He is remaking the government in his own vision. Though I kind of expect it to fizzle in 2028. His endorsements haven't succeeded in elections.
Trump 2.0 official thread
- Thread starter siegecrossbow
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I got a different interpretation of this particular episode, of what President Trump said.
It is a generational divide.
The older Americans, such as Trump, there was a saying, do not poke the Bear.
We all know what that meant.
Now, today, and last several years, all they do, those punks, is poke the Bear.
Well, guess what?
That is what I believe Trump is saying.
Poke the bear, and find out what happens.
The US can still "keep it together" because it is almost its own continent. what trump is doing is significantly weakening the power of the federal government, by dismantling its bureaucracy and potentially reducing funding. eventually the power vacuum will have to be filled by something else, either state power or non-governmental power. perhaps at the end of all this the US will not lose any territories per se, but it will simply lose the ability to wield its power.
He is not weakening the government. Not at all. You are not thinking cynically enough. You need to develop some cynicism to see through these actions. He is strengthening the President's power. Check the Unitary Executive Theory. He wants power for himself as a president. His inspiration is Orban from his own words. Make of it what you will.
What's wrong with strengthening the president's power? You don't actually believe all that separation of powers theory with do you? It's universally recognized that the US political system is dysfunctional today, the checks and balance bullshit is part of the problem.
If Trump wants to do great reforms, he has to centralize power, this has been repeated many times throughout US history e.g., Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, FDR.
Again as I said you are not cynical enough. What makes you think that Trump wants to bring reforms. His DOJ has yet to bring a actual case for fraud. His rhetoric is completely opposite of that if FDR.
That’s Trump’s prerogative.
Yes within laws that he himself said he would follow. Again think cynically. Don't give him the benifit of doubt.
Because Trump's strengthening of power is coming at the expense of the institutions the helped build the US into a post World War II power. While many will argue that elements of the Federal government are dysfunctional, you don't go about reforming those dysfunctional elements by smashing everything with a hammer with no replacement in mind.
FDR didn't centralize power to benefit himself, power was centralized around him due to circumstances of the time and he arguably used those historically significant times to make the country better for the future.
Trump and co aren't doing anything like that. They are chasing shadows (e.x. DEI), settling political or personal vendettas by absolutely abusing the power of the executive office sometimes in direct conflict with the Constitution.
Finally, yes the separation of powers are vital to the functioning any democracy. If you don't have clearly defined roles and responsibilities that separate the Executive, Judiciary and Legislative branches of government you run the risk of concentrating power with a single group or individual. That is a disastrous system to run on.
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