How many of you understand the USA just elected a (potentially) brutal dictator?

[Indy Vidual]

I was thrilled to see Hillary lose, but let's get real about what we have:

• Trump endorses torture "much worse" than waterboarding.
• He is rarely (if ever) heard using the words "individual freedom".
• Donald is a rich, spoiled child who never had to grow up and could easily turn into a very brutal dictator.
• This list could be much longer, if I had more time.

What is happening to this forum, do you people actually believe he will save us from tyranny?

[tod evans]

I don't think even Trump knows his positions on much....

He's been on every side of most issues and campaigned on platitudes.

America gambled on the devil they didn't know over the one they did....

[gaazn]

Trump isn't the brutal dictator. It's the government that's the dictator. It's a monster in itself and has been consolidating power since the beginning. TEchnology and automation will only make it easier. And people make it easier by using cell phones, using the internet, and buying at places like amazon (which is a big data business partner with the federal government).

[Champ]

What is happening to this forum, do you people actually believe he will save us from tyranny?

No. But we get the side benefit of a lot of terrified and spooked liberals that are now threatening to secede in some of the largest big government states and demanding that Trump not overstep his duties as President with all of his spending plans and initiatives.

The ideas of liberty are suddenly spreading like wildfire.

[alucard13mm]

No. But we get the side benefit of a lot of terrified and spooked liberals that are now threatening to secede in some of the largest big government states and demanding that Trump not overstep his duties as President with all of his spending plans and initiatives.

The ideas of liberty are suddenly spreading like wildfire.

It is a selfish reason that was well worth it for the last few days lol ;s.

[Ender]

I don't think even Trump knows his positions on much....

He's been on every side of most issues and campaigned on platitudes.

America gambled on the devil they didn't know over the one they did....

^^THIS^^

Let us pray that the Rand Paul/Mike Lee types will keep him reined in.

[UWDude]

Donald is a rich, spoiled child who never had to grow up and could easily turn into a very brutal dictator.

Not enough hyperbole. I don't think people will regard your point of view as legit unless you throw in more scary adjectives. Try this:

Donald is literally a mega-rich elitist silver spoonfed literally spoiled brat who never had to grow up and could very easily turn into a very brutal literally Nazi literally dictator, literally.

[angelatc]

Although I want to ask how you define dictator, I'm actually going to limit myself to saying calm down. Reagan was Hitler, as were both Bushes. Policy criticisms certainly loom on the horizon, but until those decisions actually materialize, we can actually breathe a little easier. Foreign policy might improve. He's a wild card.

[jmdrake]

Although I want to ask how you define dictator, I'm actually going to limit myself to saying calm down. Reagan was Hitler, as were both Bushes. Policy criticisms certainly loom on the horizon, but until those decisions actually materialize, we can actually breathe a little easier. Foreign policy might improve. He's a wild card.

^This

[scm]

• Trump endorses torture "much worse" than waterboarding.
• He is rarely (if ever) heard using the words "individual freedom".
• Donald is a rich, spoiled child who never had to grow up and could easily turn into a very brutal dictator.
• This list could be much longer, if I had more time.

Let me help:
He's
Pro NSA
Pro Wall
Pro NDAA
Pro Torture
Pro Patriot Act
Pro National ID
Pro tariffs (TAXES)
Pro eminent domain
Pro militarized police
Pro stealing others resources
Pro killing of "terrorist" families
Pro "YUGE" increases in SPENDING
His VP is Pro Drug war and PRO TPP
Pro REPEALING/REPLACING Obamacare as opposed to JUST REPEAL (Individual mandates?)

Worst part of most of these (specifically liberty related), is he holds no second position like on most other topics. He is SOUND on being ANTI liberty.

[UWDude]

we shall see, shant we?
Predictions, predictions, predictions.

Who has been right, and who has been wrong.
Please tell me.

[Pizzo]

Potential to be one, but so was his main opponent.

