I did throw up last night when North Carolina results came in. However this was because I ate a chicken wing too fast. I am deeply grateful that nobody caught this on camera and I would have to spend my lifetime being recognized as the guy from the "triggered lib THROWS UP from Trump victory!" TikTok video.
I think it's nice to focus on the positive things that could be done during this window of Republican control, before the pendulum inevitably swings back (perpetual MAGA rule seems low probability to me). What comes to mind? The potential for NEPA/permitting reform (!!), streamlining and improving procurement, breaking the hold of the defense primes on defense spending, getting rid of water fluorination (which is pretty sketchy), the potential for accelerated approval of nuclear energy, small modulator reactors, using local natural gas and pipelines (better for the environment and great for the American economy), getting the FAA off SpaceX's back, and scaling back affirmative action (which has gone too far). Maybe even IRB and FDA reform is in the cards, who knows!!!
Maybe because I’m not American but I also find all the catastrophic doomsdaying about Trump to be over the top. He was once president and if I remember correctly the world didn’t end and black people didn’t experience slavery part 2.
When I woke up this morning, I felt quite bad because my family in Cuba probably won't be coming to the States for a while because of the new restrictive policies that are coming. But your article helped me a lot. Thanks, brother.
We need to start getting some CNN style fact checks on widespread harmful misinformation suggesting that the USA will become unsafe for racial minorities, LGBTQ+ & women.
One positive aspect is that Trump appears to support deregulation in the aerospace, AI, and cryptocurrency sectors. However, AI risk could potentially pose challenges.
oddly strong Trump victory (vs. marginal EC only win) seems to me to reduce the chance of authoritarian Singapore-style measures against opposition. don’t know if I’m just coping.
Bad? You want to see worse? Come out to San Francisco where our Democrats, without any restraints and billions in tax revenue, have run our city straight into the ground. Who do you think elected Trump? Republicans? Or by a good share of alienated Democrats.
There are people with good reason to expect worse overall life outcomes due to this election. It isn't everyone, but some these bad outcomes reflect extensions of the status quo, or core election promises, that aren't particularly unlikely.
If you're a woman with an ectopic pregnancy, you're much more likely to die in states with abortion bans.
If you're trans in a red state, judicial appointments are likely to ensure that you can continue to be denied housing, fired or murdered with a lesser penalty for being transgender.
If you're a child citizen born to undocumented immigrants, you're much more likely to be deported or forced into an encampment along with your family.
While I agree that overreacting to potential negative outcomes is unproductive, I think that catharsis and grief for a lost better life is a valuable part of coming to grips with how your life needs to change.
I'm trans, in Texas. In the last six months I lost the ability to obtain identification that matches my appearance, putting me at substantially higher risk of physical violence. Odessa TX also passed a bathroom bill that relies on it's citizens policing gender expression to punitively exclude trans people from extended forays in public life. In this climate I expect to see it extended across the state.
This election means that many of my close friends will flee, many will live in fear of physical violence and a few may self harm or resort to suicide. And those concerns will extend until an entire generation of judges passes, or trans acceptance becomes a majority opinion in every state.
This election lowered my expectations for the next 20 years of my life meaningfully. I didn't sleep last night and I sobbed. For the day after, I don't think I wasted my energy.
One counterargument I can see to the fourth point is that if we are indeed living in a "hinge of history" moment (as many thoughtful people believe we might be), then the administration in power during that time could have outsized effects on the long-term trajectory of the world.
I think that the biggest concerns for a second Trump term are on immigration (he's likely to try severely restricting even legal immigration in his second term, as he previously did in his first term, as well as to try doing mass deportations of illegal immigrants and possibly their US citizen children as well) and on the lack of consequences for 2020-2021. The fact that Trump was able to get reelected after what he did in 2020-2021 will increase the odds, possibly significantly, that a future Republican US presidential candidate could also eventually try pulling off the same stunt. After all, if Trump was able to avoid damage from this, maybe they themselves could as well?
My fear is reduced somewhat reading your article. But there is still some fear left -
It is not just Trump that seems like a problem to people but the project 2025 and billionaires trying to undermine democracy. Oligarchy would be harmful. Putin and the oligarchs in Russia are smart too but that didn't help them from invading Ukraine. Have you watched Thunderfoot's videos on Elon Musk and Elon's promises?
Ultimately, Harris lost. And that does make me sad.
I know democrats do have some bad or slow policies with respect to crime but Trump does seem worse still.
I did throw up last night when North Carolina results came in. However this was because I ate a chicken wing too fast. I am deeply grateful that nobody caught this on camera and I would have to spend my lifetime being recognized as the guy from the "triggered lib THROWS UP from Trump victory!" TikTok video.
Actually, you know what, I deserve this for eating chicken. God works in mysterious ways.
