Last night was the second debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. I thought it would make a good LTMD as last night fundamentally changed politics in this country.
Donald Trump has single handedly blurred the line between a reality TV culture and mainstream politics. Now, everything is entertainment and it has revealed that a good chunk of Americans are simply not very sophisticated. They want a good show and they want simplicity, complicated international and domestic issues put in black in white, good and bad which is really the only way they can understand. Facts no longer matter and anything longer than a three sentence explanation makes them lose interest.
One thing I do like about Donald Trump is that he isn’t afraid to call out a few things in American politics as they actually are. Our politics, like most politics around the world are extremely corrupt. He correctly called out that our strategy in Syria is a disaster and that Hillary Clinton really doesn’t know “who the rebels are.” My favorite part of the night was when he disagreed with his own running mate Mike Pence about attacking Syrian forces directly. I would have loved for Trump to ask why America is against Syria and Russia?
How much of the electorate could explain why we are enemies with Russia instead of friends? How many could explain why America want Assad out of power? I myself am pretty astute but I really don’t know as well. My best guess in a source would be the magazine International Affairs but even they are lopsided just as every magazine is, towards their own point of view. The only other way to learn the truth is to ask an insider somewhere, perhaps a friend in the State Department? From everything I’ve read and know I would imagine it all boils down to tribes. We are nations of tribes and some tribes like other tribes more than others. There were some big wars, similar tribes (nations) simply sided with other nations that were most like them!
As much as I really fear Donald Trump becoming President I do think some of the points he make to be absolutely refreshing as American politics and politicians are so completely full of bullshit, corruption and only looking after themselves and their own jobs.
Hillary was being truthful when she said politicians need to have a public and private stance on issues. She was also being truthful when she said you have to speak to different audiences in different ways in order to convince and make things happen.
I did listen very intently to the talk about Syria. I am really concerned about a possible war with Russia and feel as though the world has become much like tectonic plates built up to the breaking point with tension and soon release an earthquake. I feel as though change is on the horizon and the only way big change happens is through war. Syria is eerily reminiscent of World War One where a small localized problem drags in larger countries ultimately resulting in millions and millions dead. Russia has grown bolder and are now involved directly. What is America’s next move? If they were to attack the troops as Mike Pence says, that means attacking Russia directly.
I absolutely hate how politicians such as Pence can so easily, and almost without a care in the world advocate more war. Words such as that from politicians result in real actions and create a lot of real death. While this happens people like Mike Pence sit back in comfort, ensure their kids do not have to go and when pressed about their position after so much death and destruction deflect, deny and blame someone else.
I feel that we are simply not evolved enough as a species to avoid another World War and I wonder when it will happen. The only things we have to stop massive war is tremendous American military power and economics. Wealthy elites of the warring countries both see the possibility of their source of wealth ending. It is the elites cause war and if war threatens their finances then it is obviously an incredible deterrent.
In the end, I feel as though money and power are what dictate the course and future of countries; the aristocrats and elites always want more and there is never enough. This is quite obvious in our two presidential candidates. Hillary with her unbridled ambition will never be satisfied until she is president and Donal Trump seems to me as a man who is simply bored with just being rich and like Hillary will only be satisfied when he holds the most powerful position in the world.
I really cannot see politics in this country getting better, but instead continuing down a hole without end. Civilized debates and honorable candidates are a thing of the past. It is now all bluster, lies, and self-interest.
I almost forgot: the best line of the night was when Hillary said it was good that Donald wasn’t in charge of the laws of this country to which he shot back, “Because you’d be in jail.”
He is getting a lot of flak for this comment from both sides but he’s also absolutely right. Hillary did break the law and through her family’s political power she was able to put herself above the law. Yes, it does make America look like the third world when one candidate threatens to jail the other candidate, absolutely true. But what if the other candidate actually did break the law and it was so painfully obvious that the law doesn’t apply to people like her?
For me, I’ve become disillusioned with the whole thing and not sure how I’ll vote. It really doesn’t matter here in California as Hillary has a lock on the state. If things continue the way they are I’m not sure if I’ll even exercise my vote for president ever again?