[thoughtomator]

you people sound just like whiny SJWs

and you make the same mistake of excessive literalism that the Clintonite media did all campaign season long

why don't you all stop making completely unfounded assumptions that betray only that you never approached the situation with an open mind at any point and are thinking with your emotions rather than logic

maybe just maybe this place will be something less of a complete embarrassment to libertarians again

[Root]

How many understand we have been living with brutal dictators for a few decades?

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss

[Sola_Fide]

you people sound just like whiny SJWs

and you make the same mistake of excessive literalism that the Clintonite media did all campaign season long

why don't you all stop making completely unfounded assumptions that betray only that you never approached the situation with an open mind at any point and are thinking with your emotions rather than logic

maybe just maybe this place will be something less of a complete embarrassment to libertarians again

How do you square protectionism with any kind of free market idea?

[Bryan]

I was thrilled to see Hillary lose, but let's get real about what we have:

• Trump endorses torture "much worse" than waterboarding.
• He is rarely (if ever) heard using the words "individual freedom".
• Donald is a rich, spoiled child who never had to grow up and could easily turn into a very brutal dictator.
• This list could be much longer, if I had more time.

What is happening to this forum, do you people actually believe he will save us from tyranny?

In fairness, your title and message body are self contradicting, you title says he is a brutal dictator while your body says "could easily turn into a very brutal dictator", the ladder is possibly true.

The biggest key that one should be concerned about is his vast personal wealth provides him a source of power outside the normal government chain of command, such that he can make things happen in his favor that other presidents could not. Couple that with his alpha personality...

As said, he is a wild card, and a high risk one at that. We simply don't know for sure which way he will go. At this point we just have to push for the best and brace for the worst.

[Indy Vidual]

Let me help:
He's
Pro NSA
Pro Wall
Pro NDAA
Pro Torture
Pro Patriot Act
Pro National ID
Pro tariffs (TAXES)
Pro eminent domain
Pro militarized police
Pro stealing others resources
Pro killing of "terrorist" families
Pro "YUGE" increases in SPENDING
His VP is Pro Drug war and PRO TPP
Pro REPEALING/REPLACING Obamacare as opposed to JUST REPEAL (Individual mandates?)

Worst part of most of these (specifically liberty related), is he holds no second position like on most other topics. He is SOUND on being ANTI liberty.

Yes times 10.
If anyone has a path back to "Hope For America", let's please get started. I was thrilled on Tues and Wed, but by Thurs night the reality of Trump started to take over.

[wizardwatson]

As said, he is a wild card, and a high risk one at that. We simply don't know for sure which way he will go. At this point we just have to push for the best and brace for the worst.

Agree, and I will say again what I've said in a couple other places with a little added.

Our optimism in 2008 was that the idea of liberty was alive. Few of us thought Ron would really win.

And what is the situation now? Is it not better right now than it was in the summer of 2007?

We need to beware of people who, when others are actually hopeful and throwing out ideas for activism, are getting shut down by doom and gloomers who got comfortable being in a libertarian apocalyptic cult and don't want to leave that safe zone which was mostly fulfilled with passive intellectualism and commentary. This is a time to get motivated, and build on ideas and encourage people.

The site mission is not just to support discussion about liberty but INITIATIVES.

Donald is a wild card, and in that vacuum of possibilities I can already tell people are having ideas. We need to be optimistic and support people's initiatives even if small, and even if just in words. Don't spread apathy. You don't know the future, and even if you're sure what does despairing about it help?

We should be interested in supporting liberty. Really our strategy shouldn't be related to "which guy we like". That's election strategy. Election is over. We should always be willing to work with whoever is in power, even if it was Obama. But it's easy to see why so many see possibilities in this new administration vs. Obama. Why else would so many libertarian pundits be suggesting liberty cabinet people if there wasn't a little bit of hope for the future?

We should stop despairing. Don't kill the hope. It doesn't help. And a lot of this "he's probably evil" talk is election related. It doesn't have a lot to do with other strategies that simply involve interacting with the government outside of the election.

