For those of you who are into keeping score on how well, or poorly, Trump is at keeping his many promises, you'll want to bookmark this link https://thinkprogress.org/trump-made-a-lot-of-promises-about-what-he-will-do-as-president-weve-documented-663-of-them-3d28f0131e7f#.x7ni4arpr because ThinkProgress had put together a list and a team of journalists who will be keeping track. My intended short introduction turned into a full on essay of sorts, after which I have much more information about the ThinkProgress "Trump Promise Score Card."
* You'll have to forgive me for not giving Trump any benefit of the doubt. He has repeatedly shown that he lives within a narcissistic bubble detached from down to Earth reality. I have yet to see the slightest indication he possesses any scruples or empathy. Trump doesn't read and beyond money and marketing appears to know nothing, no history, no science, no geography, no evolution, nor any philosophy beyond,
"The Golden Rule" ~ The man with the gold makes the rules!
No different from a few thousand tribal warlords and emperors who came before, to dominate, destroy, get destroyed. When I was a kid, we had this idea going around that humanity may finally be able to learn from that repetition of historic lessons. How wrong we were. I think my generation lost our focus. We learned to detach and take it all for granted. For the most part we were all too willing to turn our backs on the lessons of the 70s - namely, that we as a global society needed to power down a bit. Less baby making. Wiser resource consumption with an eye toward sustainable systems. (For instance why couldn't tire manufactures lease their tires, then repurpose returning tires? Same with batteries and other such short duration resource rich items? Simple things like that.) Also, incorporating an appreciation for the profound impacts increasing our planet's atmospheric insulation was sure to have on the biosphere we depend on.
Future, long term survival was dependent on a mature appreciation for this planet Earth and the myriad of biological systems and subsystems along with our global climate engine all interwoven in amazing ways. But, fast cars, fast food, kick ass movies and music and sports and fantasizing about having riches and ever increasing profits became all we needed. At best it was a Faustian Bargain.
I'm afraid we liberal intellectual thoughtful types have lost our country because we could never convey the importance of our planet's natural systems, its biosphere and climate system and how they enabled all we hold dear and depend on.
Seems that all the faith-shackled and agenda driven Republicans see are commodities to be exploited and consumed as fast as possible - though no one has a clue what we are in such a damned rush to achieve.
For me the heart break of the past two months of lost opportunities to make a decisive stand, leaves me feeling bleak as ever. America has voted (citizens who didn't vote, also voted!!!) and its a resounding endorsement of the Golden Rule - The man with the gold, makes the rules.
America appears to have evolved into a nation who is okay with that attitude. After all, too much has never been enough for us. We live on a daily media diet of obsessive love for Hollywood's explosive insanity played out in a parade of "thriller" movies who's gross sales are tracked in hundreds of millions of dollars and followed in headline news like the horse races used to be - at the same time scientists are scrambling for funding to study this home planet that we depend on for everything, at fractions of the cost of a cheap movie, while having to endure malicious dirty tricks.
From what I'm seeing the majority of liberal types have again retracted into their own communities to tut-tut all the avericious people being put into really impactful positions of near supreme power. Oh yeah, we gave away the Supreme Court too. Holding protests that usually only impress each other, since they rarely convey a clear policy strategy or achievable goal to follow up on. Something that's symptomatic of Democrats' tendency to grossly underestimate their political opponents. Liberals seem to ignore that Trump and gang couldn't care less what we think, they are getting the keys to the kingdom, with the military tossed in for good measure. We need to do more.
Senators and Representative need to hear from tens and hundreds of thousands of citizens. If everyone who takes to the streets these next days also commits to get and remain informed and to call or write their US and state Representatives - now that would make an impression! But, then you'll have to do it again, and again, again over the next 2 and 4 years.
Seems that all the faith-shackled and agenda driven Republicans see are commodities to be exploited and consumed as fast as possible - though no one has a clue what we are in such a damned rush to achieve.
For me the heart break of the past two months of lost opportunities to make a decisive stand, leaves me feeling bleak as ever. America has voted (citizens who didn't vote, also voted!!!) and its a resounding endorsement of the Golden Rule - The man with the gold, makes the rules.
