This makes no sense. It's hard for me to believe anyone in the White House thinks this will work.
To summarize @Laurie_Garrett's thread, the White House has a 2-part plan to get Trump reelected.
Part 1 is to persuade people that the numbers of COVID-19 deaths are wrong.
1.
To summarize @Laurie_Garrett's thread, the White House has a 2-part plan to get Trump reelected.
Part 1 is to persuade people that the numbers of COVID-19 deaths are wrong.
1.
OK, that's pure Trump: Try to invent his own facts. Set that aside for now.
Part 2 is a bit more complicated and totally nonsensical.
To summarize, the strategy (and premises) goes like this:
🔹A strong economy will get Trump reelected
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Part 2 is a bit more complicated and totally nonsensical.
To summarize, the strategy (and premises) goes like this:
🔹A strong economy will get Trump reelected
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That right away is a bit delusional. Trump's approval is historically bad. Scroll down and compare his approval to other presidents at this point in his presidency.
projects.fivethirtyeight.com/trump-approval…
Even when the economy was strong, Trump's approval was underwater.
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projects.fivethirtyeight.com/trump-approval…
Even when the economy was strong, Trump's approval was underwater.
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OK, so assume that a strong economy will get Trump elected.
The plan for getting the economy booming is this:
🔹Force factories to open by creating a demand for products
The idea is if a bunch of people demand something because they need it (like brand new trucks). . .
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The plan for getting the economy booming is this:
🔹Force factories to open by creating a demand for products
The idea is if a bunch of people demand something because they need it (like brand new trucks). . .
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...factories will have to open to provide the trucks.
The way to create demand is by executive order, for example requiring that rigs be less than 10 years old on US highways.
Then truckers will have to buy trucks, so the factories will have to open.
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The way to create demand is by executive order, for example requiring that rigs be less than 10 years old on US highways.
Then truckers will have to buy trucks, so the factories will have to open.
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It's totally crazy. The first problem is enforcing it. He'll need gazillions of federal cops checking highways. Then what do they do when they find an 11 year old truck? Confiscate it?
That should endear Trump to truckers.
Even if he could enforce a crazy law like that. . .
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That should endear Trump to truckers.
Even if he could enforce a crazy law like that. . .
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. . . all he will do is put truckers out of business.
The other idea was forbid companies (like power companies) from buying parts from certain countries.
If they are forced to buy American parts (so the logic goes) American factories will have to open . . .
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The other idea was forbid companies (like power companies) from buying parts from certain countries.
If they are forced to buy American parts (so the logic goes) American factories will have to open . . .
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. . . and this will get everyone back to work and the economy will be strong again and everyone will love Trump and re-elect him.
What will happen is power companies will shut down. Truckers will go out of business.
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What will happen is power companies will shut down. Truckers will go out of business.
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But it won't strengthen the economy.
There's also the jurisdiction problem. State highways and local roads are not his jurisdiction.
Imagine Trump issuing an order that to drive on a federal highway, you need a car under 10 years old.
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There's also the jurisdiction problem. State highways and local roads are not his jurisdiction.
Imagine Trump issuing an order that to drive on a federal highway, you need a car under 10 years old.
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Then imagine thinking this will create a booming economy because gazillions of people will have to buy new cars.
It's stupid.
People who drive old cars generally can't afford a new one, particularly with such high unemployment.
People will just stop driving.
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It's stupid.
People who drive old cars generally can't afford a new one, particularly with such high unemployment.
People will just stop driving.
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Remember, the plan is for this to create a booming economy by October, which is when people will begin voting (early voting, absentee, etc.)
Trump is a two-trick pony:
🔹Create crises and spectacle
🔹Undermine factuality
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Trump is a two-trick pony:
🔹Create crises and spectacle
🔹Undermine factuality
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Both of his tricks require fooling us or manipulating us.
So we have to (1) not be fooled and (2) not be manipulated.
We are in control of both of those things.
While he's good at lying and creating crisis and spectacle, he obviously has no understanding of economics.
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So we have to (1) not be fooled and (2) not be manipulated.
We are in control of both of those things.
While he's good at lying and creating crisis and spectacle, he obviously has no understanding of economics.
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I meant that it won't work because it won't actually boost the economy 👇
If he is trying to create chaos, that is different. He can definitely succeed at that.
The strategy was that the plan would actually boost the economy (as in factually).
Nope
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If he is trying to create chaos, that is different. He can definitely succeed at that.
The strategy was that the plan would actually boost the economy (as in factually).
Nope
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There are so many miscalculations it's head spinning.
A federal executive order can only apply to driving on federal highways.
He can't tell people what they can drive on state or local roads.
He can't tell people what they can drive on state or local roads.
