Germans haven't got a monopoly on being dictators - especially not the present generation!
(Trump also had a Scottish mother and was a problem as a youngster)
However, the methodology which got Trump where he is now would make a Goebbels proud, similar appeal to racism, an attempt to divide, appealing to a smoldering feeling of insecurity/ real and imagined in the U.S. in his campaigning - he probably feels the things he spouts - at least until he's had another brain wave.
I watched an interview by Stan Grant of a very erudite American/Asian woman/journalist/writer.
I cannot find the original interview, so I am quoting from memory:
She listed a number reasons why Trump managed to appeal to such a varied and broad voter base, but the original question was a puzzled Grant asking how come Americans who have always have had such strong national feelings, even when mentioning their own background, i.e. calling themselves Irish Americans, Chinese Americans etc. but always identified as 'Americans' above all are now dividing into distinct and separate national and racial groupings.
She said that the idea that America was multi-cultural was still cherished by a predominantly white cosmopolitan elite who live in their beautiful neighbourhoods, travel the world, are educated, often speak other languages, whilst the bulk of white American workers never set foot outside their states and are inward-looking, uneducated and realise that there was a slow erosion of their status happening. Their superior status as whites was leaving along with their jobs, their lack of opportunities, jobs etc. wants them to fight back, so strong language with nationalistic, even racist overtones, which at the same time gives them hope appeals to them - not much analysis required - they are angry and Trump speaks their language. (Hitler employed similar tactics and no doubt all learnt from the Bolsheviks, but real revolution was inevitable in Russia - Germany could have gone down a different path after WWI, had the victors been less intransigent.)
She said that Trump picked up on the fact that 'white' Americans are close to losing their majority - it was a comfortable White American's world up to now, but the poorer sections know that that privileged position is in danger or is almost gone as they see their own incomes dwindling, jobs disappearing, even their position as head of households diminished by the feminists - so they are on the defensive. Trump appealed to them, because he spoke their language - the very roughness of Trump in the way he speaks about women and the simplicity of his language and approach appeals to 'them'. Also the fact that 'one who appears to be like them' has made it into unfathomable wealth (it will be 'fathomed' - mark my words - Russian banks come to mind), one who's got beautiful women at his beck and call, trots out his expensive trophy wife who puts up and shuts up out - truly a model to all women! etc etc.
I suspect a similar profile of Trump admirer would be posting on HC, hopefully not demeaning anyone, as I have a lot of sympathy for the modern male who doesn't actually know anymore what his position in society is, what women expect of him etc. etc. - There is also the racist who would relate to Trump - I am less empathetic to them, as we live in an international world and there is no turning back of the clock.
I must say, it was a fairly respectful interview, but stuff was said which is pretty obvious, but people don't want to see or hear it; they are deaf to the dangers contained in Trump's siren call, simply labelling it all nonsense and pretending they don't understand. We need to understand, because all our lives could be affected by the lies á la Trump.
It was somehow delicious to observe two clever humans, neither of whom was 'white' (in the racist sense of the word), wryly and respectfully discuss the latent racism in explaining the Trump phenomenon.
Taurisk
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