Quite a few leaps here. I don't think the analogy to relativity in physics holds up too well, but agree that perspective is important. If Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Magic Johnson and LeBron James and other prominent blacks cannot set an example for blacks to get vaccinated, why would D. Johnson have any stroke with the electorate or Congress with respect to an issue like a more equitable tax system? There are lots of explanations for Trumpism. Why do evangelicals support someone who is clearly not living a Christian life? Who has no interest in the Bible except as a prop on church steps? Who sews the seeds of chaos and yet who exploits the system for his own personal gain? I expect that a lot of them enjoy seeing DJT give the finger to big government. Look at his latest deal to create a new social network. Stock jumped dramatically after the SPAC deal was announced. Now he will have his own platform to distribute his daily bile. Will your little people listen more to DJ than to DJT? I doubt it.
I don't like the revolving door in government but, having known some people who have revolved I would argue that the majority of them went in as dedicated Americans hoping to fix the system. . . . Just focusing on the IRS and Treasury, the problem is largely one of the laws written by Congress. A dedicated staffer can do only so much. Focus on things like the taxation of carried interests or capital gains or whatever.
It is a long way off and I have never had a good political crystal ball, but I am getting pessimistic about the midterm elections. I expect Biden will lose at least one house of Congress. If he does not get his legislative agenda accomplished in the next few months, I expect that we will be in for more of a McConnell stalemate. What can the little people do about that? Relying on DJohnson to get out the vote (which is in effect what you are saying) feels like a hail Mary to me.
Stan, a devoted reader, writes:
Quite a few leaps here. I don't think the analogy to relativity in physics holds up too well, but agree that perspective is important. If Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Magic Johnson and LeBron James and other prominent blacks cannot set an example for blacks to get vaccinated, why would D. Johnson have any stroke with the electorate or Congress with respect to an issue like a more equitable tax system? There are lots of explanations for Trumpism. Why do evangelicals support someone who is clearly not living a Christian life? Who has no interest in the Bible except as a prop on church steps? Who sews the seeds of chaos and yet who exploits the system for his own personal gain? I expect that a lot of them enjoy seeing DJT give the finger to big government. Look at his latest deal to create a new social network. Stock jumped dramatically after the SPAC deal was announced. Now he will have his own platform to distribute his daily bile. Will your little people listen more to DJ than to DJT? I doubt it.
I don't like the revolving door in government but, having known some people who have revolved I would argue that the majority of them went in as dedicated Americans hoping to fix the system. . . . Just focusing on the IRS and Treasury, the problem is largely one of the laws written by Congress. A dedicated staffer can do only so much. Focus on things like the taxation of carried interests or capital gains or whatever.
It is a long way off and I have never had a good political crystal ball, but I am getting pessimistic about the midterm elections. I expect Biden will lose at least one house of Congress. If he does not get his legislative agenda accomplished in the next few months, I expect that we will be in for more of a McConnell stalemate. What can the little people do about that? Relying on DJohnson to get out the vote (which is in effect what you are saying) feels like a hail Mary to me.