MouthBQ98 said:

---

Wealth has a natural Pareto distribution. And the fact that the bottom is effectively zero, but there is no upper limit means that you naturally have an ever increasing divergence between the broke and the ultra wealthy, and that distort naturally increases and that is inevitable as long as the economy is growing, in the long run. The issue is that envy is natural, and if people see others progress while they feel like they are not, it gets to them, it bothers them. I think the key is people have to adequately feel like they are progressing over time, and if elements of the culture and environment around them make them feel like they aren't progressing towards goals, they get bothered, dissatisfied. That's not good for whoever is in charge as it happens.

They don't notice that life is getting better, they just feel like they are stuck and they can see some others doing relatively better. If that is allowed to go on long enough without serious attempts to mitigate or address it, a demagogue can come along and exploi it.

---

Very wise post as usual. And that stuck feeling is really dicey when things ARE getting worse rather than better. They were under an ever worsening trajectory under the Bidenites, air conditioners, even fans were coming under attack. Unrestrained immigration. Things were on track to remove many of the amenities of life while enabling crime everywhere. So just image that demagogue risk when there IS something they need rescue from. The Left was right to fear Trump -- he could easily *have been* everything they say, and many would still be fine with it if it dealt with the Left.

The whole ridiculous irony is that Trump is not half as autocratic and statist as the Bidenites and Obamians. Their polices were way more anti-democracy. The open borders and enabling crime high on the list.

I valued and value experiences more than saving outside of my kids college fund and emergencies. I try and do 2-3 weeks in Europe every year with the family. It was the same throughout my 20s, I don't even know how many countries I've been to. I wouldn't trade those experiences for the world. I also own two homes and housing is still too expensive for what we pay now versus what you could. That being said, I don't see the need for a giant house, luxury cars etc. I could afford it comfortably but I'd rather spend my money on travel and experiencing the world with my family. I also realize I'm probably an outlier.

Boo fin hoo is right. I was making 30k a year right out of college. I was broke but I survived and managed to have a good time doing it. I can't take these people seriously.

Quote:

---

That is why the communism of the Left and the stirrings of Caesarism or autocracy on the right are gaining such traction. They are the only ones that pretend to even deliver interest in all the above, until MAGA came along.

---

You are very correct in your post, but I think you are making a distinction in the above that doesn't exist.

pagerman @ work said:

---

Quote:

---

That is why the communism of the Left and the stirrings of Caesarism or autocracy on the right are gaining such traction. They are the only ones that pretend to even deliver interest in all the above, until MAGA came along.

---

You are very correct in your post, but I think you are making a distinction in the above that doesn't exist.

---

Explain?

titan said:

---

pagerman @ work said:

---

Quote:

---

That is why the communism of the Left and the stirrings of Caesarism or autocracy on the right are gaining such traction. They are the only ones that pretend to even deliver interest in all the above, until MAGA came along.

---

You are very correct in your post, but I think you are making a distinction in the above that doesn't exist.

---

Explain?

---

I think that the cult of personality that is MAGA is part of the "stirrings of Caesarism or autocracy on the right", not something separate from it. (That is a great phrase, by the way.)

I think that Mamdani is the left's response to Trump; a photonegative of Trump if you will.

pagerman @ work said:

---

titan said:

---

pagerman @ work said:

---

Quote:

---

That is why the communism of the Left and the stirrings of Caesarism or autocracy on the right are gaining such traction. They are the only ones that pretend to even deliver interest in all the above, until MAGA came along.

---

You are very correct in your post, but I think you are making a distinction in the above that doesn't exist.

---

Explain?

---

I think that the cult of personality that is MAGA is part of the "stirrings of Caesarism or autocracy on the right", not something separate from it. (That is a great phrase, by the way.)

I think that Mamdani is the left's response to Trump; a photonegative of Trump if you will.

---

Ah, I see. I could agree with you on one level, but the "stirrings of Caesarism" I referred to is the dissident right, that speaks in terms of true dispensing of structures and rolling back certain practices and laws. And which now is indeed enjoying its own growth, after 2020-2024 and the complete unmasking of the globalists by the Bidenite reign sets up the classic 1930's clash tension. You see, Biden's reign and policies retroactively confirmed many of the so-called alt right's claims about the ruling class they were making in the second term of Obama as Obama steadily Islamist weighted the Mideast by spreading instability and regressed domestic racial relations by a deliberate distortion campaign of the MSM.

