With the election tomorrow, I'm trying to empathize with Trump supporters

Empathy. It's a fine-sounding word. I aspire to it. But it can be damn hard to do when people act like selfish jerks and I'm supposed to look upon their twisted view of reality with empathy. 

That's how I feel about Trump supporters. They cheer on their chosen candidate, a twice-impeached former president, convicted felon, habitual liar, and instigator of a violent attempt to subvert the result of the 2020 presidential election that was conducted freely and fairly, which Trump lost.

Of course, that only scratches the surface of Trump's negative qualities and wrongdoing. Yet polls show that almost half of American voters will cast their ballot for him. How they can do this mystifies me. 

Trump has openly said that if he wins, he plans to govern as a "dictator on Day 1." His chief of staff says he is a fascist. His reverence for authoritarians indicates that this is his dream job. Yet I find it difficult to believe that so many of my fellow citizens truly want to elect a Hitler-wanna' be.

I'm definitely not a poster child for empathy. However, on the whole me and my fellow Democrats possess much more empathy than the typical Trump supporter. I say this because Trump exhibits essentially zero concern for anybody other than himself. 

His speeches are full of insults, fear mongering, and demonization of anybody who isn't white, heterosexual, and conservative. Trump makes no attempt to reach out to moderate voters who can't buy in to his Make American Great Again bullshit.

But the audiences at his rallies cheer Trump on when he denigrates anyone and everyone who doesn't fit into his Trumpcentric perspective on the world. Which makes me wonder: are Trump supporters actually so uncaring, or are they the victims of forces beyond their control?

Since I don't believe in free will, I consider that both things are true. They are uncaring, and they're victims.

An article in the October 2024 issue of Scientific American, "The Empathy Incentive," gives some clues as to how this comes about. The online title is: "Being Empathetic is Easier When Everyone's Doing It." I'll share a PDF file of the article if the excerpt below makes you want to read the whole thing.
Download Being Empathetic Is Easier when Everyone’s Doing It | Scientific American

“If you’re surrounded by empathic individuals, it really has an influence. It increases how your brain responds to the pain of another person,” Hein says. “The bad news is, it also works the other way around.” In other words, if you’re surrounded by people who are indifferent or hostile, you’re apt to mirror their social example as well. One 2023 study shows that people who identify as politically liberal have stronger empathetic brain activation than conservatives, raising questions about whether social norms within each political group might drive empathy differences between them.

Makes sense.

The speeches of Kamala Harris are filled with talk about how our country has to do more to help struggling people. She wants more affordable housing, better child care, help for families both raising children and caring for aging relatives, and expanded health benefits, to name a few policy goals.

When us liberals hear her speak this way, we're inspired to do more ourselves to aid those less fortunate than we are. Meanwhile, Trump supporters are being fed a steady diet of fear, anger, lies, and revenge from their own presidential candidate.

So it's no wonder that the lack of empathy conservatives manifest naturally, perhaps because of their individualistic worldview, is exacerbated by being surrounded by members of their chosen "tribe" who are spurred toward even less empathy by Trump's communications with them about how it's fine to be uncaring toward anyone who disagrees with you.

Harris says that she wants to listen to those who have views different from hers. Trump says that he wants to lock up his political opponents. 

Since I see Trump as being a clear and present danger to American democracy, I have a lot of difficulty being charitable toward his supporters, given that they're enabling his destructive authoritarianism. My hope is that if Harris wins the election, Trump will fade away and his influence markedly diminish.

Yesterday I wrote a post for my Salem Political Snark blog that predicted a Harris victory. To learn why I feel this way, check out "Why I expect Harris will beat Trump fairly easily." Of course, I recognized I could be wrong, saying:

So here's some other factors that lead me to believe that not only will Harris defeat Trump, she'll do so by winning more than the 270 electoral votes she'd get by holding on to the usually safe blue states, beating Trump in the Blue Wall of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, and gaining the single electoral vote in Nebraska's 2nd District.

(I'm expecting that Harris will win all of the above, plus North Carolina and Nevada. If I'm horribly wrong, gleeful Trump supporters can tell me how stupid I was in post-election comments on this post.)

Sam Harris is backing his (unrelated) namesake. He's made his substack post available to everyone. "Literally and Seriously: Why I Support Kamala Harris for President" is a good read.

