep red it won't matter.
Hmm, ask yourself, When was the last time Donald Trump paid for anything? (Answer: Probably at Fordham.) Now, Why should we suffer for this man who is blissfully unaware of reality?
He never paid. Fred Trump bought him his degree. One of his professors actually said Trump was the dumbest student he ever taught. Ironically, his degree is in economics.
thanks. It does seem trump has some problems understanding the basics of a consumer-based economy. this economy survives on excess. two dolls is depression-era gifts, if that. seems they all need a primer on this.
America, the richest society in the world with many people living on credit cards and having no or little savings, has a problem recognizing what inequality looks like. Trump doesn't even understand what "groceries" are, cannot understand that many kids don't have 30 dolls, and has no idea how the middle and working classes actually live. I'm retired and living on less money than Melania spends in a single shopping trip. But it's not just Trump. The GOP Congress includes quite a few millionaires, and Trump's Cabinet is made up of mostly billionaires. The disconnect is why Trump's budget is likely to pass.
I'm glad you pointed out that it became clear during Covid that many Americans want absolutely nothing to do with shared sacrifice. And the GOP led the way on that.
Trump is so detached that he thinks 15 year old girls still play with dolls. But that's not important. He's living in a fantasy world ruled by his whims, which is a clear sign of dementia. He's 79, an old man pretending to be a strongman. His intentions aren't honorable but are all about self enrichment and weirdly, popularity. He is now trying to get the FCC to pull CBS' broadcast license because he doesn't like them.
Not that I would give advice to Donald Trump (or would he take it!) but this “sacrifice for the greater good” is quite rich coming from him. Imagine if Trump said, “In the spirit of shared sacrifice I’m not taking any more weekend golf excursions in 2025.” I can’t think of a less likely thing he could say!
djt should be in a mental institution. That having been said, what sacrifices are djt and his cronies going to make? Billionaires have much, much more economic breathing room than hundredaires or thousandaires. It would be good for morale if djt and his cronies led the way in sacrificing for the war in djt’s head.
They're selling worthless "coins" or whatever to their gullible believers and pocketing billions from them. Sacrifice? The word doesn't exist in their vocabulary unless it applies to people who don't have a million/billion to blow on THEIR toys.
He's decorating the Oval Office in gold!
Another brilliant piece. Thank you.
Your subtitle says it all "His trade war is like World War 2, only much dumber and entirely self-inflicted." There are many things I love about substack. One of them is the headlines. What it says in the headline is what you get in the post. And the headlines are usually creative and witty and pack a punch. This is how headlines are supposed to be - enticing and informative.
And most of it is real journalism, with reliable information and no clickbait.
It is beyond belief that a man, hell every single cabinet member, whose family and acquaintances literally spend tens of thousands of $$$$ on ONE piece of jewelry or clothing or a purse, who has everything gold-plated, who takes golfing trips that cost the TAXPAYER millions of $$$ for EACH trip, who overcharges the people protecting him by a factor of 5 and charges to the taxpayer, who is conning people into buying over priced junk made in China while raking in millions/billions for a piece of worthless "coin" has the gall to tell normal kids who are lucky if they get fed, never mind get a toy for Christmas, giving up a favorite toy will make the economy better. Those folks are literally stealing the government to make THEIR personal economies better - the HELL with the rest of us!
Itʻs interesting that you called Trump a MAGA Pied Piper, because I read the other day that Germans who opposed Hitler called him, "the Ratten-fänger" (the rat-catcher). The German title for the Pied Piper story is, "Der Rattenfänger von Hameln."
(A bit of trivia from the *excellent* book, They Thought They Were Free: The Germans 1933-45, by Milton Mayer. I can't recommend this book enough. It's easy to read and, even though Mayer didn't intend to be a prophet, it shines a bright light on our current problems in the US. It's not about Hitler, it's about the everyday people who cheerfully became Nazis. When I read a paragraph that exactly described Chuck Schumer's and Nancy Pelosi's recent ho-hum attitudes, I knew I'd hit the jackpot when I got this book from the library!)
Sorry this is a bit off-topic, but I thought people might be interested. I totally agree with everything you wrote about sacrifice.
Ruth Ben-Ghiat's book "Strongmen" describes Mussolini the same way. It's astonishing how history repeats itself.
Thanks! That’s so interesting.
I think the most important fact is that the real pain from Trump's tariff war - which like that great genius Hitler he's declared against the whole world- has barely began. Things will only get worse. And worse. And worse. I think it's a fair bet that calls for paying 'a little bit more' will soon sound for what they are - the idle chatter of the very rich and comfortable.
Concerning the farmers I reckon they were badly let down by their leadership. They should have gone ape when Trump talked of bringing in tarrifs in the election campaign. Any fool could have told them that when a trade war starts one of the first industries to suffer is agriculture. It's really easy to buy beef, soy-beans, wheat, pork etc from countries other than America. And that's exactly what's happened. I'd be interested in a political nerd's analysis if this could have an electoral effect in some states or if the rural states are so deep red it won't matter.
Hmm, ask yourself, When was the last time Donald Trump paid for anything? (Answer: Probably at Fordham.) Now, Why should we suffer for this man who is blissfully unaware of reality?
He never paid. Fred Trump bought him his degree. One of his professors actually said Trump was the dumbest student he ever taught. Ironically, his degree is in economics.
Donald Trump led the way in daddy’s bought degree … then bought 4-F status (that nasty bone spur which, like the wounded ear, is invisible).
At least I got a chuckle out of the headline :) The rest is damn serious!
thanks. It does seem trump has some problems understanding the basics of a consumer-based economy. this economy survives on excess. two dolls is depression-era gifts, if that. seems they all need a primer on this.
America, the richest society in the world with many people living on credit cards and having no or little savings, has a problem recognizing what inequality looks like. Trump doesn't even understand what "groceries" are, cannot understand that many kids don't have 30 dolls, and has no idea how the middle and working classes actually live. I'm retired and living on less money than Melania spends in a single shopping trip. But it's not just Trump. The GOP Congress includes quite a few millionaires, and Trump's Cabinet is made up of mostly billionaires. The disconnect is why Trump's budget is likely to pass.
“MAGA Maoism” — perfect! Let’s suffer for a fantasy future portrayed by a genuine conman—America the Beautiful?
I'm glad you pointed out that it became clear during Covid that many Americans want absolutely nothing to do with shared sacrifice. And the GOP led the way on that.
How many GI Joes are kids allowed to have?
Trump is so detached that he thinks 15 year old girls still play with dolls. But that's not important. He's living in a fantasy world ruled by his whims, which is a clear sign of dementia. He's 79, an old man pretending to be a strongman. His intentions aren't honorable but are all about self enrichment and weirdly, popularity. He is now trying to get the FCC to pull CBS' broadcast license because he doesn't like them.
In MAGA world, it is "sacrifice for thee but not for me."
Not that I would give advice to Donald Trump (or would he take it!) but this “sacrifice for the greater good” is quite rich coming from him. Imagine if Trump said, “In the spirit of shared sacrifice I’m not taking any more weekend golf excursions in 2025.” I can’t think of a less likely thing he could say!
Trump's tariffs are likely to be his Little Bighorn Battle.