MAGA remember had two stages 45 term and now 47th. In this second it has only strayed toward Caesarism BECAUSE of the full blown swamp resistance to even modest reform and correction of course. Trump was the only one willing to attack the MSM machine in particular, and the swamp that also had the money and sheer delight in fighting to do it. (Trump's NY style enjoying abrasive clashes is part of his endurance. Its not soul-killing to him ) Cruz had the outlook, and its no coincidence he remains a big part of the counter-push.

That full-bore attempt to negate a second clear cut election (both elections 2016 and 2024 had notable blue state support) is what has led to the stirrings. The second week of September especialy is why the "stirrings of Caesarism and autocracy" are really gaining speed, and even some of the Center right feeling we may be looking at a choice between bads, and its still an easy call. The wickedness of the Progressives revealed has made any real notion of trying to return to some civility kind of a non-starter and futile. Mamdani may be a photonegative of Trump, or more precisely, he is even more openly simply the next rung up from what Biden admin revealed them all to be.

Trump never was what the Left said and the MSM said. He has had plenty of chances to be it. He hasn't even gone Andrew Jackson on the courts yet. He is very much like what he was before---- he seems a case of a Ross Perot type, or even rare Right Progressive like Teddy Roosevelt. He personally has overbearing tendencies, but given all the provocations has shown remarkable persistence in trying to operate within, while also stretching, the law imo. In that sense, more like a Democrat President. Its not that different from Obama's "pen and phone" with the big exception is he doesn't have an MSM ready to shroud that with static and make it easy to do. He has many flaws and problematic points, but at least they are open, and not slickly hidden like it turns out the vast bulk of the ruling class had been. USA ID is very symbolic of the lot and the global promotion of degeneracy and instability.

Can Trump now become actual risk ? Absolutely -- he could become what they fear because they are sort of creating it. (See second week of September) --- a feeling where somewhat driven to it may be in the cards. A stopgap to stop a true Marxist push. The egotism could lead into that but probably will not.

But the real fault of all this is the political press class that has felt so entitled as to be beyond any correction, moderation, cutbacks, or letting go of the reigns of power. Even when a popular vote in a divided country appeared to insist on it. The behavior of many federal workers is showing this entitled arrogance -- while the Dems have the gaul to still want to send money to degenerate causes or give it to illegals while citizens still have to pay their bills.

The weird part is that the Dems are utterly going insane over "maga" populism that is actually very close to what a more moderate mainstream Democrat like Clinton would have advocated for 30 years ago. It's almost like he took the best selling 1/3 of the Dem platform from about 1995 and just claimed it and repackaged it with the best selling portion of conservatism.

Democrats are viciously opposing some policies they advocated for just 2-3 decades ago. They have been largely co-opted by the neoMarxist movement.

MouthBQ98 said:

---

The issue is one of expectations. Each successive generation has loved a better, safer, more comfortable life than the last, with access to cheaper and new technologies constantly.

Now that every new generation is bombarded with media and marketing that shows them what they don't have but what others supposedly do, and constantly create an artificial perception of standard of living to encourage consumption through envy, we all have a distorted view of how wealth is accumulated and how it is normal for the young to be relatively poor.

Yet, our homes, vehicles, goods of all kinds are often more targeted at the wealthier consumers. Starter homes now are utterly luxurious compared to 2-3 decades ago. Basic Vehicles are expensive and loaded with tech. People carry around a huge amount of technology that they didn't 2 decades ago. People constantly see what others supposedly have and then believe that they themselves are going without or are relatively poor.

The expectations are manipulated higher, so more people feel poorer even though they live better than past generations at the same stage in their lives on average

---

Its human nature to resent those that have more. The left, whether Chavez, Obama, or Mamdani, have effectively harnessed that with class warfare.

The messed up economical position of youngsters, doesnt help, but its not the core problem. The core problem is liberalism and Marxist idealogy. Its been around a long time. We saw it when the young was debt free and houses were cheap.

FobTies said:

---

Its human nature to resent those that have more and flaunt it. The left, whether Chavez, Obama, or Mamdani, have effectively harnessed that with class warfare.

The messed up economical position of youngsters, doesnt help, but its not the core problem. The core problem is liberalism and Marxist idealogy. Its been around a long time. We saw it when the young was debt free and houses were cheap.

---

This is true. I added the bold italics because its a more subtle aspect overlooked but which also plays a role.

The posturing by the ruling class of their insulation from all their policies fuels much of the resentment (best example, climate tyrants wanting to ban fans going to Davos in private jets); social media magnifies it and makes it far worse by showing everyone else what they don't have, or the other's "got".(This is a big issue in schools and cliques at a petty domestic level but no less real) In some more dignified and discrete times, this wasn't done so flagrantly. Even the well off you only really learned it by seeing the home or some special context.

