So, for all the people that don't like Trump, consider this -- if it wasn't for Trump, the Republican Party's front runner would have been Jeb Bush...
Enough to ruin my day!

Sorry Strugatsky if I gave the impression I took it as a personal attack I did not. I took as what you intended.

I also agree that I would prefer a system that naturally works against the dishonest. We had one and it has gone the way it has because people started to exploit that system and by doing so turned it into something else.

I do not believe that the turn coat will do anything good. He is exceptional at saying things that create a buzz and knowing what to say.

The reason his business ventures eventually fail, I think, is likely that he lacks follow through on what he commits to. He is a showman and a very good one. Showmen usually lack the ability to do what they say and say what they mean. His business history and political history show him to fall in this category.

Obama says all the right things for the left. He follows through with only the things that are most destructive to the US because that is his agenda.

Trump has a history of changing his agenda for the moment to keep or get momentum. He cannot be relied upon not to do so again. He will do so again it is his nature.

I like lots of what I hear him saying but its just that empty words with no action.

First a report!
He told us in advance what he planned to do. Few were listening.
The following is a narrative taken from a 2008 Sunday morning televised
"Meet The Press'.
From Sunday's 07 Sept. 2008 11:48:04 EST, Televised "Meet the Press"
THE THEN Senator Obama was asked about his stance on the American Flag.
General Bill Gann' USAF (ret.) asked Obama to explain WHY he doesn't follow protocol when the National Anthem is played.
The General stated to Obama that according to the United States Code, Title 36, Chapter 10, Sec. 171...
During rendition of the national anthem, when the flag is displayed, all present (except those in uniform) are expected to stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. Or, at the very least, "Stand and Face It".
Senator Obama replied:
"As I've said about the flag pin, I don't want to be perceived as taking sides." "There are a lot of people in the world to whom the American flag is a symbol of oppression..." "The anthem itself conveys a war-like message. You know, the bombs bursting in air and all that sort of thing."
Obama continued: "The National Anthem should be 'swapped' for something less parochial and less bellicose. I like the song 'I'd Like To Teach
the World To Sing'. If that were our anthem, then, I might salute it. In my opinion, we should consider reinventing our National Anthem as well as 'redesign' our Flag to better offer our enemies hope and love.
It's my intention, if elected, to disarm America to the level of acceptance to our Middle East Brethren. If we, as a Nation of warring people, conduct ourselves like the nations of Islam, where peace prevails - - - perhaps a state or period of mutual accord could exist between our governments ....."
When I Become President, I will seek a pact of agreement to end hostilities between those who have been at war or in a state of enmity, and a freedom from disquieting oppressive thoughts. We as a Nation, have placed upon the nations of Islam, an unfair injustice which is WHY my
wife disrespects the Flag and she and I have attended several flag burning ceremonies in the past".
"Of course now, I have found myself about to become The President of the United States and I have put my hatred aside. I will use my power
to bring CHANGE to this Nation, and offer the people a new path. My wife and I look forward to becoming our Country's First black Family. Indeed, CHANGE is about to overwhelm the United States of America."

Second an observation!
People get the government they deserve. There is pretty good evidence that many Americans consider it their rational self-interest to live off the lootings from those who produce. Why do they think that way? Because the values they hold are vastly different that those held by great majorities of Americans say 150 years ago. Why are their values different? Because they are not educated to use their minds to the best of its capacities. They are indoctrinated.
The cancer of communist/socialist/fascist/statist ideology has spread far and wide. In might be curable only after another Dark Age.
In other words, I do not think that it is stupidity (although widening the electorate probably decreased the average cognitive ability some), because I think that there is some good evidence that average cognitive ability increases slowly over generations. It is that we are not using the tools that we have available optimally.

I think Jackson did not understand finance. Jefferson also did not understand how fractional reserve banks worked and vilified because of his ignorance.

excellent point

Perhaps I'm not getting my point across very well. The system that we have is so intertwined with corruption that it is almost impossible to not part take in it in one way or another. Sure, one can draw a line somewhere and not take welfare checks, but still get on a subsidized bus. Our money (our labor, our knowledge, etc.) is stolen every day; and you don't take (steal, as there is no other way) something back, it is only to your own detriment, as that simply leaves more for other looters to steal. That is the point of Obama Care - to intertwine looting so deep and thick that, short of a revolution, it cannot be untangled. Trump made a career looting, for sure. I applaud him for acknowledging it. And, perhaps irrationally, I tend to believe that at this point of his financial empire, he is more interested in sense, honesty and legacy, than another freebie. I don't think that Trump is a perfect representative of my wishes, by any means. But the ship is sinking, and while others clean the decks, he's attempting to patch up the big holes.

