I have to say that it is refreshing beyond belief to see someone like Nietzsche quoted in a social media post. DT has unleashed forces in the collective psyche of his followers that are truly Nietzschean in the sense of erupting from the dark recesses of the soul. I like the word ressentiment, but even it does not capture the full chaotic nature of what his actions represent. How about messentiment?
I have to say that I’m amazed that anyone could be surprised by Trump 2.0. While I didn’t see Musk coming - not sure how anyone would have, the outlines of every other aspect of his return to the Oval Office were entirely predicable, falling into three major categories.
FIrst, of course was in itself twofold. To take all the revenge he could on anyone at any level who had any part in the ‘lawfare’ against him for his attempts to overturn the election of 2020. And at the same time to do every thing he could to neutralize or eliminate any organization that might be able to oppose or hold him to account for any illegal or unConstitutional act he attempted, specifically his pursuit of personal wealth and power; his goal being the same as that of Louis XIV to be able to claim “Etat, c’est moi!"
Second - To surround himself with sycophantic Cabinet members and any other govenmental department heads who would work tirelessly to implement any policy he chose without question or opposition, and who would make sure their departments did the same. Nor did he want people of real competence in those positions who might challenge ‘the smartest guy in the room’
Third - to continue his policy of detachment from NATO or any other allies both to minimize their influence on him and to reduce any responsibility we might have to aid them.
Fourth - to win the Nobel Peace prize he felt had unjustly eluded him during his first term (remember Nixon’s statement that the greatest name. a president could achieve would are that of peacemaker). That, of course meant ending the Ukraine war, regardless of the consequences to the Ukrainians.
Fifth - to enable him to continue to enjoy all the perks of office and to appear at Presidential rallies in which total approbation and adoration would be the theme.
Sixth - to continue to be able to excoriate ‘the elite’ (ie those who had always spurned his social aspirations).
Everything he’s done since his second inauguration has been in pursuit of those goals, and was entirely predictable.
While you might be correct in pointing to Trump's personal ressentiment, you overlook the resentment of those voting for him—those who resented the open-border policies and fought against Trump's attempts to close the border in the first term. Those who seethed with resentment at gender dysphoria being flaunted in their face in every form of entertainment, and whose resentment only deepened into their own ressentiment as the liberal elite and their talking heads in the media dismissed and demeaned them. Those who used the DEI banner to promote inequality of achievement to lower the hurdle for success. Those families and students who sacrificed to pay for their education as Biden illegally attempted to give away more of their money to those who had already used public funds for personal gain in education. Those who resented the lawfare against Trump and his supporters and who now claim moral sanctity against similar tactics. Those who gave voice to the radical Muslims of Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas, and in the U.S. used our universities not as places of debate and discussion but as stages for the promotion of their antisemitism. Those who supported the political cesspool of bureaucracy over responsibility and accountability. Something like 75% of the citizenry could see that the country was accelerating in the wrong direction. > > As ye sow, so shall ye reap. Yes, Trump may be grinding his political axe, but he is using it—albeit haphazardly—to cut done at least some of the vines and weeds entangling our Republic. As for a solution ask for forgiveness at your excesses, and perhaps others might join in finding solutions. Continue on your path of feigned righteousness and their is o telling how this might end.
"As a long time and unrepentant finance bro, I know I must guard against thinking about things in purely economic terms. Economics famously assumes that people are rational, which is to say that they are more or less capable of perceiving their self-interest and acting accordingly. But this is often not the case. In 2018 I wrote a Substack post titled “The Tribe has Spoken” which explored some of the less rational forces underlying our nation’s political divide. In retrospect there is very little that I wrote then that I would change today. However, I would point out that it was written before the onset of Covid, and since then things have gotten much, much worse.
"The post centered on two issues: the tribal nature of human beings and something Friedrich Nietzsche called “ressentiment.” Ressentiment is the feeling of powerlessness and resentment that society’s disgruntled “losers” feel toward the perceived “winners” – convenient and often imaginary scapegoats. I am no Nietzsche scholar (does anyone really get him?), but I believe that ressentiment today is a pervasive force in American politics on both sides of the political divide. Everyone feels aggrieved, and many – especially on the right – are convinced that their birthright has been stolen from them by sinister “elites.” It is a supreme irony that this was a central theme of J. D. Vance’s bestseller “Hillbilly Elegy.”
"Full disclosure: I do not consider myself a Democrat, especially as the party is now constituted. I consider myself a moderate, leaning conservative (in the Burkean sense). I believe strongly that the Democrat’s “Woke” left wing was the single critical factor in Harris’ defeat. Religious fanaticism – let’s call it what it is – characterizes both the Woke left and the MAGA right, and fanaticism is always destructive of liberal institutions. But the Democrats have one point in their favor; they have not attempted to overthrow a fair election with an armed insurrection. To me, that counts for a lot."
