Trumpled (Alternative Leading)

[Tragic]

Your belief in the one man / great leader theory is one that I simply do not share. This difference of opinion is what caused our big blue on the senior coach issue, and I see little value in returning to the scene of the crime. Trump, Biden, Obama etc. have as much power as they're allowed to have, and whilst I'm not suggesting that Trump has no power or that he's harmless, I stand by my original statement - his power is not nearly as great as the corporate right wing oligarchs who really run the show.

Trump is not Machiavellian - he has no ideology except narcissism. He's not dumb, but he's a undisciplined, blatant, loose cannon, and has amazingly convinced the US population that he's an outsider just like them. The office of President means nothing to him IMO, which is why he treats it like trash.

I tend to agree on this one with you Pauly, although we've had the odd disagreement before on the footy.  From my understanding (have been taking a real interest in US politics and social issues for a few years now, but never been there), the system itself is screwed.  It would take a person of monumental talent and charisma to even make a small positive impression on the US political system.  Money is far too deeply embedded in every aspect of it.  Campaign money at all levels of government comes from big business, wealthy families, and special interest pressure groups, and they don't give for no reason.  They give because they expect their interests to be looked after.  A very rich person can use his/her own money to run for president and personally avoid those interests, but the president is only one person, the rest of the corrupt system is running the same way it always has. It's running on dirty money, and those in power keep the machine chewing up the masses for the financial benefit of the already rich. 

The people are desperate for a thing they call a 'living wage' - which is to have full time employment and be able to afford the basics to survive.  Many full time workers are classified as living in poverty, all thanks to big business getting tax cuts, and the worker having shizen minimum wage.  And then there's their health care system, where again big insurance companies, wealthy hospitals and docs, and big pharma don't give a crap about anyone who can't afford to pay.  And guns.  Guns, guns, guns.  The NRA doesn't care how many kids die at school. 

They are victims of a system that's been twisted to benefit those in power for generation after generation, and those who have the money and power will do anything to keep it that way because they don't want to get kicked out of the control room of the machine.  Then they'd be fodder themselves. 

Maybe this pandemic will bring these inequities to a head, and maybe some good will end up coming from it.  But don't count on it.  The worse things get the more those in control will protect their own interests.  It will take a proper uprising to make any real change over there I fear.  And that will require a leader who can rally all those crazies with their guns.  I hate to say it, but it will take an orangutan to do it, and he'll only pretend to have his supporters interests at heart...