Comments

[um]

>> But the audiences at his rallies cheer Trump on when he denigrates anyone and everyone who doesn't fit into his Trump centric perspective on the world. Which makes me wonder: are Trump supporters actually so uncaring, or are they the victims of forces beyond their control?<<

It is the ANGER towards those that neglected them and their interests for decades and now can rejoice one that beats the culprits up.

Mrs Harris wears the mask of those they hate, not for what they are but for the consequences their governing had for them.

By the way this is just one group of people with their interests, there are more like the evangelicals

What is going on has nothing to do with Trump. It is a movement going on in the cultures of the west. What is going on in the USA is also happening in Europe.

For a culture and society to function for all inhabitants, there must be shared interests. Compare it with the mortar in a house that binds all things together. If these interests are not longer the same and shared by all it has the effect of transforming mortar into lose sand, what on its turn makes the whole construction unstable and prone to collapse.

What is going on can be compared with the time just before the French, Russian and Chinese revolution.

Remember the words of Maharaj Ji ..they are not allowed to go that far astray that they cannot be brought back to the path.

Now just ponder if and how any politician has that power etc to unite the two halves in your country again into ONE nation again ... sharing one and the same values and meaning

It is all about the ..."evil of wealth" ...many, many have come to realize that they, if things continue as they have done for decades .... will be OUTCAST ... LOOKED DOWN UPON ....and ...they are fighting for their cultural and social SURVIVAL

Looking at TRUMP as the cause and at Mrs Harris and her party as the SAVIOR is just turning ones back upon what is really at stake.

Unfortunately, thinking that solving the negative is creating the positive has never worked in the life of individuals nor in that of groups. ..every revolution only changed the form of power.

Groups do well if they can ask for somebody to take the guidance on his or her shoulder, somebody that is willing and able to serve their interests and welfare. History tells us that this has happened now and then but not most of the time.

Most of the time only the interests of a small group is looked after and over time they exaggerate it so much that the rest cannot longer swallow it

Someone I visited in France lives in what was once a great mansion, Was because the tenants working the fields, being squeeze like lemons, finally set it in fire ... they were living a miserable life in the mud, darkens and cold houses while the "nobel" inhabitants were living in ever growing luxery

You have created in the USA and we here in Europe a new form of "nobility" at the expance off others ..... hahahaha.....and now you blame Trump

[um]

Writing what i did ,brought an memory to the surface:

Many, many years ago somebody of the suppressed communities in South america said:

They have beaten us with a stick and when they did we just covered our heads with our hands in order to protect ourselves. We cannot do any thing but bear it and WAIT. Wait for the day that they get tired of beating us or think they have beaten all life out of us. THEN we will raise up grasp the stick and beat the very light out of them.

[Ron E.]

Empathy involves understanding, perhaps emanating from a mind that has experienced what the other is experiencing. Sympathy, is more to do with a genuine concern for others rather than having experienced similar troubles. Sympathy seems to be more closely connected with compassion than sympathy. Joan Toliffson expresses it thus: - “In my opinion, this seeing that there is no self and that as (quite naturally) it arises, it’s not quite believable anymore. And: - “No one [no self] is making it happen. Seeing this is an enormous relief. It takes away guilt and blame. It gives us compassion for ourselves and for everyone [everything] else being the way we all are.”

Um writes: - “What is going on has nothing to do with Trump. It is a movement going on in the cultures of the west. What is going on in the USA is also happening in Europe.” This is quite reasonable, though I would add that it has always been so. There have always been revolutions, the down-trodden rising up to depose the ruling establishment of the time.

The issue with much of the west in recent times may be fueled by less tangible reasons rather than the pasts’ more palpable motives. Of course, there undoubtedly exists oppressed and deprived classes of people in the west, though when scenes are broadcast of riots and unrest, it seems to be comprised of well-dressed and well-fed people rather than the ragged, undernourished people who were rebelling for a decent standard of living.

Today it seems more to be driven by media distortion, conspiracy theories and disinformation, immigration fears, less spending power for people etc. The ‘America Dream’ – that everyone has the opportunity to succeed and attain a better life doesn’t work in practice. There will always be an extremely wealthy upper class, a well-off middle class and a working class, it’s human nature. Similar to the rest of Europe – and elsewhere.

People can generally feel poorly treated and used (even if by other counties perspective the seem not). Someone like Trump being a ‘good old boy’ can be seen to be a champion of people Saying how he will ‘drain the swamp’ gives the impression that he will (in Robin Hood fashion) take from the rich and give to the poor, whereas in reality he will no doubt try and replace the present top echelon (e.g., the supreme court!) with his own privileged coterie.

