gcomeau wrote:biochem wrote:The negatives are too many to mention. But on the positive side he is a self made billionaire so he can't be completely stupid. (Though he enjoys playing that on TV)
It's a massive stretch to call him self made. He came from a multi-millionaire family, got handed all his early business opportunities based on that, and had the luxury of being able to have his corporations declare bankruptcy
four times and then just keep on going with the family money.
The average person doesn't get to do that while they run off trying every get rich scheme they can think of with their army of economic advisers and lawyers until something works. I certainly wouldn't call him a self made man or take his current net worth as a sign of any special economic acumen. His primary talent seems to be spotlight grabbing.
Partially self made might be a better description. He started with a fortune and in spite of multiple bankruptcies used his business skills, self promotion skills and skills as manipulating the political system to make it into a huge fortune. He basically turned $40-200 million into $4-10 billion. So he does have some business skills at least at self enrichment.
However just to be clear I DO NOT like Donald Trump.
On the negative side
1. His personality
1a. He has an absolutely enormous ego and is desperate to be in front of the cameras as much as possible. So he does and says absolutely anything that will keep him there. Just imagine this personality trait as a president, he would propose all kinds of extremely controversial legislation just for the opportunity to grandstand in front of the cameras. And foreign policy... And military policy.... I can see this guy literally starting a war just to get more TV time.
1b. He enjoys humiliating those beneath him. And managed to turn this "lovely" personality trait into a top rated reality show.
1c. He viciously attacks and humiliated his enemies. This does have it's positive points but also turns minor enemies who could have been negotiated with into major enemies who will do anything to see you (and if president your country) destroyed.
1d. Trustworthiness on policy positions. He says things just to get attention. He may or may not actually believe any of them. While others may change their minds on individual items if you elect a moderate you'll get moderate policy proposals for the most part, if you elect a conservative you'll get conservative policy proposals for the most part. With him who knows what you will get?
1e. He believes in ME FIRST to an extraordinary level. And would use the presidency to turn his $10 billion into $100 billion. He has benefited many times in the past from crony capitalism and is a strong believer in it. While this is a problem with most presidents, in Trump's case he would bring 3rd world levels of kleptocracy to the USA.
2. He has no political background whatsoever. We saw the downside of this in the first 2 years of the Obama administration. Even many of Obama's allies admit that Obama made a lot of mistakes while learning on the job. And Obama had some experience, unlike the Donald who has none and thus would be expected to make many many more of these sorts of errors and with his personality....
3. Most of the people he has to work with in Washington hate him. Even most of those in his own party.
4. Does he truly have an understanding of the policy issues that a president will have to cope with? He is great at inflammatory soundbites but may or may not have an in depth understanding of anything other than how to get himself on TV.
compared to Trump. Only thing I don't like is his stand on gun control.
and, Mangy Fur the Smart Alick Spacecat.