Sunday, November 10, 2024

10: India

The Structure Of Trump's Victory

He won all so-called swing states. He has the Senate. He might as well get the House. And if he does not, I got to know Hakeem Jeffries before he ever ran for public office. :)

In a democracy, you try to read the political mandate. Trump has won a mandate. What does it mean? Different people will interpret it differently, of course.

(1) America In Decline

The slogan Make America Great Again can be seen as wanting to face the fact that America is in decline, but it does not have to be.

(2) Defunding NATO

This is not about not being serious about defense. This is about asking allies to foot the bill.

(3) The Border Blame

America has not just been a country of immigrants. It has been a country of illegal immigrants. When there were no airplanes, Europeans came to the American shore on boats, and they did not exactly have papers, and they were not exactly royalty. They tended to be the misfits. Illegal immigration rejuvenates America. It is not like they are increasing the quota for the legal ones, either. Crime is a separate topic. The crisis is the economy.

(4) The Bloated State

How do you downsize the permanent state? It's like, how do you build a wall? How do you deport 25 million people and still harvest food in Central Valley, California? How do you get rid of overregulation?

(5) Ukraine

North Korea, South Korea. Frozen conflict?

(6) Political Realignment

The composition has changed. More Hispanics coming in does not mean a bigger Democratic Party. It is not automatic. 2024 is proof.

(7) The Tariff War

Used to be the US government was funded not by taxes but by tariffs. That is ancient.

And, of course, there is a distinct possibility Trump is a bullshitter. "We will buid a wall and Mexico will pay for it." That was the promise in 2016. Was never going to happen.