Trumpism as Political Philosophy [View all]

[nadinbrzezinski]

Last edited Sat Mar 26, 2016, 02:10 PM - Edit history (1)

March 26, 2016 (San Diego) What is Trumpism? This is a basic question that few have asked. Why is his message resonating? What is he saying that has been so popular? These are important questions that deserve deep exploration. First off, he is not a classic conservative, or a classic liberal. Some of his ideas come from both ends of the spectrum. For example, he has been in the past for single payer health care. He has also said that the Affordable Care Act has not worked, and would like to repeal it and replace it. Access to health care for Americans is an issue he agrees with liberals. Though he disagrees currently as to how to achieve it.

Others of his positions have changed as he’s been getting ready to finally run for president. Among them his positions on choice, they have gone from traditional liberal positions, to opposition to most abortions. It is not like he woke up in 2015 when he started to explore this run in Iowa. His first foray into the concept of running for president was in 1988, then he toyed with it. He did as well in 2000 and finally in 2008. This idea of running for President is part of his DNA and some things have been constant over the years. They reveal partly what is driving Trump.

At the heart of Trumpism is the strong man. Most Americans are far more familiar with that concept when it comes to other countries. Whether this is the Latin-American Colonel who just carried a coup, or the classic European fascist of the 1930s. The strong man has certain characteristics. He is the only one with the solutions to all the complex problems facing the nation. He is also willing to sacrifice to save the nation from itself and bring it back to the glory days of a mythic past. In the case of the United States Trump will also restore the true social order that has been upended over the last generation or two. The election of a black man to the White House was the final insult.

http://reportingsandiego.com/2016/03/25/trumpism-as-political-philosophy/

A few posters asked that I run this here, so I will. I was not intending to.