If Trump Loses, Elites Will Rule Unchallenged For Decades

[Vambram]

If Trump Loses, Elites Will Rule Unchallenged For Decades | @AmacforAmerica

Examine the dynamics of the American two-party system, the role of elite influence in politics, and the impact of outsider candidates like Donald Trump.

amac.us

The American two-party system is built around the old British principle of a party of the “court” that is in power and a party of the “country” representing those who wish to replace those currently in office, not to overthrow them. A loyal opposition, which wishes to extract concessions or shift the balance of power within the system, is tolerated. A revolutionary opposition, which threatens to shake up the entire system, is not tolerated. Candidates with the support of only a minority of the American elite such as Richard Nixon, Teddy Roosevelt, or Ronald Reagan, are tolerated, though often undermined. Those who are viewed as a threat to the entire system – i.e., Donald Trump – are a different matter.

Since the founding of the United States, a loose alignment of professionals, businessman, politicians, and local elites who hold social power has proved remarkably effective at uniting to prevent candidates who do not accept the premises of the system, or, more often, do not understand them, from reaching the presidency. From Alexander Hamilton to Patrick Henry, Bernie Sanders, Tulsi Gabbard, Ron Paul, Pat Buchanan, and Ross Perot, these candidates are isolated and painted as a danger.

Occasionally, however, they will win a major party nomination. That happened in 1896 when Williams Jennings Bryan captured the Democratic nomination and in 1964 when Barry Goldwater won the Republican nod. In both cases, the candidates found themselves crushed under the weight of a financial and social mobilization unprecedented for decades.

This was precisely what was supposed to happen in 2016 when Donald Trump won the Republican nomination. Had the 2016 election resulted in the expected victory for Hillary Clinton, voters would have been reminded that going against the preferences of college-educated professionals is fatal.

Democrats, too, would have been reminded that with the support of that constituency, a candidate as flawed as Hillary Clinton can become president. The Republican Party would have obediently nominated a moderate, pro-business, pro-establishment candidate in 2020, and by strategically swinging between the two parties, white college graduates would have maintained their control of both.

That is not what happened. Donald Trump won, and in doing so, he risked doing something more. If he showed that it was possible to win without the approval of elites, then it was possible politics would polarize along educational lines. If he succeeded in winning again after having done so, it would potentially break their power permanently.

 

[Yttrium]

Considering how elite Trump considers himself to be, this argument seems pretty ironic.

 

[Vambram]

Considering how elite Trump considers himself to be, this argument seems pretty ironic.

He doesn't consider himself to be an elitist. However, even if he did, the vast majority of people in power who do oppose Donald Trump are indeed elitists in my opinion.

 

[Belk]

Elite

a select group that is superior in terms of ability or qualities to the rest of a group or society.


Yes. I can see where it would be a problem to have our best and brightest be in charge.

 

[The IbanezerScrooge]

"If the elitist I like doesn't win, we'll be stuck with the elitists I don't like!"

Cry me a river. What a ridiculous gripe.

 

[loveofourlord]

"If the elitist I like doesn't win, we'll be stuck with the elitists I don't like!"

Cry me a river. What a ridiculous gripe.

especially from the group that rules the country due to trumps last win.

 

[rjs330]

Yes. I can see where it would be a problem to have our best and brightest be in charge.

Spoken with the true elitist attitude.

 

[rjs330]

Elitists are those who believe in elitism.

the belief that some things are only for a few people who have special qualities or abilities :

Usually themselves of course. Tge rest of us are mere peasants.

 

[Pommer]

Are we supposed to be afraid that the “elites” will make the rich give up more money in taxes?

Threaten me with a good time, why doncha?

 

[Yeshua HaDerekh]

Are we supposed to be afraid that the “elites” will make the rich give up more money in taxes?

Threaten me with a good time, why doncha?

Really? In the end, raising taxes only on the wealthy ends up costing us more because prices will rise to make that up (just like your argument on raising tariffs...unless we make and sell only in the US). But you already knew that, right?

 

[Nithavela]

Really? In the end, raising taxes only on the wealthy ends up costing us more because prices will rise to make that up (just like your argument on raising tariffs...unless we make and sell only in the US). But you already knew that, right?

If the wealthy would pay as much on the dollar in taxes as the average person, instead of benefiting from lower tax rates, as well as innumerable ways to circumvent paying taxes altogether, it would already be a huge step in the right direction.

