WOW. Must be the new construction worker robots carrying those massive beams. Or is that really the strongest men in the world? You see what you want too, the truth is something else. I trust that DJT is well aware of more than you can possibly know. The picture you see is a work in progress with focus only on the brush strokes. He, like I, don't cater our speech in the description to the elitist intellectuals, but rather keep it simple to understand. This is my explanation in plan language of the truth. "There are three super powers in the world, CHINA, RUSSIA and THE USA. Two are communist, and they want it to be three." Everything, in every way since circa 1900 has been to this end, if not before if you look deeper. If and when this is accomplished, there will be the 'Great War of all Time,' as the three communist superpowers battle for total global control, or total destruction, they won't care. They tell you this all the time. "There is only the fight." " We must win at any cost," etc. A.I. may eventually be able to provide the truth and chronology of this progression to our present day for everyone to see. But it is still your eyes that are required to see the truth.

“ It is worth taking a moment to consider the possible scenario. I optimistically voted for Donald Trump, carried away by the tidal wave of reaction sweeping America (“‘Getting’ the MAGA Movement: Think ‘Reaction.’” Belatedly, I realize that he is a man utterly without principle. I mean that “technically.” Philosophically, he is a “pragmatist”—moved by emotion, whim, and his own narcissistic vanity to act on the impulse of the moment. There is nothing “practical” about the unprincipled exercise of power.

The definitive example is Trump’s abrupt pivot to war against Iran. For a decade, he built his movement on an anti-interventionist, “America First” platform, promising an end to “endless wars.” By launching an expensive, high-casualty conflict, he fractured his own base. When loyal MAGA standard-bearers like Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, and Alex Jones criticized the war, he attempted no principled defense. He blasted them on Truth Social as “nut jobs” and “losers.”‘

You sir sound fully vaxxed and brainwashed resulting in a strong case of TDS. If you want to hang your hat with talking heads who have never accomplished anything but spreading psyops and fear mongering. Actors….. let’s call them. All tied to the farm. The deep state lost the central control of oil with Iran and Venezuela . Watch OPEC crumble , and the petroleum dollars weaponization rendered moot. The fear premium of terrorist oil interruption the City of London created and profited from is gone! By the way in terms of our so called National Debt , FRAUD… fraud vitiates everything.

As I explained in the article, I voted for Trump in 2016, 2020, and 2024. I published two books making the case for Trump versus his enemies, especially in the media: "Donald Trump and His Enemies" and "Why Trump's Enemies Fail." Have a look; they cover issues in a far broader context that just Trump and always, consistently from an Objectivist point of view, since I became an advocate of Ayn Rand in 1962 and moved to NYC for the lectures. My article essentially is about end-stage pragmatism (muddling from crisis to crisis always relying on government), the diametric opposite of philosophical principle. Therefore, I focus on Trump's especially repulsive form of pragmatism, which involves constant expression of personal whims, seeking adulation, enrichment at public expense... Now, becoming the first President to respond with military force to Iran's decades of radical Islamic jihad--expressed in the ultimate outrage of October 7--appeared to be principled, courageous, and definitely "America First." But look how the war has been conducted. And look at the stream of threats, boasts, retreats, pivots, and, especially, treatment of Israel. In another area, perhaps our greatest long-term risk--radically politicized "anti-industrial revolution" environmentalism--I liked Trump from the start. Just by downgrading, ignoring, and dismissing the issue he has accomplished a lot. Also, he gives no lip-service to the "woke" and its sacred cows-bulls (trans, you know) and he has not loaded his administration with lefties as did Obama and Biden. But then he lauded totalitarian dictator Xi, praised his lifelong rule, and seems to reply on good relations. Well, so did FDR with "Uncle Joe" Stalin. I might well have added to my article a paragraph on making a choice in the midterm elections. It would be appalling if the Democrats gained control of Congress--a kind of evolution into the French Terror. This truly is the world--and the peril--of "muddling through."

I'm glad to see bond rates come up. There's obviously some risk. Straight Line Logic has a history with bond trading, FWIW. Savers need to be rewarded, too, for a change. I may start rolling treasuries into my holdings...

I wish that our debt was headline news every day.

Part of this thread is a dispute between an academic and an enthusiastic MAGAist. It so happens that in this case I am MAGA. Elaboration can wait.

I do share at least one idea with WDonway- a profound admiration for the civilization and culture of Persia (now named Iran), one of our planet's oldest. It was rich and powerful at the time of Athens and Sparta, and a major barrier to the expansion of Rome. Soon after Western Rome collapsed, Persia crumbled before militant Islam, somehow the culture survived, unfortunately absorbing the fatalism decay and sloth of its neighbors. Perhaps there was a glimmer of revival under the Shah, but then came the regime of the Mullahs.

This regime has characterized itself with barbarity. Tens of thousands of Iranians slaughtered in the streets, widespread secret police and torture, and worldwide support for terror. On top of all that, the determined effort to develop nuclear weapons.
But now there is Trump, the only serious opposition, not just with condemnation and insult but actual military action.
Go Trump!

Thank you for that article ... "America has repeatedly demonstrated that it can rescue itself. Now we should ask if a nation accustomed to rescue can imagine—or more, believe in—the point at which rescue ceases to work. The fire trucks arrive but the hydrant croaks only air."

A potentially parallel take -- so long as the Taylor Swift Economy keeps chugging along ... the act of croaking on air will be a widely accepted performative gesture indicating that everything is functioning as designed. When the sound of a barking dog is replaced by the scent of cooking meat, I will be encouraged in knowing that Taylor has left the building. I am actually looking forward that day as I am in my 60s and making preparations for the long, cold, hard, winter.