So what if Trump tells lies

A version of this was published in the Sky Hi News  October 23-24, 2018
https://www.skyhinews.com/news/opinion/opinion-muftic-so-what-if-trump-tells-lies/


I have seen chains of Facebook comments posted on time lines of friends that had me shaking my head.  One was "so what if Trump lies, I like what he is doing".  Another: "If you disagree with Trump, it is because  you are a socialist,  so go live in Venezuela".  The latter writer has no idea of the shades of kinds of socialism, but right off the bat, I hope they turn in their Social Security card and give up Medicare, because those are socialism by any definition.  For the record, I want capitalism to succeed. I do not support government ownership "of the means of production",  but capitalism has its rough edges that  leave many in the economic dust unless the bad parts are recognized and dealt with, whether by government or by the private sector or  by charitable giving. If  that does not represent your values, at least consider it is key to a stable society in which all have hope they can be treated fairly.

I am not freaked out by the word "socialism" itself. My questions are how much, what kind,what for,  and are we willing to pay for it.  I have lived in Europe and have close family members who live there now, but the extent of government involvement  in their economy is their own choice because they also live in a democracy.    They get the economic system the majority  wants decided in a democratic process.  They have lived under fascism and communist dictatorship  and gone down those hell holes. What does frighten me is a large number of Americans who do not support  or understand democracy and do not recognize a demagogue wannabe despot  or condemn one when they see one.  In my view,  I fear they are passengers on the Titanic dancing to the music they love.

 Remember that Hitler, Hugo Chavez, the Marxists, and Putin and all of the other despots, strong men, absolute  kings and dictators seized and kept  power using and abusing existing democracies or took advantage of chaos, economy's  hard times,  anarchy, and  inheritance. They made promises that could not work and told lies to exaggerate victimization, intensify hatred  and fear,  and  scapegoating  others so they could appear as a savior.  This happened whether the existing systems were fascism or socialism  or market or oil based, communist, capitalist, socialist,  industrialized  or agricultural, and with well educated or illiterate populaces.

Here is the comment I posted in response to the one who wanted my friend to move to Venezuela calling her a socialist because she criticized Trump for lying. It is also  my answer  to the one who does not care if he lies.  "What the heck does  lying to cover your tail have to do with socialism? Seems like any form of government or despot of any economic or political ideology that lies is trying to fool its citizens or the world to maintain power. If citizens swallow lies because they like what the lies or promises sound like and suppress  and muzzle  those who tell uncomfortable truths, eventually their experiences in real life reveal the lies. Demagogues tell you what you want to hear, true or not, as they oppress, intimidate,  destroy the opposition, and that is how they become dictators. The fooled eventually get disillusioned, and try to revolt peacefully in the ballot box in a democracy with fair elections and a free press. That peaceful transition of power is  the gift of democracy, given us through our Constitution  by our country's founders.  If it is too late, that  people have already handed over all of their power to a dictator , the revolt takes place in the blood of the streets or on a battlefield. That is the story of political history ".    That is no lie.

Trump has said the real power is fear.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2018/09/11/bob-woodward-donald-trump-fear-time-feel-afraid/1255246002/

https://www.politifact.com/personalities/donald-trump/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/09/04/president-trump-has-made-false-or-misleading-claims-days/?utm_term=.228b6545036f

Examples of recent Trump lies to raise hatred  and fear levels and scapegoating:
In appealing to anti Semitism and fear of women rising in mobs,  George Soros paid them:https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/10/05/no-george-soros-isnt-paying-kavanaugh-protesters/?utm_term=.833096f3d39d

Anti immigration has become Trump's code word for making America White again, appealing to racists and fear of brown and black people:
Immigrants are murderers and rapists:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2015/07/08/donald-trumps-false-comments-
Caravans of Mexicans etc swarming the border.  Truth: illegal immigration at new lows..down 18% in past years;https://www.wral.com/trump-renews-fiery-immigration-rhetoric-as-midterms-near/17927212/

Democrats want open borders to let in these rapists and murderers and get more Democrativ votes
false:   https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/27/us/politics/fast-check-donald-trump-democrats-open-borders.html

On Trump lies about sanctuary cities...https://www.yahoo.com/news/twitter-agog-trump-whopper-californians-055804686.html?.tsrc=jtc_news_index

Trump lies re Dem support of opoid legislation:
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/healthcare/senate-sends-opioid-package-to-trumps-desk

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/27/us/politics/fast-check-donald-trump-democrats-open-borders.html

Praises a candidate for bodyslamming a reporter who asked hard questions while helping Saudi Arabia put the best foot forward of being caught killing and dismembering a dissident journalist. https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/montana-rally-president-trump-praises-greg-gianforte-body/story?id=58596529

And without need to document because it has become an every day occurrence or oratory: Trump's rise to power on bitherism, claiming Obama was born in Kenya and turning Kavanaugh into the poster child of male patriarchy under attack.. His claim that all press and media criticizing him are "fake news", regardless of facts, proof, and corroboration, a common technique of  demagogues rising to dictatorships.  Praises a candidate for bodyslamming a reporter who asked hard questions while helping Saudi Arabia put the best foot forward of being caught killing and dismembering a dissident journalist.
 Calling those who accuse men of sexual missdeeds liars.  Calling women who threaten him with power pigs, horse faces, confused, mobs, an empty bag.. Men are the victims.  Neo Naxis are some fine people who march with torches and giving white nationalist and Nazi salutes.

https://www.politifact.com/personalities/donald-trump/statements/byruling/false/

Backing  and campaigning those who officials who use dirty tricks  to suppress African Americans and Native Americans votes.https://www.politifact.com/georgia/article/2018/oct/19/georgias-exact-match-law-and-its-impact-voters-gov/
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/native-americans-north-dakota-fight-protect-voting-rights/story?id=58585206
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/oct/20/trump-georgia-republican-brian-kemp-stacey-abrams

Trump's disdain for the rule of law, contending he has a right to pardon himself if charged with crimes.

Examples of promises made and not kept:  Better cheaper health care for all (and backing  law suits and candidates advocating overturn of Obamacare and coverage of pre-existing conditions, as well as legislation backed by the GOP in Congress).    Tax cuts for all became a sham cover for giving tax breaks to the rich and corporations; the middle class has already figured that one out and now the GOP is afraid to run on his tax programs.  That the trillian dollar  tax cut would pay for itself by increasing growth and income to the treasurty has resulted in ballooning debts and deficits.  Going it alone without alliances, trade or otherwise, would make America greater in the world, yet Trump has become the laughing stock at the UN and his world approval ratings have tanked, the exact opposite from Obama's.