Anyway, be aware. That hope seems to be budding and that people are already having a doom and gloom knee-jerk reaction to squash it. Resist that.

[undergroundrr]

Yeah, I couldn't get excited about the dictatorability of Clinton or trump. Pretty much the same to me. trump and his "best people" represent the continuation of the establishment dictatorship. So did Hillary.

Once again this election cycle, too many people got stuck into lesser-of-two-evils voting to actually achieve something productive. So it shall be.

[Indy Vidual]

In fairness, your title and message body are self contradicting...

A mistake, sorry: I edited the title and it only shows "inside" the post and the forum listings didn't change, thanks.

[The Northbreather]

Herpes or AIDS.

America went with the Herp.

Feeling itchy?

[Michael Landon]

I was talking to a liberal friend of mine and he is very concerned about the Trumps potential to become a tyrannical dictator. I told him not to worry because, thankfully, we were able to push back against his President's attempt to disarm us so I'll protect his unarmed family with my guns should the day come where Trump's brown shirts are busting down doors.

- ML

[Origanalist]

He hasn't done anything yet. I'm expecting a uninspiring mixed bag myself with a strong influence of authoritarianism.

[asurfaholic]

All I can say is that I guess we will get a little less socialism than we would have gotten otherwise.

I think that laying down the fire on trump alone may be a bit unfair. Or immature even. The real problem lies in the shadow government that is alive and well. There are very few people who would be able or even willing to stand against the shadow forces if elected president.

I understand the "Clinton is a known, trump is a gamble" approach but I don't agree with it. Trump is a known as well, he will operate within the rules of the shadow government. Mark my words.

War will continue against the people we will continue to fund and arm. Globalism will continue to take precedence over national security, and liberty victories will be few and far between.

[eleganz]

The guy is a clean slate, give him a chance. If he fails, it won't be hard to see.

Still think Judge Nap would be a realistic shot at the supreme court.

[FunkBuddha]

What is happening to this forum, do you people actually believe he will save us from a tranny?

Question rephrased for teh l0lz.

[AZJoe]

[seapilot]

I know Hillary would have went after guns, started more wars etc. All with the protection and help of the banks, wall st, big corps, Hollywood, MSM the whole machine. Drumpf currently has none of that and last I checked they are still calling him a racist and protesting in the streets.

My guess is he wont be able to fart without there being an article about it in WaPost, NY times, live on CNN how his methane is destroying the planet. Hillary could wipe out half of Africa, be putting nukes in Ukraine and there would not be a protest about it anywhere but here and a few online blogs.

[wizardwatson]

Trump should resist neocon & shadow gov’t influence to justify people’s hopes – Ron Paul to RT
https://www.rt.com/usa/366404-trump-ron-paul-crosstalk/

Ron is right. He hasn't justified people's hopes.

But clearly, people are hoping. That is a good thing for activism. But even if our fears come true and he appoints some neocons, is that a crime of character or of necessity? Is he loyal to them after they abandoned him in the election?

I have hope that even IF he makes some initial mistakes he won't be loyal to them. Which makes it in the interests of the grassroots to reach out and try to engage. If we are thwarted or clearly ignored in FAVOR of the neocons then that will be solid evidence.

But if we do nothing, and judge him before he's even proved himself, or simply done things out of necessity, then he has to find friends where he can. And if it's only neocons who reach out to him how can we blame him anymore than ourselves?

[Indy Vidual]

Trump should resist neocon & shadow gov’t influence to justify people’s hopes – Ron Paul to RT
https://www.rt.com/usa/366404-trump-ron-paul-crosstalk/

Ron is right. He hasn't justified people's hopes.

But clearly, people are hoping. That is a good thing for activism....
...
I have hope....
...
But if we do nothing...

Hope is a good start:
We have 2 months before the transition of power, what can we do (mostly online?) to boost the Liberty movement while "regular, everyday people" are still paying attention to the ongoing drama?