[manjit]

Are we calling it for Joker card, Trump, yet?

“But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty. And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are.”

1 Corinthians 1:26-28

[um]

@ Manjit

When I was still a church-go-er I did not understand this kind of cryptic language and even today I nstill don't

If you can refrase it it would be welcome.

[Whocudpossiblyhavthunkit]

Last laugh on the Dems

Trump looks like winning by huge landslide majority.

Biden would likely have done better than Harris but still would have blown it.

Sympathy should be reserved for the likes of all the pseudo libs
eg. Harris (Sam) Springsteen Nelson Young Swift J.Lo Beyonce De Niro etc and etc and of course Hines.

[Jim Sutherland]

Here was what I posted on my Facebook Wall at 6:50 P.M. Up to that time, I had refrained from discussing any Politics on my Facebook site. But considering that most Churchless Members here suffer from TDS, I think I should let members know where I stand.
“ Well Friends, now that the world is watching, and holding their breaths, if Orange Man Bad, or Kamala Harris is going to become the world’s most important Leader, I will now come out and say Who I voted for, since it’s too late to change any one’s mind of who wins. It isn’t even 7:00 PM, so I don’t know the outcome any more than others. But for ME,……this was the clearest, and most easiest choice of my life time , that I voted for a U.S, President. I could share all my reasons for my decision, but they aren’t important to any one other than me. I have followed it all since all the chaos we have all lived through since Trump announced in 2015, he was running for President, I voted for him both in 2016, and again in 2020. But bet you’ll never guess who I voted for this time, for 2024? Early voting in Virginia was 45 days ago,
and I arrived there the first day, and voted at 9:00 AM! Again, it was the clearest Vote of my entire life, and regardless of who wins, I am prepared to fully stand by my Vote, regardless of all consequences! Soooo, for 2024, I voted for,……Band Roll,….
DONALD J. TRUMP, again, for the 3rd time.
I won’t hold any personal grudges against any of my Trump hating FB friends who decide to unfriend me because of my choice. I never cluttered my FB Wall with Politics at all, up to now, trying to persuade any one to vote for Trump.
Jim Sutherland
6:50 PM /Nov. 5th, 2024

[manjit]

Democrats to Blame for Trump's Triumph:

https://youtu.be/zLiPtR-r76s?si=Asu4qV-pKgJs0nYu

[manjit]

"The Joker originated in the 1860’s during the American expansion of the mid-west. At the time the card game Euchre was popular amongst Pennsylvanian settlers and they were looking to heighten the games excitement through the use of a trump card.

This high scoring trump card was called The Best Bower card and in the 1860’s it became known as The Joker."
https://learnplayfoundation.com/portfolio/just-because-the-joker/

"The Trickster Archetype
The Joker also represents the trickster archetype found in various mythologies and literary traditions. As a trickster, the Joker challenges norms, reveals hidden truths, and helps characters grow through disruption."
https://hearts.co/joker-symbolism-in-playing-cards#:~:text=The%20Joker%20also%20represents%20the,and%20complexity%20to%20card%20games.

"At their core, tricksters represent the unpredictable, unstable, and often disruptive forces at play in both the natural world and human society. They are boundary-crossers and rule-breakers who challenge the established order and introduce chaos into seemingly stable systems."

"Yet through their mischief and deception, tricksters also often bring about transformation, creativity, and new possibilities. Their disruptive influence can be seen as a necessary catalyst for growth and change, shaking up stagnant or oppressive structures and opening up space for new ideas and ways of being. In this sense, tricksters are not purely destructive figures, but rather agents of the transformative power of chaos and uncertainty.

One key aspect of the trickster archetype is their amorality – they operate outside of conventional moral frameworks, driven by their own desires and impulses rather than a sense of right and wrong."

"Interestingly, unlike the other Norse gods, who are often associated with specific natural features or human activities (Thor with thunder, Odin with wisdom and war, Freya with love and fertility), Loki represents a more abstract and elusive force – the inevitability of change, instability, and even destruction in the world. He embodies the idea that even the most seemingly stable and predictable aspects of life are ultimately subject to disruption and transformation.

This association with both creation and destruction is another common theme in trickster tales across cultures. The trickster’s mischief may bring about temporary chaos, but it can also clear the way for new growth and possibilities. In many Native American Coyote stories, for example, Coyote’s antics often lead to the formation of new landscapes, the introduction of important cultural practices, or the redistribution of resources and power among different groups.

