One of the biggest problems in this world would be the many, many people who are not nearly as smart as they think that they are, yet who act like they are geniuses, and carry around a certain level of impunity whenever things go wrong stemming from their own flawed thinking. Frankly, I think that this is one of the major problems in the United States, and likely one of the main reasons for why the United States has seen such a shocking decline in recent decades. This way of thinking is parasitic, because too many people see others acting in this frankly childish manner, and take this self-assuredness for power, for confidence, and for some kind of a vision for this country's future. In short, when too many people in one nation look up to such shallow values, that country weakens, even while those who subscribe to this false confidence and pretend at wisdom that they do not possess loudly proclaim victory and huge levels of success.
This can be particularly problematic when we get someone in the Oval Office who subscribes to this manner of thinking, and the United States has arguably had several people who fit the bill, even just in recent decades. George W. Bush seemed to fall under this category, and I suspect that Bill Clinton, regardless of the fact that he was actually quite intelligent, reflected these shallow values, because he relied not on wisdom, but on being strategic to advance his own interests. Possibly Obama fit into this bill, because he, too, seemed to focus too much on what made him look good and what advanced his own career and legacy, while ignoring the really tough fights for what would have been good for the country. Ronald Reagan is another man who I strongly suspect of believing that he is smarter than he really was, and certainly, his policies, and especially his popularity among like-minded folks who all felt smarter than they were entitled to feel, in many ways began what would become a very serious decline for the nation, despite the speeches and concepts that appear, at least at first, to be high-minded, and even noble.
Yet, none of these men can hold a candle to Donald Trump, the man presently in the White House. This man's own opinion of himself is legendary. It is almost shocking that the White House is even big enough for his own ego, and indeed, supposedly he was not content with his surroundings there, as he was more used to the glitz and glamour of his ritzy estates in New York City and other areas, such as Mar-a-Lago. Apparently, this seems to be the case enough that he goes to such extraordinary lengths just to try and go to his Florida home every weekend. He even has the gall to suggest that it is the White House of the South.
Indeed, if there was ever a man who seemed to feel himself a sheer genius, even while actually showing no traces of this brilliance in either words or deeds, then that man is Donald J. Trump. He clearly thinks very highly of himself, proclaiming that he is a "very stable genius," and making bold assertions about his own intellect. He claimed to know more about ISIS than the generals, and suggested that he was the only one who could save this country. Indeed, if you ask the President, he is the biggest expert on almost every conceivable topic. His supporters believe him, too, and thus empower him.
The rest of us, however, are not so sure about all of that. This is a man who's thinking seems so limited, that he can barely finish a sentence, or apparently a thought, without interrupting himself in the process.
Yet, we are supposed to believe that he is a genius.
He was surprised to learn some simple basic facts which, frankly, most people would believe to be elementary, such as that reforming healthcare is a difficult challenge, or that blacks are not the only ones (or even a majority) who receive welfare.
Yet, we are supposed to believe that he is a genius.
He wants people to believe that he is stable, and that his administration is running like a well-oiled machine, and that there is no White House drama, even though his White House has seemed to more closely resemble a revolving door kind of place of employment, rather than a serious gathering of America's best and brightest.
Yet, we are supposed to believe that he is a genius.
Again, the worst thing about Trump are not so much his policies, or even what he says. After all, George W. Bush also sounded a bit like an idiot at times during his presidency. We can hardly express shock that such a man happened to obtain high office, when we have had men such as George W. Bush as President, Dan Quayle as Vice-President, Sara Palin seen by some for a while as the savior of the Republican party and the promising new direction for the GOP to take. So how surprising can it be that now, of course, we see the king of imbeciles, Donald Trump, at the helm?
No, what is most aggravating, and probably the most dangerous, is just how highly he thinks of himself, and how little doubt he has in his own genius, despite almost no evidence to back up these boisterous claims of being a "very stable genius." Also at least as troubling would be just how convinced his supporters are of the same, and how little they seem to ever question, much less challenge, Trump's claims of superiority in every single way.
