Trump Thread

[Fragony]

If election weren't dodgy they wouldn't exist anymore

[Gilrandir]

To advice you. And they gave poor advice. Not congratulating Putin is simply not recognising his government, very bad advice, Trump did the right thing doing it

Then it is your fault. YOU chose and hired people to give you advice. If they ALL give the same advice and you don't follow it - well, either you chose the people that are bad advisors (your fault) or you refuse to follow good advice of the best minds you chose out of the 250 mln people (again your fault).

[Husar]

If election weren't dodgy they wouldn't exist anymore

That's like saying "I don't need the spikes, if I weren't at this mid-level of the slippery slope, I'd be a splash of goo at the bottom..." and then sliding further downwards...

It would have been better if noone had congratulated him. At the very least it would somewhat undermine his supporters thinking that he commands respect all over the world and is therefore a suitable strong leader.

[Gilrandir]

It would have been better if noone had congratulated him. At the very least it would somewhat undermine his supporters thinking that he commands respect all over the world and is therefore a suitable strong leader.

For his supporters fear that he instills is more important than respect. There is a Russian proverb: "They fear me which means they respect me".

[Husar]

For his supporters fear that he instills is more important than respect. There is a Russian proverb: "They fear me which means they respect me".

This is the old crazy idea. I respect my friends more than my enemies and even if not, someone I fear I want to get rid of, someone I respect as a friends or as a good example I want to support.
The fear-based approach is merely the last option for those who fail with the other approach....losers holding on to a straw with force...

[Seamus Fermanagh]

This is the old crazy idea. I respect my friends more than my enemies and even if not, someone I fear I want to get rid of, someone I respect as a friends or as a good example I want to support.
The fear-based approach is merely the last option for those who fail with the other approach....losers holding on to a straw with force...

Even Machiavelli acknowledged it was better for a leader to be loved than feared.

The most stable political systems are so because the people "buy in" to the system enough to put up with its foibles for the greater long term stability, freedom, and advantages it begets. As has been written by wittier folk than I, truly effective governments derive "their just power from the consent of the governed."

Neither fear, nor affection, is the strongest and longest lasting approach to garnering that consent.

Sic transit Trump.

[Sarmatian]

Even Machiavelli acknowledged it was better for a leader to be loved than feared.

Actually, it's the other way around. Better to be feared than loved, if you can't be both. Putin is pretty much both in Russia at this point.

[Fragony]

Actually, it's the other way around. Better to be feared than loved, if you can't be both. Putin is pretty much both in Russia at this point.

You are rrught, he went straight against the idea that a leader should be loved. It's more subtle than fear though. Machiavelli was an early political realist

[Fragony]

That's like saying "I don't need the spikes, if I weren't at this mid-level of the slippery slope, I'd be a splash of goo at the bottom..." and then sliding further downwards...

It would have been better if noone had congratulated him. At the very least it would somewhat undermine his supporters thinking that he commands respect all over the world and is therefore a suitable strong leader.

Your body has a skin but there is a whole lot more going on