One such tale from the Navajo tradition describes how Coyote’s theft of fire from the fire gods ultimately benefits humanity, as he spreads the stolen embers across the world, bringing warmth and light to the people. Here, Coyote’s trickery and disregard for the gods’ rules leads to a positive outcome, reflecting the transformative potential of the trickster’s chaotic energy.

Psychologically, the trickster archetype may represent the shadow sides of our own psyches – the repressed desires, fears, and impulses that we keep hidden away from the conscious mind. Tricksters often embody qualities that are taboo or uncomfortable for individuals and societies to acknowledge, such as greed, lust, or aggression. By confronting us with these shadow aspects in their stories and myths, tricksters can force us to question our assumptions and confront the more unconscious, primal aspects of our own nature.

This confrontation with the shadow is not always a comfortable or easy process, but it is necessary for psychological growth and integration. As Carl Jung himself wrote, “The shadow is a moral problem that challenges the whole ego-personality, for no one can become conscious of the shadow without considerable moral effort. To become conscious of it involves recognizing the dark aspects of the personality as present and real.”

In the realm of human relationships and society, the trickster’s influence can often be felt in the form of sudden disruptions or reversals. Political scandals, illicit affairs, and the unraveling of social norms all bear the trickster’s signature. These events can be both unsettling and transformative, forcing individuals and groups to reassess their values and adapt to new realities.

As the article suggests, even something as seemingly innocuous as men and women drinking together can open the door to trickster energies, as inhibitions are lowered and passions stirred. The trickster thrives in liminal spaces and moments of transition, where the normal rules and boundaries of society are temporarily suspended. In these charged encounters, the trickster’s chaotic and creative energy can spark both destructive conflicts and unexpected connections.

Jungian scholars have explored the trickster archetype extensively, seeing it as a representation of the collective shadow – the dark, repressed aspects of a society or culture that are too threatening or uncomfortable to acknowledge directly. Marie-Louise von Franz, a prominent Jungian analyst and author, devoted much of her work to exploring the trickster archetype in folklore and myth.

In her book “The Trickster in Fairy Tales,” von Franz argues that the trickster represents a primitive, undifferentiated state of consciousness that precedes the development of the individual ego. The trickster’s crude, often scatological humor and disregard for social norms reflect this pre-rational, instinctual aspect of the psyche.

However, von Franz also sees the trickster as a necessary stage in the process of individuation – the lifelong journey towards psychological wholeness and self-realization. By presenting the shadow qualities of a culture in a paradoxical, often humorous form, trickster stories provide a way for individuals and societies to acknowledge and integrate these elements without being overwhelmed by them.

This integration is key to the trickster’s transformative power. By forcing us to confront and come to terms with the more primitive, unconscious aspects of our psyche, the trickster opens up the possibility for growth and transformation. As von Franz writes, “The trickster is represented by counter-tendencies in the unconscious, and in certain phases of development it may be necessary for a while to even out the one-sidedness of the conscious mind.”

In other words, the trickster’s disruptive and chaotic energy serves as a necessary counterbalance to the rigid, controlling tendencies of the ego. By shaking up our habitual patterns and assumptions, the trickster creates space for new perspectives and ways of being to emerge.

This transformative potential is reflected in the trickster’s role as a culture hero in many mythological traditions. Figures like Prometheus, who stole fire from the gods to give to humanity, or the Polynesian trickster Maui, who fished up islands with his magical hook, are celebrated for their rebellious, boundary-crossing acts that ultimately benefit their communities.

However, the trickster’s transformative power is not without its dangers. The very qualities that make the trickster a catalyst for change – their amorality, their disregard for norms and boundaries, their embrace of chaos and instability – can also make them a threat to social order and individual well-being.

In some tales, the trickster’s reckless pursuit of their own desires leads to disaster and suffering for themselves and others. The Norse god Loki, for example, ultimately brings about the destruction of the gods and the end of the world through his treachery and malice.

This destructive potential reflects the shadow side of the trickster archetype – the ways in which unrestrained chaos and self-interest can lead to harm and devastation. It is a reminder that while the trickster’s energy can be a powerful force for transformation, it must be approached with caution and wisdom.