I think it's nice to focus on the positive things that could be done during this window of Republican control, before the pendulum inevitably swings back (perpetual MAGA rule seems low probability to me). What comes to mind? The potential for NEPA/permitting reform (!!), streamlining and improving procurement, breaking the hold of the defense primes on defense spending, getting rid of water fluorination (which is pretty sketchy), the potential for accelerated approval of nuclear energy, small modulator reactors, using local natural gas and pipelines (better for the environment and great for the American economy), getting the FAA off SpaceX's back, and scaling back affirmative action (which has gone too far). Maybe even IRB and FDA reform is in the cards, who knows!!!
Maybe because I’m not American but I also find all the catastrophic doomsdaying about Trump to be over the top. He was once president and if I remember correctly the world didn’t end and black people didn’t experience slavery part 2.
Whatever happens, thanks for a positive and encouraging piece.
When I woke up this morning, I felt quite bad because my family in Cuba probably won't be coming to the States for a while because of the new restrictive policies that are coming. But your article helped me a lot. Thanks, brother.
We need to start getting some CNN style fact checks on widespread harmful misinformation suggesting that the USA will become unsafe for racial minorities, LGBTQ+ & women.
Prediction markets
One positive aspect is that Trump appears to support deregulation in the aerospace, AI, and cryptocurrency sectors. However, AI risk could potentially pose challenges.
oddly strong Trump victory (vs. marginal EC only win) seems to me to reduce the chance of authoritarian Singapore-style measures against opposition. don’t know if I’m just coping.
I agree, especially about the very stoic-pilled take in your first consideration. I think the main takeaway of these election results is going to be:
1. Don't discount the predictions markets!!!!
2. Things aren't as bad as emotional freakouts post election results indicate.
Thank you, I needed to hear this.
Bad? You want to see worse? Come out to San Francisco where our Democrats, without any restraints and billions in tax revenue, have run our city straight into the ground. Who do you think elected Trump? Republicans? Or by a good share of alienated Democrats.
Did you read Conrad Bastable's piece on this? Found it interesting to chew on. https://www.conradbastable.com/essays/escalation-theory-compliance-violence-and-overachievement-in-society
Thank you for that. Fascinating piece.
There are people with good reason to expect worse overall life outcomes due to this election. It isn't everyone, but some these bad outcomes reflect extensions of the status quo, or core election promises, that aren't particularly unlikely.
If you're a woman with an ectopic pregnancy, you're much more likely to die in states with abortion bans.
If you're trans in a red state, judicial appointments are likely to ensure that you can continue to be denied housing, fired or murdered with a lesser penalty for being transgender.
If you're a child citizen born to undocumented immigrants, you're much more likely to be deported or forced into an encampment along with your family.
While I agree that overreacting to potential negative outcomes is unproductive, I think that catharsis and grief for a lost better life is a valuable part of coming to grips with how your life needs to change.
I'm trans, in Texas. In the last six months I lost the ability to obtain identification that matches my appearance, putting me at substantially higher risk of physical violence. Odessa TX also passed a bathroom bill that relies on it's citizens policing gender expression to punitively exclude trans people from extended forays in public life. In this climate I expect to see it extended across the state.
This election means that many of my close friends will flee, many will live in fear of physical violence and a few may self harm or resort to suicide. And those concerns will extend until an entire generation of judges passes, or trans acceptance becomes a majority opinion in every state.
This election lowered my expectations for the next 20 years of my life meaningfully. I didn't sleep last night and I sobbed. For the day after, I don't think I wasted my energy.
One counterargument I can see to the fourth point is that if we are indeed living in a "hinge of history" moment (as many thoughtful people believe we might be), then the administration in power during that time could have outsized effects on the long-term trajectory of the world.
Try to put the best face on the implosion of The Democratic Party. Clintonism is officially dead.
I think that the biggest concerns for a second Trump term are on immigration (he's likely to try severely restricting even legal immigration in his second term, as he previously did in his first term, as well as to try doing mass deportations of illegal immigrants and possibly their US citizen children as well) and on the lack of consequences for 2020-2021. The fact that Trump was able to get reelected after what he did in 2020-2021 will increase the odds, possibly significantly, that a future Republican US presidential candidate could also eventually try pulling off the same stunt. After all, if Trump was able to avoid damage from this, maybe they themselves could as well?
My fear is reduced somewhat reading your article. But there is still some fear left -
It is not just Trump that seems like a problem to people but the project 2025 and billionaires trying to undermine democracy. Oligarchy would be harmful. Putin and the oligarchs in Russia are smart too but that didn't help them from invading Ukraine. Have you watched Thunderfoot's videos on Elon Musk and Elon's promises?
Ultimately, Harris lost. And that does make me sad.
I know democrats do have some bad or slow policies with respect to crime but Trump does seem worse still.