Let's stop speculating about what motivates Trump to be, well, Trump and focus on what he does. The Democrats can only counter Trump if they have ideas, proposed programs and candidates that attract centrist voters. So far the Democrats present none of those things.
But what is to be done and what responsibility do prominent Democrats bear? Franklin Roosevelt, Groton and Harvard, married to niece of former President, would never had dismissed his fellow citizens as “clinging to their guns and their religion” or scorned them as a “basket of deplorables.”
The fog of passionate, ideologically-driven points of view make it nearly impossible to see those of others. You do touch on a few criticisms which bother Pres. Trump's supporters, but miss the root of all this. The gradual decline of presidential assertion of enumerated powers, deferring to a world of bureaucratic "lawmaking," staffed by those that share your point of view made it impossilble for the first term Trump to fulfil the obligations of his office. That he should purge his administration of the worst offenders makes plenty sense. That he has stilled the invasion on the borders you conveniently ignore. But you do not seriously look at what he inherited; heading toward financial collapse, on the verse of WW III, the incompetence and inability of Biden to govern, the constant barrage of attacks from mainstream media - runaway government spending. And now, the rejection of criminal law by prosecutors, mayors, governors and Democrats in Congress who have no policy to advance, but rush to defend those who have broken our laws by illegally entering our country. Pres. Trump's supporters see him fulfilling the promises he made to them, and his base is still strongly supporting him. The elistist left gave us a catastophe, and many of us hope Pres. Trump can right at least some of those wrongs. We love our Republic.
You are completely, hopelessly wrong. Yes, Biden was ineffectual and too old. But he left Tump with a good economy. His biggest failure by far was the Afghanistan fiasco, which had also been Trump's plan. We were not on the verge of WW III, although we may be now that we are without allies. Yes, he spent too much but the national debt increased 25% in his tenure. UNDER TRUMP, THE DEBT SOARED BY 50%. Our post-COVID inflation problem was mostly his fault. And, unless I am as insane as Trump, it is he who is defying federal courts and desecrating the Constitution. https://charles72f.substack.com/p/why-kamela-lost-in-nine-simple-charts
I have to say that it is refreshing beyond belief to see someone like Nietzsche quoted in a social media post. DT has unleashed forces in the collective psyche of his followers that are truly Nietzschean in the sense of erupting from the dark recesses of the soul. I like the word ressentiment, but even it does not capture the full chaotic nature of what his actions represent. How about messentiment?
I have to say that I’m amazed that anyone could be surprised by Trump 2.0. While I didn’t see Musk coming - not sure how anyone would have, the outlines of every other aspect of his return to the Oval Office were entirely predicable, falling into three major categories.
FIrst, of course was in itself twofold. To take all the revenge he could on anyone at any level who had any part in the ‘lawfare’ against him for his attempts to overturn the election of 2020. And at the same time to do every thing he could to neutralize or eliminate any organization that might be able to oppose or hold him to account for any illegal or unConstitutional act he attempted, specifically his pursuit of personal wealth and power; his goal being the same as that of Louis XIV to be able to claim “Etat, c’est moi!"
Second - To surround himself with sycophantic Cabinet members and any other govenmental department heads who would work tirelessly to implement any policy he chose without question or opposition, and who would make sure their departments did the same. Nor did he want people of real competence in those positions who might challenge ‘the smartest guy in the room’
Third - to continue his policy of detachment from NATO or any other allies both to minimize their influence on him and to reduce any responsibility we might have to aid them.
Fourth - to win the Nobel Peace prize he felt had unjustly eluded him during his first term (remember Nixon’s statement that the greatest name. a president could achieve would are that of peacemaker). That, of course meant ending the Ukraine war, regardless of the consequences to the Ukrainians.
Fifth - to enable him to continue to enjoy all the perks of office and to appear at Presidential rallies in which total approbation and adoration would be the theme.
Sixth - to continue to be able to excoriate ‘the elite’ (ie those who had always spurned his social aspirations).
Everything he’s done since his second inauguration has been in pursuit of those goals, and was entirely predictable.
The poet Horace wrote, “Anger is a brief madness.” Since Donald Trump’s anger never stops, he might as well be a certified madman.
That’s why he punishes even minor functionaries whose job it was to do things that offended him. He wants to show that his anger knows no bounds.
Of course, the metaphor of a poor little rich boy’s tantrum serves just as well.