Trump claimed that he not only would build that stupid wall, but that he would get Mexico to pay for it. I believe he emphasized this by saying "mark my words!"
Did his supporters take him at his word? Apparently not.
Trump went before the United Nations, and insulted and taunted another world leader, as if the two are vying for popularity in a school yard. He went so far as to threaten to completely destroy that nation, to wipe it off the map, words that you might expect from other world leaders, such as Adolf Hitler, frankly.
Were his supporters alarmed, or did they feel that this was a reckless, and potentially very dangerous, thing to do? Apparently not.
Trump keeps revealing racist tendencies, such as dismissing whole regions as being filled with "shithole countries" and urging immigration from countries such as Norway.
Have his supporters drawn a line and felt that he crossed it, either with blatant racism or with crassness? Nope. They criticize "snowflakes" for whining about such things, even though they seem pretty good at whining and meting like snowflakes under pressure themselves, although no one is as big of a snowflake as their highly sensitive President, who cannot let any slights, let alone blatant insults, go without going on a petty and vindictive tirade with his ridiculous tweets.
Indeed, if there is one word that might fit President Trump to a tee, and describe his entire presidency, if not perhaps his entire life and way of thinking, it would be this: reckless.
Yes, recklessness. This is the trait that I think most of the world sees in this man, which far too many Americans remain blissfully unaware, or perhaps willfully ignorant, of. Trump is a reckless man, one who not only does not seem to carefully weigh his decisions before making bold pronouncements. Indeed, the country might have to suffer the consequences.
The latest such chapter is the trade war, which Trump typically went into unthinkingly, and with the clear assumption that it would go exactly the way he expects and wants. Apparently, Trump suggested that a trade war would be "good" and felt that it would be "easy to win."
Also typically, the White House went into damage control mode, trying to "clarify" the President's words and overall message, as White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders tried to explain it all on Monday:
"The president is very confident that if that’s where we ended up [in a trade war] we certainly would win, but that’s not the goal. The goal is to get free, fair and reciprocal trade and hope that other countries will join in.”
Yet, we are supposed to believe that he is a genius.
He was surprised to learn some simple basic facts which, frankly, most people would believe to be elementary, such as that reforming healthcare is a difficult challenge, or that blacks are not the only ones (or even a majority) who receive welfare.
Yet, we are supposed to believe that he is a genius.
He wants people to believe that he is stable, and that his administration is running like a well-oiled machine, and that there is no White House drama, even though his White House has seemed to more closely resemble a revolving door kind of place of employment, rather than a serious gathering of America's best and brightest.
Yet, we are supposed to believe that he is a genius.
Again, the worst thing about Trump are not so much his policies, or even what he says. After all, George W. Bush also sounded a bit like an idiot at times during his presidency. We can hardly express shock that such a man happened to obtain high office, when we have had men such as George W. Bush as President, Dan Quayle as Vice-President, Sara Palin seen by some for a while as the savior of the Republican party and the promising new direction for the GOP to take. So how surprising can it be that now, of course, we see the king of imbeciles, Donald Trump, at the helm?
No, what is most aggravating, and probably the most dangerous, is just how highly he thinks of himself, and how little doubt he has in his own genius, despite almost no evidence to back up these boisterous claims of being a "very stable genius." Also at least as troubling would be just how convinced his supporters are of the same, and how little they seem to ever question, much less challenge, Trump's claims of superiority in every single way.
Trump claimed that he not only would build that stupid wall, but that he would get Mexico to pay for it. I believe he emphasized this by saying "mark my words!"
Did his supporters take him at his word? Apparently not.
Trump went before the United Nations, and insulted and taunted another world leader, as if the two are vying for popularity in a school yard. He went so far as to threaten to completely destroy that nation, to wipe it off the map, words that you might expect from other world leaders, such as Adolf Hitler, frankly.
Were his supporters alarmed, or did they feel that this was a reckless, and potentially very dangerous, thing to do? Apparently not.
Trump keeps revealing racist tendencies, such as dismissing whole regions as being filled with "shithole countries" and urging immigration from countries such as Norway.