Is it by Susan Cain?

Jan

wood, it took e less than 10 seconds to find this on Trump and Eminent Domain-
http://www.nationalreview.com/article...

I think he was wrong to do what he did with the Bank.

The Duck 2016

And if you think rationally after learning this, you will never be tempted to vote GOP or Democrat again ;^)

Perfect. Thanks. It's at my local library.

Grin!

You think that trying to pay the lowest taxes is the same as taking grants and government guarantees? Completely irrational.
You don't think its good to rely on honesty? But you are willing to trust Trump's honesty? Irrational.
Strut, I think we likely agree on many things, but you are not making your point clear and rational in this case,

OMG.

Jan

That is a good point about Horowitz. I have never trusted him because of his past. But he has been very important to strategic assessing the political left. Trump is an entertainer. I see him as someone who will sell capitalism. Romney ran from his wealth. We have an upcoming election with a criminal and a socialist and someone needs to stand up there and not cower from their personal wealth. There are few like Trump who don't feel they have to apologize for the gains they've achieved.

I find Trump repulsive in personality, and there is a lot of pro-and-con about his value as a potential president - I am still undecided about that (personal reaction notwithstanding). So far, the best I can say about Trump is that Putin would be afraid of him. The worst I can say of him is that I would not be proud to have him represent me and my country.

I do love the shake up he is giving the political arena, though. He may be the icebreaker that shatters the floes so that other vessels can sail into port.

Jan

"We all do what Trump does, only on a smaller scale. "
You speak for yourself, not for me.

Advice for anyone trying to understand a politician or someone wanting to become a politician. Ignore everything they say and pay close attention to everything they do. It is axiomatic that politicians lie and they do so to further their own political career. Also, when someone desires a political office they can be expected to lie in order to conceal their true motives. Trump is an enigma but is probably not an exception to this rule.

Thank you. I have done something similar, though it was with a couple of $20's...and I was desperately poor at the time.

And further thanks for your last paragraph, XenokRoy. I appreciate people who take time to make sure that a conversation is impersonal.

Jan

This was not a personal attack/comment. I simply brought up an example using a "personal" case for illustrative purposes. That said, I applaud the fact that there are some honest people in our society. However, I don't believe it is a good policy to simply rely on an individual's honesty, for it may be short lived. I much prefer a system where corruption and dishonesty work against a person practicing it. Capitalism is that system. And anytime any form of socialism is introduced, dishonesty and corruption come with it. Trump is a successful exploiter of the system he lives in. Most of us are exploiters of this system as well, although less successful. But if he is recognizing the sickness, is willing and able to stop (at least some of it), that is worth something! More, I would say, than the alternative offered by the establishment. Trump is accused of 4 bankruptcies; I would say that every congressman, senator and especially president, should get a lifetime award for continuously running the country into a bankruptcy.

If you were familiar with me you would not have posted this.

I was unemployed for 1 and half years during this recession. I qualified for unemployment I never took it. I have had time in my life where I have qualified for other government programs, I have never taken a dime from them.

I prefer to pay as little as a I legally can to any government thief and take as little as I can as well.

I practice what I preach so yes, if I see a $100 bill on the ground I will take it to the lost and found and after the 90 days law required I would keep it because no one is likely to come claim it, but I would attempt to return it if I can. The fact is I have done that exact thing with a $50 bill in a local amusement park.

This is the most fundamental root cause of nearly every problem we face in society. People willing to take what they have not earned. WIthout people willing to "take advantage" the people at the top can gain no power by the corruption stealing it in the first place support.

If we are ever to really fix this problem more people must choose to not participate in the theft, especially people who do it on such a grand scale, not to eat but to get rich of the labor of others. He is James Taggert and there are Hank types out there as well.

To soften this a bit, I understand that not everyone is in the situation where then can avoid taking it when out of work and they are forced to do so to eat.
.

Yes, Coolidge! He may still be alive, on the authority of Dorothy Parker, who is quoted as saying, when she learned that Coolidge had died, "How could they tell?"

http://www.amazon.com/Quiet-Power-Int...

I read for about 6 hours last night, and did not sleep enough. great book.

Thanks, khalling, for that very enlightening article.
In my own dino way, I was finding Trump's bull in a china shop rampage highly amusing and was cheering him until his reaction (and also his crybaby name calling thereafter) to Megyn Kelly's opening debate question.
I have a lot of respect for Kelly as well as Michelle Malkin, whose warning about Trump I just read via a link in the Eric Ericson article.
I was all over it arriving at following conclusion anyway and now I shall state it without equivocation--
But what sounds better?
Dino dumps Trump
or
The Dino dumps The Donald