from my article in yesterday’s American Thinker, Donald Trump ushering in the third wave of Progressivism [1]
We are witnessing the third and final phase of American Progressivism, where the administrative state has stifled the economy, destroyed opportunities, and lost control of the process.
(The editors modified the title, submitted as Witnessing the Third Phase of Progressivism which I contend started with George W. Bush.)
The article got over 330 comments, mostly rabidly supportive of Trump and critical of my stance. I recommend reading the comments. It’s what I like about submitting to American Thinker. The most comments I ever got only any other submission (about 40) was just over 100.
I found one comment submitted by one Mcsandberg worthy of sharing:
The real problem with the so-called “pragmatists” was identified by Ayn Rand:
Now some of you might say, as many people do: “Aw, I never think in such abstract terms — I want to deal with concrete, particular, real-life problems — what do I need philosophy for?” My answer is: In order to be able to deal with concrete, particular, real-life problems — i.e., in order to be able to live on earth.
You might claim — as most people do — that you have never been influenced by philosophy. I will ask you to check that claim. Have you ever thought or said the following? “Don’t be so sure — nobody can be certain of anything.” You got that notion from David Hume (and many, many others), even though you might never have heard of him. Or: “This may be good in theory, but it doesn’t work in practice.” You got that from Plato. Or: “That was a rotten thing to do, but it’s only human, nobody is perfect in this world.” You got that from Augustine. Or: “It may be true for you, but it’s not true for me.” You got it from William James. Or: “I couldn’t help it! Nobody can help anything he does.” You got it from Hegel. Or: “I can’t prove it, but I feel that it’s true.” You got it from Kant. Or: “It’s logical, but logic has nothing to do with reality.” You got it from Kant. Or: “It’s evil, because it’s selfish.” You got it from Kant. Have you heard the modern activists say: “Act first, think afterward”? They got it from John Dewey.
Some people might answer: “Sure, I’ve said those things at different times, but I don’t have to believe that stuff all of the time. It may have been true yesterday, but it’s not true today.” They got it from Hegel. They might say: “Consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.” They got it from a very little mind, Emerson. They might say: “But can’t one compromise and borrow different ideas from different philosophies according to the expediency of the moment?” They got it from Richard Nixon — who got it from William James. (Ayn Rand, Address to the The Graduating Class of the United States Military at West Point New York – March 6,1974)
So, whoever we elect to the presidency will be following an ideology. I’d prefer somebody that knows it and has one I agree with.
Atlas Shrugged was supposed to be a warning, Not A Newspaper!
HKO
Regardless of my opinion it is clear that I have grossly underestimated Trump (and Sanders) and the revolution against the political establishment of both parties that Trump and Sanders have tapped into. Trump stands to win the GOP nomination and has a much better chance of beating Hillary than I would have thought. He may even get a substantial portion of the Bernie followers. Chris Christie will be the first in a long line of establishment players to get behind him.