Trump is the outer manifestation

[lunatica]

of the power of greed unleashed in our country since Reagan decided it was a virtue.

Greed is the ugly underbelly of our nation. It is also the most easily corruptible state of mind. It brought Trump to the presidency and the greed in the Republican Party, as the majority party, has kept him there. His base are also greedy, though they’ll never have any hope of becoming rich. Why? Just because he feeds their greed. Keeping it alive with spoken and implied promises. Even now, in the grip of the pandemic which has devastated the very foundation of our country in the darkest of times Trump is giving wealth to the rich, and turning his back on the rest of Americans.

Oligarchy is just around the corner. I truly believe this election is our last chance to keep our much battered Democracy. I believe we can do it. I believe we will. But we have to find something better than greed to fight for.

[eShirl]

1. encouraged by the "prosperity" preachers

harkens back in America all the way to the Puritans
the idea "prosperity" is evidence of God's approval

[lunatica]

3. The irony of the transposition of

being rich because you’re favored by god himself and that it’s ok to indulge in your basest desires for the same reason is stark.

I think the only people who truly understand religion are Atheists. Another strange irony maybe?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. Greed has been around forever. Trump was a greedy fuck long before Reagan;

it's just that greed became fashionable and accepted during the '80s, just as Trump has made racism fashionable and acceptable (in some quarters, at least) lately. The GOP has been the party of the rich since before the Depression. But I think what Trump is feeding isn't so much people's greed, though that's part of it, as their grievance and their perceived victimhood. His base thinks they are being oppressed and that other people (brown and black ones, specifically) are being given benefits that rightfully should be theirs. The greed part of it belongs mostly to the cynical rich who have supported the GOP for decades because it favors their financial interests.

[PETRUS]

4. I think you're right.

A couple of weeks ago, I read an essay by someone who was saying that the bulk of Trump voters aren't stupid - they don't actually believe he's honest, or particularly competent - but angry. For them, Trump represents revenge.

[lunatica]

5. I was referring to greed as a political belief.

Trump’s base are just as greedy as the 1%. You can be bereft of riches and still be as greedy as the richest people. When greed is given a high status as a valid and desirable emotion it takes over.

The believe that greed is a virtue.

[Karadeniz]

6. Several years ago, analysts classified America as an oligarchy...a different analysis later decided

We were a plutocracy. Now that the DoJ and other depts, esp. the intelligence wings, are being manipilated to accommodate Trump reality...with Congress hamstrung by the senate...with Trump successfully defying the constitution...with factual news being abused...I don't see any interpretation now of America as anything but fascism.
...add using the military for his own benefit...nepotism...
Cronyism...profiting from his office...I bet I missed quite a few!

[lunatica]

7. I would agree that greed is the underlying

cause and impetus of all the modes of governance by the few that you listed. Especially governing by tyranny.

I think the idea of governing through social activity, or socialism where the benefits are spread to everyone while the cost is also paid by everyone might not fall into the mistakes of greed based governance. That’s what makes Democratic Socialism appealing to me.

Greed should not be the primary way to govern.