While you might be correct in pointing to Trump's personal ressentiment, you overlook the resentment of those voting for him—those who resented the open-border policies and fought against Trump's attempts to close the border in the first term. Those who seethed with resentment at gender dysphoria being flaunted in their face in every form of entertainment, and whose resentment only deepened into their own ressentiment as the liberal elite and their talking heads in the media dismissed and demeaned them. Those who used the DEI banner to promote inequality of achievement to lower the hurdle for success. Those families and students who sacrificed to pay for their education as Biden illegally attempted to give away more of their money to those who had already used public funds for personal gain in education. Those who resented the lawfare against Trump and his supporters and who now claim moral sanctity against similar tactics. Those who gave voice to the radical Muslims of Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas, and in the U.S. used our universities not as places of debate and discussion but as stages for the promotion of their antisemitism. Those who supported the political cesspool of bureaucracy over responsibility and accountability. Something like 75% of the citizenry could see that the country was accelerating in the wrong direction. > > As ye sow, so shall ye reap. Yes, Trump may be grinding his political axe, but he is using it—albeit haphazardly—to cut done at least some of the vines and weeds entangling our Republic. As for a solution ask for forgiveness at your excesses, and perhaps others might join in finding solutions. Continue on your path of feigned righteousness and their is o telling how this might end.
Sorry, not sure how but the last sentence should read "Continue on your path of feigned righteousness and there is no telling how this might end."
I thought readers might find these paragraphs interesting. They are from my Substack post "Why Kamala Lost in 9 Simple Charts".
https://charles72f.substack.com/p/why-kamela-lost-in-nine-simple-charts
"It's Not Just the Economy, Stupid"
"As a long time and unrepentant finance bro, I know I must guard against thinking about things in purely economic terms. Economics famously assumes that people are rational, which is to say that they are more or less capable of perceiving their self-interest and acting accordingly. But this is often not the case. In 2018 I wrote a Substack post titled “The Tribe has Spoken” which explored some of the less rational forces underlying our nation’s political divide. In retrospect there is very little that I wrote then that I would change today. However, I would point out that it was written before the onset of Covid, and since then things have gotten much, much worse.
"The post centered on two issues: the tribal nature of human beings and something Friedrich Nietzsche called “ressentiment.” Ressentiment is the feeling of powerlessness and resentment that society’s disgruntled “losers” feel toward the perceived “winners” – convenient and often imaginary scapegoats. I am no Nietzsche scholar (does anyone really get him?), but I believe that ressentiment today is a pervasive force in American politics on both sides of the political divide. Everyone feels aggrieved, and many – especially on the right – are convinced that their birthright has been stolen from them by sinister “elites.” It is a supreme irony that this was a central theme of J. D. Vance’s bestseller “Hillbilly Elegy.”
"Full disclosure: I do not consider myself a Democrat, especially as the party is now constituted. I consider myself a moderate, leaning conservative (in the Burkean sense). I believe strongly that the Democrat’s “Woke” left wing was the single critical factor in Harris’ defeat. Religious fanaticism – let’s call it what it is – characterizes both the Woke left and the MAGA right, and fanaticism is always destructive of liberal institutions. But the Democrats have one point in their favor; they have not attempted to overthrow a fair election with an armed insurrection. To me, that counts for a lot."
Let's stop speculating about what motivates Trump to be, well, Trump and focus on what he does. The Democrats can only counter Trump if they have ideas, proposed programs and candidates that attract centrist voters. So far the Democrats present none of those things.
Ressentiment
Absolutely right!
Le mot juste!
But what is to be done and what responsibility do prominent Democrats bear? Franklin Roosevelt, Groton and Harvard, married to niece of former President, would never had dismissed his fellow citizens as “clinging to their guns and their religion” or scorned them as a “basket of deplorables.”
The fog of passionate, ideologically-driven points of view make it nearly impossible to see those of others. You do touch on a few criticisms which bother Pres. Trump's supporters, but miss the root of all this. The gradual decline of presidential assertion of enumerated powers, deferring to a world of bureaucratic "lawmaking," staffed by those that share your point of view made it impossilble for the first term Trump to fulfil the obligations of his office. That he should purge his administration of the worst offenders makes plenty sense. That he has stilled the invasion on the borders you conveniently ignore. But you do not seriously look at what he inherited; heading toward financial collapse, on the verse of WW III, the incompetence and inability of Biden to govern, the constant barrage of attacks from mainstream media - runaway government spending. And now, the rejection of criminal law by prosecutors, mayors, governors and Democrats in Congress who have no policy to advance, but rush to defend those who have broken our laws by illegally entering our country. Pres. Trump's supporters see him fulfilling the promises he made to them, and his base is still strongly supporting him. The elistist left gave us a catastophe, and many of us hope Pres. Trump can right at least some of those wrongs. We love our Republic.
You are completely, hopelessly wrong. Yes, Biden was ineffectual and too old. But he left Tump with a good economy. His biggest failure by far was the Afghanistan fiasco, which had also been Trump's plan. We were not on the verge of WW III, although we may be now that we are without allies. Yes, he spent too much but the national debt increased 25% in his tenure. UNDER TRUMP, THE DEBT SOARED BY 50%. Our post-COVID inflation problem was mostly his fault. And, unless I am as insane as Trump, it is he who is defying federal courts and desecrating the Constitution. https://charles72f.substack.com/p/why-kamela-lost-in-nine-simple-charts