So that is what the youth are seeing too -- its "keep up with Joneses" on steroids.

yes, resentment is natural

and that ties into something no one has mentioned: the impact of professional athlete salaries on Gen Z

they see players making $30 MM to $40 MM to $50 MM per year playing a game

and most of them (Gen Z) have no chance of that simply due to gender or genetics

and of course sports is pushed front & center nonstop in everyday life

Quote:

---

Can Trump now become actual risk ? Absolutely -- he could become what they fear because they are sort of creating it.

---

I don't know that he will or he won't, but if he does, it won't be because he's a helpless victim of inertia that was compelled to become something because of the actions of others. Everyone has free will and makes choices.

And the idea that the excesses of one side are necessary and in fact permissible because of the excesses (real or imagined) of the other side is just wrong. Ends don't justify means, and that thinking will lead to some very dark places, regardless of whatever political ideology employs it.

It's as simple as the NY native Americans voted against Mundami and foreign born and illegals voted for him. Include the toxic white liberal female in Mundami's numbers and the rest are out numbered.

I'd like to interject like a good socialist he had a cash bar at his party, asked for donations for the transition, and went to Puerto Rico for vacation. Probably on said donations.

pagerman @ work said:

---

Quote:

---

Can Trump now become actual risk ? Absolutely -- he could become what they fear because they are sort of creating it.

---

I don't know that he will or he won't, but if he does, it won't be because he's a helpless victim of inertia that was compelled to become something because of the actions of others. Everyone has free will and makes choices.

And the idea that the excesses of one side are necessary and in fact permissible because of the excesses (real or imagined) of the other side is just wrong. Ends don't justify means, and that thinking will lead to some very dark places, regardless of whatever political ideology employs it.

---

Its not a matter of Trump some inertia, or being a victim. Its about the Left may make it a last resort situation on the trajectory they are on.

Its not a case of excesses of one justify the other, its more comparable to war. You have to fight closer to the opposition's terms than not and reserve what spaces of restraint for your side you can. Otherwise you just get rolled over.

As for the old ends justify means, there is a corollary. It goes more like this. The ends can justify the means, but some means can never be justified. WW II offers a lot of good examples --- at least to date most seem to think our mass fire-bombings could be justified, but a similar consensus seems to exist that genocide can never be justified. Do you agree that things play out more this way?

This police officer who grew up in New York City reflects on how the city has fallen to socialism and how it is being run by people who didn't even grow up there.

I can only imagine how it would feel for the multi generation citizens there to have some Ugandan Muslim Socialist… pic.twitter.com/KTuG71J8M4

— AmericanPapaBear™ (@AmericaPapaBear) November 8, 2025

How true is it possibly, that this election result wasn't really genuine in the sense that a bunch that should not have been voting, were? He talks from a street patrol perspective, and seems to know about it.

There is more opportunity in 2025 than at any time in human history. People can ***** or map out a plan, execute it and live the life they choose. Unfortunately, a lot of young folks want to take a picture with a "smash capitalism" mural in the background while sipping a protein drink at Starbucks. Post it on Facebook as LOOK AT ME virtue signaler. Being rich is a choice. Being poor is a choice. I've been both. The former is better.

I have traveled around the world. Rich countries, poor countries, communist & socialist countries.

The one environmental factor that the authentically poor folks who lived in a shack and ate anything and everything to have something in their belly all suffered having to figure out what they were going to eat for the week.

Families in those situation coalesce and support each other….the all work multiple jobs….they don't ***** and moan about their situation…..they just work. All of their collective incomes are consolidated to have the highest quality of living possible.

As the younger kids grow up, they benefit from a better education than their parents. Increased intelligence lead to a step up level in pay.

At some point. The young kids are born to a family that had generational success…..and they become soft. I guess we used to call it the "Being Fed with a Silver Spoon". Those kids get everything. And if their parents make the mistake not to introduce a suffering reality into there developmental years those kids grow up to be soft and have strange realities.

We have very little poor in the USA. IF FOLKS WERE NOT ALWAYS TRYING TO GET A FREE PAYDAY……people could really be helped.

By the way, anyone have a link to a full transcript of Mamdani's victory speech or video link? Keep finding clips only.

Its Texas Aggies, dammit said:

---

" . . . Capitalism doesn't fail when the rich get richer.

It fails when the poor stop believing they can join them.

That's the pivot we're living through right now. The "Millennial socialism" he mentions is the immune response of a generation whose time horizon was stolen. . . ."

---

It fails when the majority of voters want something for nothing.

It fails when a shiester convinces the poor that they can't join the middle class.

The vast majority of people will never be rich and never have been.

There is really too much jealousy and envy now which leads to tyranny.