I found this on Facebook and was completely flummoxed by it. This is written in an intelligent, seemingly thoughtful manner by a friend of a relative whom I will not name. It has the sound of a working class white man’s grievances couched in intellectual language. S/he dislikes “political correctness”. The description of the “so-called Republican conservative perspective”, sounds a lot like corporate Democrats to my mind.
S/he rightly thinks that money is a serious problem in politics. What s/he has come up with, other than that, is a strange brew of what is “pragmatic” and how Donald Trump fits the bill.
S/he thinks (more accurately, feels) that:
“Immigration isn't a Republican problem – it isn't a liberal problem –it is a problem that threatens the very fabric and infrastructure of America. It demands a pragmatic approach not an approach that is intended to appease one group or another.”
Here’s the text in full. See me down below the lengthy quote. If a long Facebook comment could be in violation of something, please let me know and I’ll get rid of this.
It's is my opinion that Trump is a pragmatist. He sees a problem and understands it must be fixed. He doesn't see the problem as liberal or conservative, he sees it only as a problem. That is a quality that should be admired and applauded, not condemned.
Viewing problems from a liberal perspective has resulted in the creation of more problems, more entitlement programs, more victims, more government, more political correctness, and more attacks on the working class in all economic strata.
Viewing things according to the so-called Republican conservative perspective has brought continued spending, globalism to the detriment of American interests and well being, denial of what the real problems are, weak, ineffective, milquetoast, leadership that amounts to Barney Fife Deputy Sheriff, appeasement oriented and afraid of its own shadow.
Immigration isn't a Republican problem – it isn't a liberal problem – it is a problem that threatens the very fabric and infrastructure of America. It demands a pragmatic approach not an approach that is intended to appease one group or another.
The impending collapse of the economy isn't a liberal or conservative problem, it is an American problem. That said, until it is viewed as a problem that demands a common sense approach to resolution, it will never be fixed because the Democrats and Republicans know only one way to fix things and the longevity of their impracticality has proven to have no lasting effect. Successful businessmen like Donald Trump find ways to make things work, they do not promise to accommodate.
Trump uniquely understands that China’s manipulation of currency is not a Republican problem or a Democrat (sic) problem. It is a problem that threatens our financial stability and he understands the proper balance needed to fix it. Here again successful businessmen like Trump who have weathered the changing tides of economic reality understand what is necessary to make business work and they, unlike both sides of the political aisle, know that if something doesn't work, you don't continue trying to make it work hoping that at some point it will.
As a pragmatist Donald Trump hasn't made wild pie-in-the-sky promises of a cell phone in every pocket, free college tuition, and a $15 hour minimum wage for working the drive-through at a Hamburger place.
I argue that America needs pragmatists because pragmatists see a problem and find ways to fix them. They do not see a problem and compound it by creating more problems.
You may not like Donald Trump, but I suspect that the reason people do not like him is because: (1) he is antithetical to the “good old boy” method of brokering backroom deals that fatten the coffers of politicians; (2) they are unaccustomed to hearing a candidate speak who is unencumbered by the financial shackles of those who own them vis-a`-vis donations; (3) he is someone who is free of idiomatic political ideology; and (4) he is someone who understands that it takes more than hollow promises and political correctness to make America great again.
Listening to Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders talk about fixing America is like listening to two lunatics trying to “out crazy” one another. Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio are owned lock, stock, and barrel by the bankers, corporations, and big dollar donors funding their campaigns. Bush can deny it but common sense tells anyone willing to face facts is that people don't give tens of millions without expecting something in return.
We have had Democrats and Republican ideologues and what has it brought us? Are we better off today or worse off? Has it happened overnight or has it been a steady decline brought on by both parties?
I submit that a pragmatist is just what America needs right now. And as I said earlier, a pragmatist sees a problem and understands that the solution to fix same is not about a party, but a willingness and boldness to get it done.
People are quick to confuse and despise confidence as arrogance, but that is often just the reaction from those who have never accomplished anything in their lives despite having opportunity and ability and people who have always played it safe not willing to risk failure.
This is the classic example of how conservative and progressive populism can overlap and yet not have the overlap acknowledged by either side. This person has picked up the part of the populism that conforms to his/her authoritarian/conservative world view, and rejects the similar message from progressives because s/he thinks Democrats are “lunatics” and “out-crazying” one another. S/He also mistakes tyranny as boldness, and bullying as confidence.
I’ll just put this out there. If you find it interesting and believe you have further insight on what it is that’s going on here beyond what I’ve written, I’d love to read what you have to say.