I’m always astounded by the blind ignorance and rank stupidity of this looser.
Not a shred of personal responsibility will surface, nor a glimmer of light representing truth, shall shine from any unturned stone of the Democrats wrecking machine!

Jump off a cliff fool!

Alon’s piece sums up very well the reasons for the disgust and horror so many of us feel at Trump’s behaviour and its consequences for the USA and the rest of the world. The irony is that many on the left find it hard to criticise Trump too severely because he is only doing what they have argued that the USA has always done – acting in bad faith with ruthless self-interest and no care for the consequences. It is hard to mourn the betrayal of the values of American exceptionalism if you never believed in it in the first place.

Hi, just to let you all know that I've made some deletions after some objectionable posts. One of those who made one of the posts actually emailed me suggesting he might have gone over the top. I agreed, but I also appreciate receiving the email.

Sorry that I had to delete most of the posts but it was difficult to untangle the parts that needed to go from the parts that deserved to stay.

So, if I deleted your post, you might want to come back and have a second shot at it. Just be careful not to urge other posters, or anyone else, to act with violence, if even just towards themselves.

We all make mistakes, and I'm just glad I was here quickly enough to ensure that this one didn't propagate.

Graham

I suppose we can have faith in the TDS crowd that they will reject any dividends & social benefits of the Trump Presidency in a couple of years ?

It is absolutely staggering to see how Trump has been allowed to erode the foundations of America’s democracy with such impunity. And so devout is his fanbase, with their unshakable support, that they apparntly either don't care or don't see it.

The sheer speed at which he has dismantled democratic norms is astonishing. Pardoning insurrectionists? Siding with Putin over Ukraine? Gutting foreign aid and alienating allies? If any other world leader had done these things, the US would have been the first to condemn them. Yet here we are, watching the Republican Party not just tolerate Trump’s lawlessness but actively enable it.

What’s equally baffling is the inaction of the Democratic Party. If they understand the gravity of what’s happening, why aren’t they fighting harder? Where is the urgency? From the outside, it looks like one side is burning the house down while the other is politely asking them to reconsider. This is not a normal political cycle - it’s a full-blown democratic crisis, and the world is watching in disbelief.

America has long positioned itself as a beacon of democracy, yet Trump is doing exactly what autocrats have done elsewhere: consolidating power, punishing dissent, and reshaping institutions to serve himself. If Americans don’t stop him, they might wake up to find their country no longer resembles the democracy they once took for granted.

Hi Yuyutsu,
I took your advice and made GY aware of my comment.
I don't necessarily think my comment was factually incorrect, but my opinion is one thing, yet the integrity of the forum especially here on the main forum is another.
I apologise to both you and diver dan if I inadvertently got your comments removed as well.
I like to have my say, but the last thing I want is to bring GY or the forum into disrepute.
Usually I don't cross the line, but many know I generally use every bit of my 'permitted speech' as is allowable, but as I stated earlier this time I may have edged over that line.
Apologies if I caused anyone offense.

AC

Not a problem.
Good of you to man-up.
No offence taken.

Hi John Daysh,

Sometimes I wonder what 'democracy' even means.
Does the power go to the elected, (and the buck stops with them) or does the country remain in the hands of unelected bureaucrats, with the elected leader hamstrung to do the will of the people and that which he campaigned on - i.e. what he was elected to do?

The majority of the things you seem to hold grievance with were policies he openly stated during his campaign.
- Policies he was elected upon - 'of the people and by the people'
You complain about Trump eroding the foundations of America’s democracy.
One might argue that you don't actually support democracy at all.
That Trump should discard his election promises to the people which he has a mandate to carry out, and do something else instead.
- That's not democracy.

And if that's what you think democracy is, then what's the point of it, what does it even mean?
- If not carrying out he will of the people and policies he was elected upon?

- Please explain -

Dear Critic,

You have done the right thing in contacting Graham.

Your earlier post was not factually correct, especially the part regarding Jewish bankers that presumably want to screw up the world (sorry, I no longer have your exact words in front of me).

Your post could have easily offended and intimidated Jews that work in the banking sector, like the girl from your bank's call-centre who helps you to get back into online banking when you forget your password, or the boy who stacks up the ATM for you every morning. They could be Jewish, they could perhaps even visit the synagogue once a year, but are they guilty of anything in your view?

The author, when wearing his Israeli hat, clearly belongs to the Israeli peace camp and his articles on Israel make lots of sense (even when I do not 100% agree), and should he go back to visit Israel he would surely be demonstrating - for the hostages, against the war and against Israel's judicial revolution. He would also likely be demonstrating against exempting ultra-orthodox scholars from the IDF and that is where I would mightily disagree with him. Nothing could probably hurt that good man more than being associated with Netanyahu's criminal war on the Gazan people.

In this article, the author was wearing his American hat.
I normally have little interest in America's internal affairs:
The American voter gave his verdict, that while the USA was still a democracy, and it's not my place to interfere with their choice, at least so long as (unlike China) unhappy Americans are free to leave at any time.

Clearly, America no longer wants to take part in global affairs (other than when it comes to Israel, but that interest too, I believe, is temporary and will come to an abrupt end when least expected), and that is their legitimate prerogative.
We in Australia just need to get used to a world where America, for all practical purposes, no longer exist. Adjustment may be hard at first, but I think it will prove beneficial in the long term.

Hi Armchair Critic,

I get what you’re saying, but democracy isn’t just about winning an election - it’s about how a leader governs once they’re in power.

A president isn’t a king. There are laws, institutions, and checks in place that are designed to prevent a leader doing what Trump envies about the positions of some of the world's current dictators. The idea is to prevent any one person from abusing their position, regardless of their popularity.

