At the heart of the infrastructure proposal is the requirement that new projects built should be self-funding in some form. All the loans that government equity-through-tax-credits are supposed to support will have to be paid back through some sort of user fee. What consequence will this have?
This shit gives me ulcers. When Trump makes vague promises to reinvest in America and put America first, I can project a somewhat palatable version of Trump's vision. $1 trillion on infrastructure? OK, so what if that's been on the table for 6 years. If the Republicans want to be the ones to say they did it, so fucking be it, as long as it's getting done. But then when you find out it's going to be backroom, shady ass deals involving private equity firms receiving tax credits to build only revenue-generating infrastructure, you realize that Trump is going to create the government he wished he had to work with when he was doing his construction deals.
At least his stance on bankers should be a good counterexample, right? Riiighht?Trump is going to create the government he wished he had to work with when he was doing his construction deals.
I'm sincerely curious: is there a benefit to keeping oneself aware of the pitfalls and drawbacks of a Trump administration that outweigh the bleak, depressive moods that come with it? Or will it become normal? Or will it never become normal and it will always be discouraging? I really hate to sound like a prima donna. Because life is actually been very kind to me, and Trump is not the first, the last, or the worst. But I've been flirting with a "news diet" where I eliminate educating myself on this because I'm sick of the high blood pressure, the cognitive dissonance, and the depressive mood that permeates after a dosage of this stuff. Who am I kidding. I'll never stop.
If you aren't one of the people that Trump-ism threatens, then no, there's probably no tangible benefit to following his moves in detail. But you should still do it. I'm also tempted to greet the next four years with cynicism, and to reject the political game as worthless. That really doesn't cut it though. The Trump presidency presents an affront to so many ideals I hold dear that to ignore it out of fatigue would be to pretend I didn't hold those values in the first place. Given your reaction above, I'm assuming that Trump somewhat irritates you as well. Good. Don't let go of that. Don't ignore that. Beyond doing it for yourself, there's also a duty to it. There's a duty we owe to the country; that we care for the institutions we've benefitted from all our lives, and that we pay attention so as to keep them honest and doing their jobs. Ignoring the news shirks that. Theres's a duty to other citizens, especially those who may be targeted or abused under a Trump administration. By choosing disgust over determination, we give up our power in the system and abandon them to whatever fate Steve Bannon thinks befits them. Lastly, there's a duty to keep others awake. To remind people that this isn't normal, and to keep making noise, even if it's screaming into a void. Because if you silence yourself, then you've done Trump and his kind's work for them. So, at a bare minimum, please keep following the news blackbootz. Because it's not about any one of us anymore. Not to be too melodramatic, but the future of the country(possibly the world) could change drastically in the next four years. That's too important to tune out.
"ignorance is bliss." Reaganomics 2.0. Look at what's happening to the dollar. It isn't right, or wrong... it's the market. A stronger dollar will allow stronger social reform down the line. The democratic party has some time to re-organize what they're running for. You can just as easily listen to Larry Kudlow and Fox news to curb your lack of appetite - at least they're positive now - who cares if they're right or wrong.... But if listening to an objectively biased take on the political scene sickens you, then you should probably look in the mirror. Everyone has their own opinion, and a lot of people apparently are not happy about this fundamental value binding our country. I don't want to come off so brash - but my life has not been an easy one. It has been full of ideologues that have all the "brains" in the world, and they get so wrapped around their heads... they do not even know how to comprehend a world outside of their values. Social Media and their "balkanization" into like-minded groups has effected them quite negatively. I'm not sure if that applies to you, but my premise is that there was an enormous bubble surrounding the democratic party for the last eight years. My proof was, more or less, displayed November 5th
Knowledge and news are not the same. News is temporary, is meant to incite emotion and often biased. In the last years I've dramatically reduced the amount of news I see per day. I don't seek it out anymore. Instead of watching or reading the news(paper) I now read more articles, books, watch documentaries and discuss issues here. Essentially, I aim to keep educating myself but not through the lens of The News(TM). Things like Trump's plans are depressing but it are important to know about. A lot of news is also depressing but doesn't make you a more educated citizen.a "news diet" where I eliminate educating myself
Yeah I'm pretty sure that's what news IS today. The intent for news is to inform... but anyone with some interest in following the money behind these organizations today would be quite lame not to consider the effect media bias has on what is covered and how it is covered.
I should have figured the one potential silver lining of this administration would be a mirage. On a related note, many voted for Bernie, and then Trump, or Bernie and then no one, because Hillary was perceived as woefully aligned with special interests. However, if we take a historical perspective, the U.S. is currently at a point with a historically low amount of corruption and injustice. It's a sad fact, but it is a fact nonetheless, made plain if you try to find another point in its history with less corruption and injustice. A Trump presidency is not going to collapse and leave us with a clean slate. We can descend down this path of more corruption and less justice for generations.
On the one hand I think that the long arc of time bends towards justice. On the other hand, I wouldn't be surprised if the trend towards less corruption would be halted for a term or two. Spending a bajillion dollars to build toll roads is definitely a good way to put a lot of taxpayer's money in the wrong hands.