Have his supporters drawn a line and felt that he crossed it, either with blatant racism or with crassness? Nope. They criticize "snowflakes" for whining about such things, even though they seem pretty good at whining and meting like snowflakes under pressure themselves, although no one is as big of a snowflake as their highly sensitive President, who cannot let any slights, let alone blatant insults, go without going on a petty and vindictive tirade with his ridiculous tweets.
Indeed, if there is one word that might fit President Trump to a tee, and describe his entire presidency, if not perhaps his entire life and way of thinking, it would be this: reckless.
Yes, recklessness. This is the trait that I think most of the world sees in this man, which far too many Americans remain blissfully unaware, or perhaps willfully ignorant, of. Trump is a reckless man, one who not only does not seem to carefully weigh his decisions before making bold pronouncements. Indeed, the country might have to suffer the consequences.
The latest such chapter is the trade war, which Trump typically went into unthinkingly, and with the clear assumption that it would go exactly the way he expects and wants. Apparently, Trump suggested that a trade war would be "good" and felt that it would be "easy to win."
Also typically, the White House went into damage control mode, trying to "clarify" the President's words and overall message, as White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders tried to explain it all on Monday:
"The president is very confident that if that’s where we ended up [in a trade war] we certainly would win, but that’s not the goal. The goal is to get free, fair and reciprocal trade and hope that other countries will join in.”
Naturally, his backers are not questioning his judgement or confidence, even though it seems like the entire world, including members of his own Republican party, are urging Trump to reconsider. The particular issue that fueled this was cheap Chinese steel, although the tariffs that Trump is imposing, and which are slated to take effect in 15 days, are actually going to hurt our close allies in Europe, more than China. In fact, many feel that China might benefit from this ridiculous trade war, although many people, again including Republicans, are concerned that Americans might lose a lot, all because Trump is convinced that he will win this "easily" and will come out the hero.
Indeed, a trade war might be very bad for the world economy, and could cause a serious and deep recession, even though President Trump would surely scoff at the notion. Trump’s announced tariffs of 25 percent on steel on 10 percent on aluminum, which could get other countries to reciprocate, and possibly start an out and out trade war. And if that happens, indeed, it could be seriously detrimental to the health of the global economy, including the American economy.
Even if this happens, does anyone seriously doubt that Trump will find a way to turn this argument around, and make it look conveniently like it is someone else's fault? And even if the entire world once again easily sees through these lies, and even if a majority of Americans see through it, does anyone seriously doubt that his supporters will believe him and continue to give him their unconditional love and support?
World Trade Organization director-general Roberto Azevêdo, speaking before an assembly of members lf the WTO on Monday. suggested:
“It is clear that we now see a much higher and real risk of triggering an escalation of trade barriers across the globe. We cannot ignore this risk and I urge all parties to consider and reflect on this situation very carefully.
"Once we start down this path, it will be very difficult to reverse direction. An eye for an eye will leave us all blind and the world in deep recession. We must make every effort to avoid the fall of the first dominoes."
Yes, Trump's recklessness is a very risky strategy. Gambling, putting all chips on one big assumption, is not a sensible or stable way to govern.
Yet, this is Trump's way. He is a sleazy gambler, and he seems to be addicted to gambling at the highest levels. He also assures us that the country will just continue to win, win, and win some more while he is President.
But if this is a gamble that he loses, will his supporters finally come to their senses and hold him to task?
Don't bet on it.
Yes, Trump's recklessness is a very risky strategy. Gambling, putting all chips on one big assumption, is not a sensible or stable way to govern.
Yet, this is Trump's way. He is a sleazy gambler, and he seems to be addicted to gambling at the highest levels. He also assures us that the country will just continue to win, win, and win some more while he is President.
But if this is a gamble that he loses, will his supporters finally come to their senses and hold him to task?
Don't bet on it.
DONALD TRUMP'S TRADE WAR WILL CAUSE 'DEEP' GLOBAL RECESSION, SAYS WTO DIRECTOR BY NICOLE GOODKIND ON 3/5/18
http://www.newsweek.com/trade-war-donald-trump-recession-tariffs-steel-831499
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