Ultimately, the trickster archetype invites us to embrace the paradoxical and unpredictable nature of life itself. In a world where change is constant and stability is always provisional, the trickster reminds us to stay flexible, adaptable, and open to new possibilities. As the Zen saying goes, “The opposite of a profound truth may well be another profound truth.”

By learning to navigate the trickster’s chaotic, liminal realm with humor, creativity, and a willingness to question our assumptions, we can tap into a deeper wisdom and resilience in the face of life’s inevitable disruptions. The trickster may be a challenging and sometimes dangerous ally, but one that can guide us towards a more authentic and integrated way of being.

In conclusion, the trickster archetype remains a powerful and relevant symbol for the chaotic, transformative energies at work in our lives and in the world around us. From ancient myths to modern psychology, the trickster’s enduring presence speaks to the fundamental instability and complexity of the human experience.

By studying trickster tales and integrating their lessons, we can learn to navigate life’s uncertainties with greater flexibility, humor, and wisdom. Rather than repressing or denying the trickster within and without, we must learn to dance with this primal force, embracing the creative and destructive energies that fuel the endless dance of life.

For as the trickster god Loki himself reminds us in the Norse myths, even the most seemingly stable and enduring structures are ultimately subject to change and renewal. It is only by embracing this truth, and learning to find meaning and purpose in the midst of life’s chaos, that we can hope to thrive in a world shaped by the trickster’s mercurial hand.

In exploring the trickster archetype, it is important to also consider the ways in which these figures can serve as a mirror for the collective anxieties and tensions of a given society or historical moment. In times of social upheaval, political instability, or cultural transition, the trickster’s disruptive and transformative energy may be especially resonant.

For example, in the United States during the 1960s and 70s, the trickster archetype found expression in countercultural figures like Ken Kesey and his Merry Pranksters, who used psychedelic drugs, multimedia happenings, and anarchic humor to challenge the dominant social order and expand the boundaries of consciousness. Similarly, the African American trickster figure of Br’er Rabbit, who outwits his more powerful oppressors through cunning and wit, took on new meaning during the Civil Rights era as a symbol of resistance and resilience in the face of systemic racism.

In these contexts, the trickster’s ability to subvert and transform oppressive structures from within can be seen as a powerful tool for social and political change. By using humor, satire, and irony to expose the absurdities and contradictions of the status quo, tricksters can create a space for critical reflection and alternative ways of seeing the world.

However, the trickster’s role as a social critic and agent of change is not always straightforward or unambiguous. In some cases, the trickster’s transgressive and disruptive behavior may reinforce rather than challenge existing power dynamics, particularly when coopted or appropriated by dominant groups.

This complex and ambivalent relationship between the trickster and structures of power is evident in the way that trickster figures have been represented and adapted across different cultures and historical periods. In medieval European folklore, for example, the trickster often appears as a roguish peasant or jester who uses his wits to outsmart and humiliate his social superiors, such as the German figure of Till Eulenspiegel or the Italian Giufà. These tricksters can be seen as subversive figures who challenge the rigid hierarchies and moral codes of feudal society, using laughter and mischief to carve out a space of freedom and agency for the marginalized and oppressed.

At the same time, however, these trickster tales were often appropriated and transformed by the very elites they sought to critique, who used them as a way to reinforce their own power and legitimacy. By portraying the trickster as a foolish and ultimately harmless figure, whose transgressions only serve to reaffirm the social order, those in power could neutralize the subversive potential of these stories and maintain their own authority.

This dynamic points to the inherently paradoxical and multivalent nature of the trickster archetype, which resists easy categorization or moral judgment. As Lewis Hyde writes in his seminal book “Trickster Makes This World,” the trickster is “the mythic embodiment of ambiguity and ambivalence, doubleness and duplicity, contradiction and paradox.” It is this very complexity and uncertainty that gives the trickster their transformative power, as they force us to confront the limitations of our own perspectives and to imagine new possibilities beyond the boundaries of the known.

Ultimately, then, the trickster archetype invites us to cultivate a more fluid and open-ended approach to meaning-making and identity formation. In a world where the old certainties and grand narratives are increasingly called into question, the trickster reminds us to embrace the inherent instability and contingency of our own stories and truths.

By learning to play with language, to question authority, to cross boundaries and inhabit liminal spaces, we can tap into the trickster’s transformative energy and find new ways of being and relating in a rapidly changing world. This is not a matter of simple relativism or nihilism, but rather a recognition of the ongoing process of creation and destruction, order and chaos, that shapes both the natural world and the human psyche.