America appears to have evolved into a nation who is okay with that attitude. After all, too much has never been enough for us. We live on a daily media diet of obsessive love for Hollywood's explosive insanity played out in a parade of "thriller" movies who's gross sales are tracked in hundreds of millions of dollars and followed in headline news like the horse races used to be - at the same time scientists are scrambling for funding to study this home planet that we depend on for everything, at fractions of the cost of a cheap movie, while having to endure malicious dirty tricks.
From what I'm seeing the majority of liberal types have again retracted into their own communities to tut-tut all the avericious people being put into really impactful positions of near supreme power. Oh yeah, we gave away the Supreme Court too. Holding protests that usually only impress each other, since they rarely convey a clear policy strategy or achievable goal to follow up on. Something that's symptomatic of Democrats' tendency to grossly underestimate their political opponents. Liberals seem to ignore that Trump and gang couldn't care less what we think, they are getting the keys to the kingdom, with the military tossed in for good measure. We need to do more.
Senators and Representative need to hear from tens and hundreds of thousands of citizens. If everyone who takes to the streets these next days also commits to get and remain informed and to call or write their US and state Representatives - now that would make an impression! But, then you'll have to do it again, and again, again over the next 2 and 4 years.
I would truly love to have my assessment and distrust of this man proven wrong. This "Trump Promises Score Card" that Koronowski and his team have put together, (which they will be referring back to as these years of living dangerously unfold), will provide an objective score card with which to judge.
_________________________________________________________________
Trump made a lot of promises about what he will do as president. We’ve documented 663 of them.
The people who elected Trump expect him to come through.
Ryan Koronowski | January 19, 2017
Research Director at ThinkProgress.
Trump made a lot of promises about what he will do as president. We’ve documented 663 of them.
The people who elected Trump expect him to come through.
Donald Trump will take the Oath of Office 583 days after he first announced his improbable run for the White House.
Along the way, he made 663 promises (and counting), according to a ThinkProgress analysis of Trump’s public statements that examined well over 4 million words from his media interviews, his policy position papers, and his speeches to supporters, interest groups, and national television audiences.
These promises matter. Trump’s voters expect him to deliver. As Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) pointed out two weeks ago on the Senate floor regarding Trump’s pledge to not cut entitlement programs like Medicare, “This was a central part of his campaign… This is what he asked millions of elderly people and working class people to vote for him on.”
Yet attention spans are shorter than ever, and Trump himself is skilled at distracting attention from policy or scandal with tweets and endless varieties of incendiary remarks. It’s easy to forget what he told voters he would do.
So starting the week after the election, ThinkProgress undertook a two-month research project to document every promise Trump made, from the golden escalator ride to the inauguration.
They are housed here in ThinkProgress’ searchable, interactive Trump Promises Database:
… Starting on Inauguration Day, ThinkProgress will track which promises Trump fulfills, breaks, or ignores over the course of his presidency — including any new ones he makes after he takes office.
He has even made promises about keeping his promises.
“Promises, promises, all talk, no action,” Trump told a Michigan audience in August. “All talk, no action politicians. They talk, talk, talk. You vote them in with great fanfare, and then they do nothing. With Trump, that’s not going to happen. Believe me.”
We’ll be watching.
Judd Legum, Josh Israel, Esther Yu Hsi Lee, Zack Ford, Laurel Raymond, Aaron Rupar, Jonathon Padron, and Adam Peck contributed reporting and graphic design work to this project.
Tips on Calling Your Member of Congress
When you dial 202-224-3121 you are directed to an operator at the Capitol switchboard. This switchboard can direct you to both senators as well as representatives.
Once the operator answers, ask to be connected to whomever you are trying to reach. They will send you to your senator's or representative's office line, and a legislative assistant will answer the phone.
It is important to let them know why you are calling and what issue you are calling about. You will sometimes be able to speak directly to your senator or representative, but more often you will speak to a staff person in the member's office. This person keeps track of how many people called and their positions on issues, and provides a summary to the member. Be assured that your call does count, even if you are not able to speak directly to your senator or representative.
* You can also find the direct number to any member's office by consulting the
How to be effective about contacting your senator:
What Really Happens When You Call?
No comments:
Post a Comment