# Another Trump thread - what if his approach actually works? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 17, 2017, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-trump-thread-what-if-his-approach-actually-works/777387 "2017-01-17T15:06:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-trump-thread-what-if-his-approach-actually-works/777387/61 "2017-01-18T22:30:12Z")
Like to OP I had hoped for “President Trump” to emerge out of the giant tumbleweed of BS but he is still just angrily shitting his pants as hard as he can with every new comment. Not clear if this is going to change when actually takes on the mantle of real power or just keep being nuts and (now) actually dangerous. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-trump-thread-what-if-his-approach-actually-works/777387/62 "2017-01-18T22:37:28Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > One more thing: I’m not asking whether Trump’s actions and policies are wrong or right. That’s a topic for Great Debates and ultimately The Pit. I’m asking what if they actually yield positive results? > > Will American values change? Will honesty, integrity and responsibility be wiped out in favor of more Trump-like virtues? What shape was the country in in '04, after three years of Bush? Or '84, after three years of St. Ronnie? Whether bad-hair-guy’s polices yield positive results may not be apparent by July, or even 2019. ---
**Author:** ![Esox\_Lucius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@Esox\_Lucius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esox_Lucius)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-trump-thread-what-if-his-approach-actually-works/777387/63 "2017-01-18T22:40:39Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > Define “works”. Exactly. Nazism worked for the majority of Germans until the core values that made it work brought a rain of bombs down on them. If Trump “works”, it will be at the expense of minorities at home, and the stability and security of the world, only now nuclear weapons will be in the mix. You’d think Trump supporters had never opened a history book. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-trump-thread-what-if-his-approach-actually-works/777387/64 "2017-01-18T23:03:24Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > And yes, I expect his approach will “work” -\* for him.\* It’ll be disastrous for everyone else, but he won’t care in the slightest. Yeah, that’s the problem. What “works” and is thus self-reinforcing in the mind of a low-empathizing personality is not necessarily what’s helpful for anyone else. > [@](#): > > Except to sneer at the people suffering and dead because of him as “losers”. He’s die of old age rich, happy and safe while the world suffers to make it so. Maybe. If he dies soon. There will be a backlash. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-trump-thread-what-if-his-approach-actually-works/777387/65 "2017-01-19T00:07:17Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > One more thing: I’m not asking whether Trump’s actions and policies are wrong or right. That’s a topic for Great Debates and ultimately The Pit. I’m asking what if they actually yield positive results? The problem with that question is that it’s self-negating; you _can’t_ judge whether or not something has had positive results without considering the morality of it or if it’s “wrong or right”. > [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > Will American values change? Will honesty, integrity and responsibility be wiped out in favor of more Trump-like virtues? “Honesty, integrity and responsibility” aren’t American virtues in the first place, or Trump and the Republicans wouldn’t have gotten elected. Malice, cruelty and bigotry are what America stands for, and why they were elected. What the electorate _wants_ is a reign of terror, to punish “them” and purge America of “them”. And far too many Americans aren’t bright enough to realize that to somebody else,\* they \*are “them” too. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-trump-thread-what-if-his-approach-actually-works/777387/66 "2017-01-19T00:10:59Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > So what if he pisses off China and threatens tariffs? That puts China on the defensive, not him. So what if he and Putin are buddies? Winners don’t let international politics get in the way. Better to ask for forgiveness than permission, but in Trump’s case, forget about asking for forgiveness. That’s loser talk. > > Like it or not, that approach made him a (maybe) billionaire, and got him elected president. He’s got no reason to believe his system is faulty, so he’s going to keep using it. What if it actually works? It has so far. The stakes are a lot higher now. If Trump made a big mistake as a businessman (and he did have some major failures) the worst thing that could have happened was some investors lost a lot of money. If Trump makes a big mistake as President, the worst thing that can happen is the end of all life on the planet. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-trump-thread-what-if-his-approach-actually-works/777387/67 "2017-01-19T01:34:52Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > What shape was the country in in '04, after three years of Bush? Or '84, after three years of St. Ronnie? Whether bad-hair-guy’s polices yield positive results may not be apparent by July, or even 2019. So, just pretend. Pretend that Trump does something that surprisingly yields positive results in 2-3 years. Does that mean his abrasive methods and personality will be seen as virtues? He’s constantly on the offensive, misstates facts, calls people names, and acts like a spoiled man baby. If he succeeds as president, will that mean being honest, tolerant, mature and honorable is for losers? ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-trump-thread-what-if-his-approach-actually-works/777387/68 "2017-01-19T01:46:23Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > The problem with that question is that it’s self-negating; you _can’t_ judge whether or not something has had positive results without considering the morality of it or if it’s “wrong or right”. Pretend for a moment Trump supporters aren’t evil amoral fleshbags and are actual real people who are trying to raise their kids to be truthful, responsible, and to pay their debts. Why? Trump does none of those. Will their kids take after Trump’s example with their parents’ blessing? > [@](#): > > “Honesty, integrity and responsibility” aren’t American virtues in the first place, or Trump and the Republicans wouldn’t have gotten elected. Malice, cruelty and bigotry are what America stands for, and why they were elected. > > What the electorate _wants_ is a reign of terror, to punish “them” and purge America of “them”. And far too many Americans aren’t bright enough to realize that to somebody else,\* they \*are “them” too. Again, you assume way too much of extreme characteristics of Trump supporters. Pretend they’re the people in your neighborhood and not drooling masochistic morons. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-trump-thread-what-if-his-approach-actually-works/777387/69 "2017-01-19T01:47:40Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > So, just pretend. Pretend that Trump does something that surprisingly yields positive results in 2-3 years. Does that mean his abrasive methods and personality will be seen as virtues? He’s constantly on the offensive, misstates facts, calls people names, and acts like a spoiled man baby. If he succeeds as president, will that mean being honest, tolerant, mature and honorable is for losers? Not necessarily. Use Bill Clinton as a counter-example. If you consider him a successful President, does that mean cheating on your wife now counts as a virtue? Of course not. People aren’t one-dimensional; they’re a mixture of good and bad traits. So if Trump’s presidency is a success, it doesn’t necessarily follow that his abrasive methods and personality are virtues. They may instead be flaws that he overcame. ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-trump-thread-what-if-his-approach-actually-works/777387/70 "2017-01-19T01:51:08Z")
There are far too Americans who fail to realize the fundamental truths about Washington D.C. : it is broken by \*design \*and the powers of the President are very limited. Who was talking about bean counters coming to POTUS? Why would they do such a thing? He has no power to order them to make changes. He gets to propose a budget. Congress gets to rip it to shreds. He can veto their changes. They can overrule him. Yes, he’s nominally a Republican president, with a Republican Senate and House – but that’s still a very wide umbrella of views among a whole lot of people who do not have to support Trump to maintain their own base of power – and have a whole lot to gain by throwing sticks in his wheels. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-trump-thread-what-if-his-approach-actually-works/777387/71 "2017-01-19T02:06:17Z")
If his approach actually works the majority of posters here will either a) deny that it works b) insist that it doesn’t work very well c) say that Obama could have done it if the Republicans had let him There is no way in this present Universe that they would allow any credit at all to President Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-trump-thread-what-if-his-approach-actually-works/777387/72 "2017-01-19T02:11:35Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > Pretend for a moment Trump supporters aren’t evil amoral fleshbags and are actual real people who are trying to raise their kids to be truthful, responsible, and to pay their debts. I _don’t believe_ that nice people voted for him,\* or\* for the Republicans. > [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > Again, you assume way too much of extreme characteristics of Trump supporters. Pretend they’re the people in your neighborhood and not drooling masochistic morons. :dubious: I’m surrounded by brown people who largely speak Spanish; the sort of people that Trump supporters want expelled from the country or worse. And I expect that if I _was_ surrounded by Trump supporters my main concern would be keeping my head down to avoid harassment or attacks. And “masochistic morons” pretty much describes the Republican base in general; they _consistently_ vote to harm themselves. As they just did, again. > [@Barbarian](#): > > There are far too Americans who fail to realize the fundamental truths about Washington D.C. : it is broken by \*design \*and the powers of the President are very limited. Not that limited; especially when the people who are supposed to serve as “checks and balances” aren’t going to care who he hurts. ---
**Author:** ![DrForrester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8edcca/32.png) [@DrForrester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrForrester)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-trump-thread-what-if-his-approach-actually-works/777387/73 "2017-01-19T11:31:51Z")
If we had a president who took a “golden shower” at least once a week, and his policies “actually worked”, would that inspire or influence more people to take “golden showers”? Would it soon become the new fad among CEOs and world leaders? ---