In this sense, the trickster archetype can be seen not only as a psychological or mythological construct, but also as an invitation to a way of life – one that embraces paradox, uncertainty, and the constant play of opposites as essential to the vitality and resilience of the self and the world. By learning to dance with the trickster, to find joy and meaning in the midst of life’s ambiguities and contradictions, we can cultivate a more authentic and engaged presence in the world, one that is responsive to the needs of the moment and open to the transformative power of the imagination.

As the Yoruba trickster god Eshu, who stands at the crossroads of fate and chance, reminds us: “The world is a market, and life is a trickster. You never know what will happen next.” In such a world, the trickster archetype offers us a powerful compass and ally, one that can help us navigate the complexities and challenges of the human journey with creativity, resilience, and an abiding sense of wonder.

Better to operate with detachment, then; better to have a way but infuse it with a little humor; best, to have no way at all but to have instead the wit constantly to make one’s way anew from the materials at hand.
Lewis Hyde

List of Trickster Gods
Anansi (West African folklore): Anansi is a trickster god who takes the form of a spider. He is known for his cleverness, wisdom, and ability to outsmart both humans and other gods. Anansi is often portrayed as a storyteller and is credited with bringing wisdom to the world. In some tales, he is seen as a cultural hero who helps shape the world and its creatures, while in others, he is a more ambiguous figure whose tricks can backfire. Despite his mischievous nature, Anansi is generally revered as a source of knowledge and entertainment in West African cultures.

Loki (Norse mythology): Loki is a shape-shifting trickster god known for his cunning, deceit, and ability to cause mischief among the other gods. He is often portrayed as a malicious figure who brings about chaos and destruction, such as his role in the death of Baldur. However, Loki is also seen as a necessary counterbalance to the order and stability represented by the other gods. His actions, while disruptive, are sometimes portrayed as catalysts for change and growth. In Norse mythology, Loki’s ultimate fate is to be bound and punished for his misdeeds, reflecting the complex and ambivalent attitudes towards the trickster figure.

Coyote (Native American mythology): Coyote is a prominent trickster figure in many Native American cultures, known for his clever schemes, unbridled appetites, and ability to cross boundaries between the natural and supernatural worlds. He is often portrayed as a creator deity who helps shape the world and its creatures, sometimes through his mistakes and misadventures. Coyote’s tales serve a variety of purposes, from teaching moral lessons to explaining natural phenomena. While his actions can cause trouble for himself and others, Coyote is also seen as a source of wisdom, adaptability, and resilience in the face of life’s challenges.

Hermes (Greek mythology): Hermes is the messenger god of the Greek pantheon, known for his speed, cunning, and inventiveness. As a trickster figure, he is associated with thieves, liars, and gamblers, and is often portrayed as a master of persuasion and deception. Hermes is also a guide and protector of travelers, shepherding souls to the underworld and facilitating communication between the gods and mortals. In Greek mythology, Hermes’ trickster qualities are often seen as a reflection of his intelligence and adaptability, rather than a purely malicious or destructive force.

Eshu (Yoruba religion): Eshu is a trickster deity in the Yoruba religion of West Africa, known for his ability to create confusion, mischief, and change. He is often portrayed as a messenger between the gods and mortals, and is associated with crossroads, boundaries, and thresholds. Eshu’s actions can be both beneficial and harmful, as he has the power to bring good fortune or misfortune depending on how he is approached. In Yoruba culture, Eshu is seen as a complex and multifaceted figure who embodies the unpredictable and transformative nature of life itself."

https://gettherapybirmingham.com/the-trickster-archetype-mischief-transformation-and-the-instability-of-life/

[sant64]

"So here are some other factors that lead me to believe that not only will Harris defeat Trump, she'll do so by winning more than the 270 electoral votes she'd get by holding on to the usually safe blue states, beating Trump in the Blue Wall of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, and gaining the single electoral vote in Nebraska's 2nd District."

Don't you and your progressive friends ever tire of being wrong? I told you the betting markets are proven to be far more accurate than polls. But you ignored that like you ignore everything that conflicts with your stubborn mindset.

Trump won, not just the Electoral College but also the popular vote. That has to really hurt, so I"ll say it again:

Donald J. Trump won the *popular vote* in 2024.
Donald J. Trump won the *popular vote* in 2024.
Donald J. Trump won the *popular vote* in 2024.