Trump may have campaigned on some of these policies, but that doesn’t automatically make them good for the country. Leaders still have a responsibility to uphold democratic values and protect everyone’s rights, they're supposed to just do whatever they think their supporters want or whatever it is that aligns with their ideology. When a president starts pardoning violent rioters, attacking the courts, and tearing up international agreements without a plan, that’s not strength - it’s just recklessness.

Also, let’s be real - Trump didn’t exactly win in a landslide. He lost the popular vote twice, and even in 2024 it was a close when you disregard their electoral college system. A leader in a democracy is supposed to represent everyone, not just the people who voted for them.

At the end of the day, democracy isn’t just about elections, it’s about making sure the system stays fair and stable. And Trump has done nothing but push it closer to the edge. He's a prime example of how a narcissist governs when their understanding of the world is based entirely on fake news and they act only on impulse that is driven purely by ideology and a desire for vengeance.

Hi Yuyutsu, and John;
Yes I did report my own post, that was a first.
I thought about what you said for a little bit Yuyutsu, and I thought 'Yes you're right', the right thing to do is let GY decide if I went too far, and I respect his judgement.

I feel I need a little more time to respond thoughfully...
I don't think I stated that Jewish bankers specifically want to screw up the world, (that would be a topic all to itself) but probably moreover stated they profit off conflict.

And I don't think I'm factually wrong.
It's Pro-Israel neoconservatives that set U.S foreign policy, including Netanyahu's wars, it's not really a debate I have the policy documents. And at the same time, you have other Jews like Soros and the Open Society foundation helping to cause civil unrest and overthrows; (we can call it by it's technical name - 'liberal intervention') as well as (George Soros) operating hedge funds protiting from FOREX with those created conflicts, and Blackrock, who also invest and profit from conflict, by investing in military and defense, with the shonky senators who sign onto it getting kickbacks.

Lindsay Graham didn't make 80+ million working for the government for example...
It's certainly no lie to say the Israel lobby has US congress in their pocket.
If a senator or congressman (or woman) does not pledge their loyalty, they fund the other candidate instead and attempt to 'primary' them.

As for USAID and the National Endowment for Democracy, you'll note that I clearly stated on this very forum many years back before anyone had even heard of them what these people do.

There is some genuine aid, but most of it is geared towards being soft power for regime changes and US imperialism.

[Cont.]
"Trump may have campaigned on some of these policies, but that doesn’t automatically make them good for the country."

It reminds me of a story from my family from many years ago.
My stepmothers Dad worked in some kind of carpentry field.
The boss, perhaps not thinking clearly told him to cut some table in half, and even though he was fairly certain it was the wrong thing, did what he was told anyway. The boss came back, went off at him, and he just stated 'I only did what you old me to do'.

Do you think democracy should be managed in a way where the people can't decide things for themselves if it means the people make poor choices?
(Though I'd argue there's a lot more to this specific topic in practice, as the things the 'Average Joe' thinks are good, aren't necessarily so.

USAID isn't about aid.
It's the 'Agency for International Development'
It's the funding mechanism for the National Endowment for Democracy and was established to separate covert actions from the CIA.
I know this to be true as this is what people who worked there have openly stated.

Who and what does a continuing war in Ukraine serve?
It's almost like there's a 'War on Peace' right now.
What's more important, conscripted Ukrainians dragged off the street and sent to the front line, to defend Blackrocks investments;
What's more important their lives, or the interests of those with vested financial interests, and who pays for it all, while others profit from the conflict?
- We all do, one way or another.

Everyone must suffer, so a small few can benefit.

Ukraine has lost and there's really not much anyone can do about it.
- The only way to stop an 'escalatory spiral model' is diplomacy.
And it could be argued a nuclear war serves no-one.

I don't care about principles if the outcome is the whole world getting blown up.
At that point, ones principles would be 'misguided' at best, and 'sheer lunacy' at worst.

Dear Critic,

You should have stated at the onset that your [deleted] post was specifically about the United States of America.

Look, I'm not familiar with people and organisations, including those you mentioned, within that particular crazy and insignificant country. I understand that Americans are crazy, perhaps due to certain mineral deposits or mushrooms in their soil - that has nothing to do with some of them incidentally happening to also be Jewish.

So I will leave the fact-check for others who may be more interested in that part of the world, but it was wrong of you to blame "Jews" in general for what happens within that particular crazy country, intimidating Jews around the world who have nothing to do with that specific country and probably, like myself, don't even know about whatever goes or doesn't go on in there.

Actually, what is your particular interest in that country? Do you have relatives there?

Speaking of the CIA, I also am offended when every time before I, here in Australia, can watch a Hindu religious DVD, made in India and having nothing to do with America, must wait for that ugly, irreligious and intimidating CIA notice to go away - I can only be happy that now under Trump America's bad influence over the world will diminish.

As for Netanyahu's wars, they are not decided in America, only by Netanyahu himself according to his personal and family needs. He would do exactly the same with or without American aid or approval, the only difference being in the number of Israeli soldiers killed and wounded in the process.

You also mentioned Ukraine, actually why?
Anyway, I don't side with any megalomaniac tyrants and their far-too-big countries in whatever continent, but with the little ones trodden under them.

And well, perhaps unlike yourself, I DO care about principles.

«Do you think democracy should be managed in a way where the people can't decide things for themselves if it means the people make poor choices?»

Definitely not: that wouldn't be a democracy at all.
But why did you ask?

Sometimes I wonder what 'democracy' even means.
Armchair Critic,
My experience of democracy is that it is governed by minority groups in much the same way as in a malignant Dictatorship ! Ideally, Democracy would be a benevolent Dictatorship !