**Author:** ![Pabitel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbce88/32.png) [@Pabitel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pabitel)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-trump-thread-what-if-his-approach-actually-works/777387/74 "2017-01-19T20:40:01Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > Trump…okay…we gotta reduce benifits by 20 percent and increase payment by 20 percent…will that fix it? > > Bean counters…yeah…that should do the trick… > > Trump…DO IT… > > Thats a TRUMP solution. > > Just fucking DO IT. On what planet did this schmuck ever do anything like that. The only thing he had ever done is stiff vendors working for him and pocket a huge salary while presiding over projects that go bust before they are even finished. The idea the he is a great business man, or any kind of business man, is pure fiction. He is a con artist. ---
**Author:** ![Pabitel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbce88/32.png) [@Pabitel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pabitel)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-trump-thread-what-if-his-approach-actually-works/777387/75 "2017-01-19T20:44:42Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > He’s already saved jobs even before taking office. Please tell me you don’t honestly believe this. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Pabitel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbce88/32.png) [@Pabitel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pabitel)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-trump-thread-what-if-his-approach-actually-works/777387/76 "2017-01-19T20:50:46Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > One more thing: I’m not asking whether Trump’s actions and policies are wrong or right. That’s a topic for Great Debates and ultimately The Pit. I’m asking what if they actually yield positive results? Trump has no actions or policies. His words are entirely devoid of meaning. His most ardent diatribe is as likely as not to be followed by “just kidding.” He spews whatever crosses his mind and then disowns the words before they are out of his mouth. There isn’t an issue where he hasn’t staked out at least three mutually exclusive . . . blurbs (I can’t, in good conscience call them positions). ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-trump-thread-what-if-his-approach-actually-works/777387/77 "2017-01-19T21:18:39Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > Bean counters…yeah…that should do the trick… > > Trump…DO IT… > > Thats a TRUMP solution. > > Just fucking DO IT. Trump just told us he was going to provide healthcare for everybody, while in the next breath cutting taxes. There are no beancounters in a Trump solution. Truth is, we don’t really know what his governing approach is going to be. The day will come, probably soon, when he will get the message that can’t have his cake and eat it too. He’ll shoot the messenger on the spot, and then the messenger that follows. At some point he will have to lose face and concede a loss, and nobody knows what that will look like. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-trump-thread-what-if-his-approach-actually-works/777387/78 "2017-01-20T00:51:54Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > I _don’t believe_ that nice people voted for him,\* or\* for the Republicans. > > :dubious: I’m surrounded by brown people who largely speak Spanish; the sort of people that Trump supporters want expelled from the country or worse. And I expect that if I _was_ surrounded by Trump supporters my main concern would be keeping my head down to avoid harassment or attacks. > > And “masochistic morons” pretty much describes the Republican base in general; they _consistently_ vote to harm themselves. As they just did, again. I’m sure you’re used to being called an extremist by now, but you’re showing you’re unable to answer my question due to bias. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-trump-thread-what-if-his-approach-actually-works/777387/79 "2017-01-20T05:10:38Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > I’m sure you’re used to being called an extremist by now, but you’re showing you’re unable to answer my question due to bias. I’m “unable to answer the question” because it’s a poorly defined, complete counterfactual. _“If Trump and the Republicans were completely different people acting in a completely different way for an undefined goal, what would your opinion of that goal be”_ isn’t an answerable question. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_fun_ball/32/17664_2.png) [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Fun_Ball)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-trump-thread-what-if-his-approach-actually-works/777387/80 "2017-01-20T14:44:48Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > If his approach actually works the majority of posters here will either > > a) deny that it works > > b) insist that it doesn’t work very well > > c) say that Obama could have done it if the Republicans had let him > > There is no way in this present Universe that they would allow any credit at all to President Trump. Ha! You think they are going to do the same thing Republicans have been doing the last 8 years? I guess that’s a possibility… Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-trump-thread-what-if-his-approach-actually-works/777387.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-trump-thread-what-if-his-approach-actually-works/777387.md?page=5)