Like icecream on a summer's day, the schadenfreude is so delicious! Am I supposed to be charitable? Normally yes, but no charity from me for the guy who the other day, loyally following his media gurus, labeled Trump supporters as fascists and sociopaths.

I'm glad for multiple reasons. Firstly, Biden was a joke of a president. His fluvid policies hurt millions of children. His sex change policies hurt millions of women and young boys and girls. His economic policies plunged the country into inflation. His support for Ukraine only wasted billions, hurt the Ukrainian people, and brought the country closer to war. Biden's 4-year reign was painful idiocy from start to finish.

Another reason I'm glad is that this election proves that a great man can actually defeat the deep state out to subvert democracy. The concerted efforts of not merely the media giants, but also the intelligence departments and the DOJ were put against Trump. He prevailed.

For 4 years we heard all this noise about "saving democracy." Yet the party that styled itself righteous guardians of democracy ousted a sitting president and then installed someone of their choosing. So very democratic that was. No convention to pick a candidate, just Pelosi and Schumer and Clooney decreeing that......of all people.....someone who was a proven failure in everything she did should be the Dem's "choice." Kamala Harris. Wow.

But maybe Kamala would rise to the occasion? It was possible, and the betting markets reflect that possibility. But hyaenas don't change their stripes, and Kamala revealed herself to be precisely what many suspected: Someone with no real understanding of domestic affairs, foreign affairs, economics, or anything else. Kamala was a zero who could only cry about abortion and that Trump was Hitler.

Speaking of the Trump as Hitler trope, and the deep state efforts to destroy him and his family and everyone who supported him, how did that turn out? How many hearts and minds were won with lawfare? And the extreme campaign of demonization that resulted in at least 2 assassination attempts? You have the results before you, oh great lover of facts.

As Elon Musk pointed out, everything the Dems accuse the Trump camp of they do themselves.
I cannot tell you the relief I feel that the Dems are no longer in power. No political party in my lifetime has done as much to literally hurt the American people.

Not just my opinion -- but (read closely and slowly) -- it's the opinion of the majority of our country's voters. You lovers of democracy, will you accept this democratic result?

[Whocudpossiblyhavthunkit]

It's an absolute perfect karmic smackdown

Perfect equilibrium

Isn't it nice to know that life is in fact "fair" after all said and done in love and war.

Hallelujah

[Jim Sutherland]

@Sant64 and Whocud,….Brian keeps blocking my posts, proving he is an unfair Progessive . It’s really sad that he is treating me, his Charan initiated sybling this way, being afraid member might see my views, by either completely blocking, or deleting my posts, or Shadowbanding me.
Jim Sutherland

[sant64]

The Dems are still mesmerized by the cult of Trump's personality, and so they blame Kamala's loss on "low info voters" and "fascism" and "sociopathy" instead of looking at the abysmally bad way they ran the country and the idiotic Kamala campaign.

You flood the country with illegals, many of whom are criminals, all of whom are taking jobs from American workers, all of whom are making life in cities and small towns very tough for everyone, but you're *amazed* that the public didn't like this naked abuse of power grabbing.

On top of which -- you have a cabal appoint the Border Tsar, the person responsible for fixing the border and who did zero to fix the border for her 4 years in office, to be the candidate!

Then you're *amazed" that the public outside of Hollywood and toney white liberal enclaves won't' go for Kamala's price controls (which failed in the Nixon admin and have failed in every socialist country where they've been implemented) and a 29% corporate tax which would cripple small businesses. "Oh, they won't care about any of that, because this election is really all about abortion - - and American women will vote for Kamala because they want abortion!" Big mistake. Women voted for Trump over Kamala.

You were wrong about everything. And all you know how to do is keep yelling Dictator, Fascist, Hitler.

[Brian Hines]

Jim, stop with the fake news. Really irritating. I didn't block your comment. It went into the Typepad spam section where I just noticed it. Next time email me if a comment isn't immediately published, as that almost always means it was flagged as spam.

