Thogey wrote:johnbrickner wrote:"It depends upon what the meaning of the word 'is' is"
All kidding aside. It depends on what you consider disaster or improvement are. To me, the disaster would be our (the United States of America) continued: Status quo with more power and money being concentrated into the hands of fewer and fewer; disconnect with the destruction of the planet that sustains us; disconnect with the rest of the countries of the world as we pursue to maintain our status of Empire thru our politics and military; decrease in personal freedoms and community self-rule; corporate veil protection and corporate personhood; and the opaqued to completely recolored transparency of government behavior and international corporations just for starts.
Some would dare call it American Fascism along the lines of "When fascism comes to America, it will come wrapped in the flag and waving a cross" attributed to Sinclair Lewis.
An improvement would be a president who would start the process to engage and start the processes away from these directions. But, were a president to do so . . . well, the president would never be allowed to do so.
Is this where you think Trump is going?
Let's see? More power and money being concentrated into the hand of fewer and fewer? Still happening so yes. Disconnect with the destruction of the planet? The EPA is being effectively neutered so, yes.
Disconnect with the rest of the countries? No, he is trying to protect what he can of the Empire not maintain the Empire. Perhaps a small difference between the two. But, he seems to have the foresight to realize we cannot maintain our status as we have in the past. Why I think he personally is on such good terms with Putin. We need an ally on China's back door and the Russians are really good antagonists. I still think he will continue to try to develop a relationship with Russia that he will benefit from. Possibly the U.S. will benefit from also. The only countries we seem to be disconnecting with are our (former?) allies. I am wrong as he is not maintaining the status quo of our Empire with our international politics and military but, somewhat right as there is disconnect.
Decreased personal freedom and community self-rule? Seems neutral to yes right now. I'm not seeing any decreased personal freedom on American Born unless they appear to be non-white. And communities that reject or stand up to certain federal edicts are facing potential difficulties. Especially those who harbor Illegal aliens. So yes to community self-rule.
Corportations? Yes. The huge Corporations continue to grow in power, money and influence. Especially U.S. corporations now that they are getting favored treatment over the internationals. At least here in America, our president will not cross the Elite, he is one of them.
Now the globalist elites are a different story so, International Corporations? No, I was wrong here but then I don't see any corporations getting decentralized or devolved. The American Corporations are getting favored treatment over the Internationals here in America.
Transparency of government behavior? Hummm, many things in our government are coming of light to be seen as never before. However, the whistle blowers are not being given hero status either, unless they are women with sexual allegations then they get to stand in line with the rest so maybe not heroes but, recognized. I'll give into this one, so no. But the dysfunction continues to run rampant.
Is fascism coming to America? If you are looking for jack boots and brown shirts, no. If you are looking a marriage between government and corporations, and the law shifting more their direction to increase their power and money, really? Are Americans aware, can this not be seen? This is American Fascism, not the fascism of old. True blue, home grown, American style. And don't be mistaken it will be enforced, legally.
Is Trump taking us there? You decide. You have a eyes, ears and a brain. I'm not debating what I see just answering the question put to me, but if given the opportunity I will attempt to jump into your shoes and see the world thru your eyes.