New OMB-CEA Report: Billionaires Pay an Average Federal Individual Income Tax Rate of Just 8.2% | OMB | The White House

For far too long, our economy has rewarded wealth instead of work—catering to the richest Americans and biggest corporations at the expense of ordinary people. At the center of that system is a tax code that allows the wealthy to avoid paying their fair share. And while we have long known that...

www.whitehouse.gov

 

[Yeshua HaDerekh]

If the wealthy would pay as much on the dollar in taxes as the average person, instead of benefiting from lower tax rates, as well as innumerable ways to circumvent paying taxes altogether, it would already be a huge step in the right direction.

New OMB-CEA Report: Billionaires Pay an Average Federal Individual Income Tax Rate of Just 8.2% | OMB | The White House

For far too long, our economy has rewarded wealth instead of work—catering to the richest Americans and biggest corporations at the expense of ordinary people. At the center of that system is a tax code that allows the wealthy to avoid paying their fair share. And while we have long known that...

www.whitehouse.gov

I would agree if what they are doing is illegal...and I am tired of hearing "pay their fair share" where no one can say what that is other than they need to pay more...

 

[Nithavela]

I would agree if what they are doing is illegal...and I am tired of hearing "pay their fair share" where no one can say what that is other than they need to pay more...

I think that a lot of people are trying to vote for people who would make such acts illegal.

This was a big argument of Trump, by the way. Remember this?

And people loved it when he said that he'd change up the tax code. And people voted Trump into office. And guess what, he also didn't close those loopholes, but rather gave out a tax cut that mostly benefited the wealthy. Because why would he cut into his own flesh? It's just smart business.

The 2017 Trump Tax Law Was Skewed to the Rich, Expensive, and Failed to Deliver on Its Promises | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

Policymakers and the public should understand that the 2017 Trump tax law was skewed to the rich, was expensive and eroded the U.S. revenue base, and failed to deliver promised economic benefits. A 2025 course correction is needed.

www.cbpp.org

When the normal working man pays an average of 13 % on his income and the wealthy pay 8 % on their income, then the wealthy need to pay more. At the least, they need to pay the 5 % difference.

 

[iluvatar5150]

I like how the OP’s piece makes “white college grads” out to be the boogeyman as if Trump and the rest of his campaign leaders aren’t white college grads.

 

[Matt5]

The best way to punish elites is to do nothing when a recession or depression comes. That means just letting everything fail that wants to fail. Let blood flow in the streets. All the elites who made bad decisions will get the punishment they deserve.

Concerning the upcoming election, it will be rigged. Highly doubtful that Trump can ever win. Lots of investigations concerning the 2020 election show the rigging, but little has been cleaned up. They're just going to do it again, and win again. Democracy is only an illusion in the West.

If you want to slog through the election investigations, check out this list.

 

[expos4ever]

Spoken with the true elitist attitude.

No, a simple statement of an obvious truth - reasonable person would want people who are "elite" in the sense of being the best and the brightest.

What are you suggesting, that we go with the incompetent and the worst?

 

[iluvatar5150]

What are you suggesting, that we go with the incompetent and the worst?

Don’t forget about loyalty to Trump.

 

[rjs330]

as opposed to what, the dumbest, most ignorant....well I guess thats trump so makes sense.

Another example of an elitist attitude.

Whatever happened to no one is better than anyone else? A Harvard grad isn't better than Joe plumber. Those that live in tge cities aren't better than those in tge country.

Elitists aren't better, smarter, more worthy than anyone else. They just think they are. They fly thier jets while telling the rest of us we need to fly commercial or not at all. They demand we cut our carbon footprint and live in community dwellings while they live in one or more mansions and buy up acres and acres of land so they can live alone.

The elites claim of you didn't go to one of their approved elite schools and instead went to a smaller lesser known school you aren't as educated or as smart as people who went to the elite school.

And anyone of us can get an elitist attitude. Conservatives are not exempt from such things. We all need to check ourselves.

 

[rjs330]

When the normal working man pays an average of 13 % on his income and the wealthy pay 8 % on their income, then the wealthy need to pay more. At the least, they need to pay the 5 % difference.

If that is true I agree. However 50% of Americans pay zero taxes. Thats unfair as well. Thats why I'm a true supporter if the flat tax. Everyone pays the same percentage. No tax deductions, nothing. You pay a certain percentage and that's it. If you made a million you pay 13%. If you made 40000 you pay 13%. You nake 25000 you pay 13% No one has to spend a lot of time filing thier taxes or hiring tax people to help. The IRS is all but eliminated. Nit completely because there are those who will still cheat.

The flat tax is the most fair system.

 

[Desk trauma]

Is this a part of that 1,000 years of darkness we're in for due to reelecting Obama?