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Trump and the Second Gilded Age

Discussion in 'Too Hot for Swamp Gas' started by chemgator, Jun 14, 2025 at 9:12 AM.

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  1. Jun 14, 2025 at 9:12 AM #1
    chemgator

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    An interesting article on Trump ushering in the second Gilded Age, with information on how the first Gilded Age ended. It suggests that a new progressive movement could come about to reform all of the excesses (billionaires not paying taxes, etc.), or we could decay like Germany did in the 1920's, which led to what happened in the 1930's after it was hit by the Great Depression. The U.S. was led by a minority of wealthy people who were offended by the excesses of the era. The question: will America find its morality, or will it continue to decay under the leadership of Donald Trump?

    https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/14/us/rutger-bregman-moral-ambition-cec

     
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  2. Jun 14, 2025 at 9:49 AM #2
    vaxcardinal

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    Well the mansions in Newport RI are awesome. Highly recommend visiting.
     
  3. Jun 14, 2025 at 10:03 AM #3
    slocala

    slocala VIP Member

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    JD Vance has the potential to be a serious person about income inequality.
    I just don’t see him being capable of breaking out from his puppet handlers. I suspect there is not a single person in top 50 of the Forbes 500 that really gives a damn about income inequality. They appear to be… “Who is John Galt?”
     
  4. Jun 14, 2025 at 10:44 AM #4
    G8tas

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    I never considered you as one of those who are interested in the lifestyles of the rich and famous
     
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  5. Jun 14, 2025 at 11:17 AM #5
    vaxcardinal

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    its a tourist attraction. We stopped there on the way back from Acadia.
     
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  6. Jun 14, 2025 at 11:28 AM #6
    gator_fever

    gator_fever GC Legend

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    Democrats are the party of the elites now. It's crazy how big of a money edge Dems have now being the party of the wealthy crooks and global elites.
     
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  7. Jun 14, 2025 at 11:39 AM #7
    G8tas

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    Are you sure about that?

    upload_2025-6-14_11-39-32.jpeg
     
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  8. Jun 14, 2025 at 11:48 AM #8
    gator_fever

    gator_fever GC Legend

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    Yep I am sure. Just look at how those districts vote and the amount of money they pour in backing Democrats. The Democrat party hasn't been the party of the working class for years. We have a lot of GOPe crooks still in the Rep party but MAGA is still gaining ground.
     
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  9. Jun 14, 2025 at 1:53 PM #9
    chemgator

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    I guess we're pretty lucky that the world's richest person (Elon Musk) does not contribute to any political party or candidate? And we're lucky that a billionaire is not President of the U.S.? If a billionaire was to become president, I wonder which party he would belong to?
     
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  10. Jun 14, 2025 at 2:00 PM #10
    chemgator

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    Vance is a much more serious person about Haitian pet eaters. In fact, he is one of the most serious Haitian pet eater people in the country. A veritable expert on the subject--just ask him.
     
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  11. Jun 14, 2025 at 2:03 PM #11
    chemgator

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    Why visit the summer cottages when there is at least one "real" main house still standing (in Asheville)? (I like Biltmore and the Newport mansions...)
     
  12. Jun 14, 2025 at 2:06 PM #12
    vaxcardinal

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    Already seen the one in Asheville and even ate at the fine dining of the McDonald’s with the grand piano although I had seen pictures of it demolished last year due to flooding
     
  13. Jun 14, 2025 at 4:02 PM #13
    chemgator

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    Yet even after all of the felonies, ethics violations, and irresponsible behavior, you don't recognize Trump as one of the crooks?
     
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  14. Jun 14, 2025 at 4:12 PM #14
    flgator2

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    Just love to listen to our local libbies, and they wonder why we think they're whacked
     
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  15. Jun 15, 2025 at 1:13 PM #15
    chemgator

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    You're now in the minority. Trump's approval ratings are down to 39%.
     
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  16. Jun 15, 2025 at 2:06 PM #16
    Orange_and_Bluke

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    Yeah, if honest you’d admit that he likely contributed to both parties like many wealthy people do.
     
  17. Jun 15, 2025 at 2:38 PM #17
    VAg8r1

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    During the last election cycle (2024) Musk's campaign contributions were overwhelmingly if not exclusively directed to Republican candidates and Republic leaning PACa and SuperPACs. He did contributed to Democrats including Gavin Newsom and Diane Feinstein although not recently and not in amounts remotely close to the amount of his recent campaign contributions to Republicans. In the last two years Musk has also contributed to right-wing candidates or parties in other countries including Canada, Germany and Argentina.
     
  18. Jun 15, 2025 at 3:13 PM #18
    Orange_and_Bluke

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    Musk made contributions to John Kerry in 2004.
    Like I said….
     
  19. Jun 15, 2025 at 3:17 PM #19
    VAg8r1

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    Yes he did, 20 years before he contributed hundreds of millions to Trump and other Republicans in 2024.
     
  20. Jun 15, 2025 at 3:19 PM #20
    Orange_and_Bluke

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    But wasn’t that my point?!
    That’s what I said. Elon plays both sides.
    [​IMG]
     
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