(02-16-2017 07:11 PM)RiceLad15 Wrote:  The administration has done plenty that hasn't been criticized though. They have passed a number of EOs that haven't generated a peep or rebuke. They have gotten a number of Cabinet member confirmed that also haven't caused waves. They can avoid controversy.

However, it seems like they are hell bent on being one of the most dishonest administrations in history, for a reason I can't quite figure out.

I think a better characterization is that they seem intent on ignoring every common sense rule for getting along with the other side of the aisle, and are tone deaf to media relations.

This is not uncommon, but it is uncommon to America.

I read about Maduro's (Venezuela) response to CNN investigating visa corruption in Venezuela, and the recent rebuke of their VP's involvement in drug dealing.

There are a lot of world leaders completely divorced from reality.

Venezuela 'ELECTED' themselves into the mess they're in back in 1998.

Democracy works with a majority middle class. The American public voted Trump in, partly on the hopes he would restore the middle class to a higher percentage of the population than it has fallen to (and while I agree Obama did some good things, and some things that aren't working, he did NOT halt the slide in standard of living here).

I don't know if he can do that, and and I certainly wouldn't bet on it. But I do know that the answer is not to open ourselves to unlimited increases of lower-income level and poverty level populations and trust democracy will be the answer, at least not while the trend is toward globalization. (job/opportunities moving elsewhere, while we encourage increases in population, and accompanying demand for social/governmental services)

Tocqueville?

Democracy works until the people figure out they can vote themselves money?

See Venezuela for potential outcomes. They are an oil-based state that was the oldest South American democracy.