A chilling, but logical discussion. I would like to add, though, that the people Trump puts into power will also attack each other. They will backstab, manipulate, lie, steal and cheat because that's what Trump does so it become legitimate. They won't mind breaking the law because Trump can pardon them. This will cause more chaos. Trump will engage in bribery and extortion, he'll send Federal money into his businesses and he'll reward those who help him. He'll stop funding for Ukraine because Putin will promise him business opportunities. I also think that he'll announce another Presidential run (the Constitution be damned and he believes he "owns" the Supreme Court) because he learned how he can amass large sums of money, tax-free, to use as he sees fit. You wrote that "It is possible that the MAGA world will come to see the value of government competence." Unfortunately, this hasn't happened in most of the Red states where Republican governance continues to cause harm to the people in their states, and does not improve the economies of these states and yet, they still vote Red. I've been very cynical these past few days. It was worse, this is actually an improvement. But, as a woman, I've lived my entire life dealing with abusive husbands, misogyny and the patriarchy and I haven't given up. I won't give up now either.
All very solid projections based on both the actions of the previous Trump administration and on observation of other governments with intentional delegitimization of governance and the rule of law as part of their goals.
There are (at least) two unknowns that may come into play during the second Trump administration:
1. If the Trump administration causes economic disruption as a result of other actions, the potential draconian reduction of federal programs is a real risk, and an at least temporary curtailment of services provided through the administrative state.
2. Trump aligned but not ideologically consistent forces, such as the Heritage Foundation, the Federalist Society, and other farther right organizations may attempt to force other changes to federal agencies, in particular the health and human service agencies and the law enforcement and judicial agencies. Changes to the administrative state driven by Project 2025 aligned groups would be shaped by their policy and political goals.
Don, I have a question, it's a bit personal but related to this. I have wanted to be a public servant for a very long time, I am sick of working in for-profit industry and want to help people in a capacity beyond profit-seeking industry. I am also very qualified for a role at the FDA and funny enough, a position I qualify for opened up literally yesterday. This is also unlikely to be in an FDA department that a freak like RFK Jr. might target (not vaccines or nutrition or whatever his obsessions are).
So, what is the value of someone like me being in a role at a place like FDA? This is how I've wanted to contribute to public health for so long and I'm worried that joining now will just be a period of turbulence, increase in MAGA deregulators who only want to cause chaos, and loss of experienced people to the point I'd be so miserable it's not worth my own mental health. Is there value having people like me there even with the damage the next administration will likely cause?
A chilling, but logical discussion. I would like to add, though, that the people Trump puts into power will also attack each other. They will backstab, manipulate, lie, steal and cheat because that's what Trump does so it become legitimate. They won't mind breaking the law because Trump can pardon them. This will cause more chaos. Trump will engage in bribery and extortion, he'll send Federal money into his businesses and he'll reward those who help him. He'll stop funding for Ukraine because Putin will promise him business opportunities. I also think that he'll announce another Presidential run (the Constitution be damned and he believes he "owns" the Supreme Court) because he learned how he can amass large sums of money, tax-free, to use as he sees fit. You wrote that "It is possible that the MAGA world will come to see the value of government competence." Unfortunately, this hasn't happened in most of the Red states where Republican governance continues to cause harm to the people in their states, and does not improve the economies of these states and yet, they still vote Red. I've been very cynical these past few days. It was worse, this is actually an improvement. But, as a woman, I've lived my entire life dealing with abusive husbands, misogyny and the patriarchy and I haven't given up. I won't give up now either.
All very solid projections based on both the actions of the previous Trump administration and on observation of other governments with intentional delegitimization of governance and the rule of law as part of their goals.
There are (at least) two unknowns that may come into play during the second Trump administration:
1. If the Trump administration causes economic disruption as a result of other actions, the potential draconian reduction of federal programs is a real risk, and an at least temporary curtailment of services provided through the administrative state.
2. Trump aligned but not ideologically consistent forces, such as the Heritage Foundation, the Federalist Society, and other farther right organizations may attempt to force other changes to federal agencies, in particular the health and human service agencies and the law enforcement and judicial agencies. Changes to the administrative state driven by Project 2025 aligned groups would be shaped by their policy and political goals.
Very clear. Thanks.
Don, I have a question, it's a bit personal but related to this. I have wanted to be a public servant for a very long time, I am sick of working in for-profit industry and want to help people in a capacity beyond profit-seeking industry. I am also very qualified for a role at the FDA and funny enough, a position I qualify for opened up literally yesterday. This is also unlikely to be in an FDA department that a freak like RFK Jr. might target (not vaccines or nutrition or whatever his obsessions are).
So, what is the value of someone like me being in a role at a place like FDA? This is how I've wanted to contribute to public health for so long and I'm worried that joining now will just be a period of turbulence, increase in MAGA deregulators who only want to cause chaos, and loss of experienced people to the point I'd be so miserable it's not worth my own mental health. Is there value having people like me there even with the damage the next administration will likely cause?