[Jim Sutherland]

OK Brother Brian, fair enough. Thanks for finding my post and posting it.
Jim Sutherland

[Jim Sutherland]

@Brian, THIS was the Post I was referring to:
Well Friends, now that the world is watching, and holding their breaths, if Orange Man Bad, or Kamala Harris is going to become the world’s most important Leader, I will now come out and say Who I voted for, since it’s too late to change any one’s mind of who wins. It isn’t even 7:00 PM, so I don’t know the outcome any more than others. But for ME,……this was the clearest, and most easiest choice of my life time , that I voted for a U.S, President. I could share all my reasons for my decision, but they aren’t important to any one other than me. I have followed it all since all the chaos we have all lived through since Trump announced in 2015, he was running for President, I voted for him both in 2016, and again in 2020. But bet you’ll never guess who I voted for this time, for 2024? Early voting in Virginia was 45 days ago,
and I arrived there the first day, and voted at 9:00 AM! Again, it was the clearest Vote of my entire life, and regardless of who wins, I am prepared to fully stand by my Vote, regardless of all consequences! Soooo, for 2024, I voted for,……Band Roll,….
DONALD J. TRUMP, again, for the 3rd time.
I won’t hold any personal grudges against any of my Trump hating FB friends who decide to unfriend me because of my choice. I never cluttered my FB Wall with Politics at all, up to now, trying to persuade any one to vote for Trump.
Jim Sutherland
6:50 PM /Nov. 5th, 2024

[sant64]

America can finally be what it can be, unburden by what has been.

[7]

Jim

Helping t
to increase deadly fracking 5 - fold it said
but greed will make it 500 x
plus
no care anymore is criminal

and not OK for a Minister of any church

The same I said to @Elon
that he ruined his children s planet

I lost 70 from 850 follower - and as Satsangi I care mega tiny wise

7

[Karim W. Rahmaan]

I warned President Biden not to withdraw. We were ridin' with Biden. But then he stopped our ride. Like the good people saw in Maharaj Charan Singh Ji, I also saw some good for democracy in Joe Biden. Good for my equal rights, beyond a token gestures.

And similarly as Baba Gurinder Singh Ji asks us today to, "look within" for even if we see any good in him. That serves as a mirror to good within ourselves.

[Appreciative Reader]

Historic verdict.

Well, either would have been a first, either would have been historic. A woman, and a woman of non-white ethnicity at that. And now, a felon, and a felon with openly authoritarian intentions at that. Historic, indeed.

----------

Fascism has won.

And no, the fact that they've won, does not make fascists not-fascists, or authoritarians not-authoritarians. Not does it make spineless witless slaveys grovelling at the feet of their master, cartoon villain style, as he kicks at them, and maybe sometimes throws them a scrap, but always rewarding them with slogans, and by beating down on the other, while filling his own pockets, both literally and figuratively --- that they've won, does not make them not these things. Nor does this verdict mean that the vile racists and sexists are not these things.

----------

I would have said, This too shall pass. Except, it would be more correct to say, This too MAY pass; or, This too shall pass, with "hopefully", or "God willing", appended at the end.

Because, as the orcs feasting and celebrating in the streets to celebrate the dawn of Mordor have suggested, what will be is not to be limited by thoughts of what is, or of what has been. It's a brave new world ----- figuratively speaking, because literally it's vile and cowardly.

----------

Let us hope the worst we'd apprehended does not come to pass. Let's hope the US does not become another, stronger Afghanistan. Let's hope authoritarianism does not take hold now, like Trump said it would. Let's hope the vile trifecta --- quadrifecta, if you count the now partisan SC --- does not pass laws and effect appointments to perpetuate that state of affairs. Let's hope women don't too blatantly become second-class citizens, and openly the chattel of their menfolk.

And let's hope the now impending Russian takeover of Ukraine stops at that. And let's hope the voice of reason and rationality is proved wrong, and the carnage in the ME does see an end, in something more than merely the peace of the grave ---- that last, I hope fervently that the incoherent turn out right after all on that.

We can hope, certainly. Even in hopelessness there is always hope.

[Appreciative Reader]

Haha, let's enjoy this space while we can! Sure, the worst may not come to pass. Let's hope it doesn't. But, who knows, in 4 or 8 years' time, people may be apprehensive, in terms of their personal wellbeing, in commenting openly about politics and religion like this here, like people in other authoritarian polities are. Like NK, like Russia, like China. And Saudi, and Iran, and Afghanistan. And India, and Pakistan, and Bangladesh. And Thailand, and Singapore, and Hong Kong. Let's hope the US isn't remade in the image of these authoritarian regimes, at least as far as freedom of speech.

Let's hope the worst won't come to pass. Let's hope we're not reduced to looking over our shoulder and carefully weighing our words every time we post or comment here. Let's hope it won't end up coming to that. But let's recognize the fragility of this freedom, and cherish it while we still have it.