January 13, 2021 – One Finite Planet

One Finite Planet

Topics and Subtopics.

System Failure: USA, Jan 6th 2021

January 13, 2021 January 10, 2022

Several issues related the events of this day highlight system failures for either the US, or in some cases, the entire globe ( I will

Lord Trumpemort and the ballot eaters: doom for democracy?

History proves that it is not only in fiction that even the most questionable agendas imaginable can attract many followers. And, like Voldemort, Trump also has a plan to return even if he has no right to return.

Trump now has the weight of a political party behind his likely actual belief that the electoral process in the USA cannot be trusted to declare the genuine winner the right to rule, and to Trump followers, after the next election he will be their president no matter who is initially declared winner.

Even if Trump is not declared winner from the vote count, he could still be appointed, and if not, there will be the threat of a coup to end elections from tens of millions who will see Trump their president in internal exile. If Trump does become president again, he will take steps to prevent the "injustice of 2020" ever being repeated again. Perhaps it makes sense that his enemies are called the "democrats".

The global consequences of Trump being returned to power go beyond the US and beyond democracy.

Leaders Followers & Propaganda

Why do so many Americans support Trump in 2024: They’re not all crazy or weird, many fear being disenfranchised.

Commenced: November 4, 2024

To many people, both those within the US as well as perhaps most outside the US, a vote for Trump is seen as something hard to understand and even seen as the uneducated or the domain "others": people seen as are very different from "normal people". Yet 50% Americans are not radically different "others", nor uneducated, nor stupid, even though around 50% will vote for trump. With around 80% of Americans believing the country is on the "wrong track", is it any surprise a large number feel if trends continue, they risk being disenfranchised by that "wrong track" and are desperate to believe only a big change can protect their rights?

Mechanics of US Presidential Elections: A warts and all outsider’s primer.

Commenced: August 29, 2024 Updated: August 30th, 2024

2024 August 30 : Faithless electors, how the democratic vote can fail, and blocking a result.

George Washington was elected unanimously by the 69 electors from the 10 participating states in the in augural election of a US president in 1788. In practice how the system works in the 21st century's USA of over 330 million people is very different from in the USA of 1788 with less than 4 million people, the underlying principle is still that the states each choose electors to an electoral college who together determine who is to be the president, but in practice today the people of each state get to vote for how their states electors will vote. This is how it works, and a look at what could possibly stop it working as expected.

Biden-Harris the sequel: No choice for US voters?

Commenced: July 9, 2024

Like many others, back in February 2024 I wrote that A Biden-Harris ticket would not cut it for the 2024 election. The debate highlighted the problems of US voters again being faced with Biden and Trump: almost no one sees this as a choice between two good options. The Biden problem will be resolved, but no, it was not just about losing a debate, it was about his inability to maintain his train of thought during the debate, and the risk that presents for another full term in office. Arguably, the focus has all along been only on polarisation and wins for political parties, rather than visions for the future. Democracy should offer the people choices of a say in their future, but under current systems becomes more about personalities. Looking deeper reveals even without the current issues, it is unclear the US voters get a real choice and real say in what elections should determine.

What if Trump isn’t lying? What if it is far, far worse?

Commenced: December 6, 2020 Updated: March 30th, 2024

2024 March 30 : Updated to reflect Trump legal issues as of March 2024.

There are a lot of claims that Trump "lies all the time". But consider for a moment, what if Trump is not lying, but instead actually comes to believe the things he says? What if we are watching someone go down rabbit holes as they receive adulation when saying crazy things? And what if this is what happened to Hitler? There are clearly times it when fact checkers don't support what Trump has said and many times, when what Trump says contradicts what he said earlier. A key question is, is this because Trump is lying, or because Trump actually believes, more significantly, comes to believe things he did not believe before? What if Trump is changing? Opponents often claim Trump knows the truth because he has been told, but then again, having been told the truth doesn't seem to stop flat earthers. Hidden behind the answer to how often, if at all, Trump is lying, may be answer to what did happen in Nazi Germany, and while Trump is not Hitler, how Trump could be on the same type of path to Trump's own form of extremism.

Biden-Harris, won’t cut it, but will they both take a step back for democracy and the Trump Biden rematch?

Commenced: February 15, 2024

A step back for Biden would be to run for vice-president in 2024, and for Harris it would be off the ticket. From this point on, it seems hard to argue that age will not hinder Biden's chances of defeating Trump in 2024, and without Harris having generated sufficient enthusiasm, the Democrats really need a team refresh to take the polls. While technically they have plenty of time, in practice to make a smooth change they are running out of time and would need the support of both Biden and Harris.

Could history of Trump vs Biden 2020 be rewritten?

Commenced: December 6, 2020 Updated: November 8th, 2022

*2024 March 30 : Only reformat following removal of this content from original page.

It seems almost half of all US voters at least somewhat believe Trump on the 2020 election being subject to fraud and if you read all the information being broadcast as found for this post, a person could be forgiven for believing in many ways Trump did deserve to win in 2020. I know. There are a lot of claims that Trump "lies all the time". But consider for a moment, what if instead of lying Trump believes the things he says and keeps managing to convince others? People now tolerate Trump claiming Jan 6th rioters are heroes, so how far can this go? Hidden behind the answer to how often, if at all, Trump is lying, is the answer to the question: is Trump malevolent, or foolish? I suggest that answer does matter. A lot, because he came so close that it is clear his strategy could win for someone in future.

The Irony of The Bloomberg 2020 Campaign

Commenced: January 28, 2020

From a variety of media reports, I had the impression that Bloomberg first held off entering the nomination race because as long as Joe Biden had it covered. But now, Bloomberg could emerge as assisting Bernie Sanders to defeat Job Biden.

Wealth Tax: Good Idea? Bad Idea?

Commenced: October 17, 2019

Yes, another post on finances…but the Democrat candidates debate gets one thinking….now to the point. I do not like the idea of wealth tax. There is an enormous wealth inequality problem and while a wealth tax sounds like a direct solution, I feel there are problems with any implementation, such that there just must be […]

Biden vs Trump: A World Changing US Election?

Commenced: October 2, 2020

The US has an election this November, with the possibility of the winner being decided by the US congress, and not by the election itself. I am even going to suggest this is the most likely of all outcomes. How this is even possible, as well as how each outcome would change the world is […]

2020: Trump ‘wins’ on election Night?

Commenced: November 2, 2020

It is almost certain Trump will hold the lead in votes counted at the end of the night on November 3. While it is possible that Trump could still hold the lead once all votes are counted, Trump is extremely unlikely take the risk that will eventuate and will instead launch legal challenges to the […]

2020: Trump To Declare Victory on election Night? Violence and Intimation? (revision II)

Commenced: November 3, 2020

As I said yesterday, it is almost certain Trump will hold the lead based on votes counted at the end of the night on November 3. While it is possible that, were Trump to wait until the end of the vote count, Trump would still be in the lead, it seems less and less likely […]

OK, Election day over, who won and what now?

Commenced: November 4, 2020

Posted 2020-Nov-4 9:58am UTC As expected Trump effectively declared victory on election night, and has stated there will now be legal action call the election at the current point. Also as expect the vote was tight, and Trump does, again as predicted, hold the lead on the basis of votes counted so far, but is […]

Winners! but.. without the senate?

Commenced: November 5, 2020

Posted 2020-Nov-5 6:07am UTC (midnight Nov 4 US Eastern Time) Updated: There have been two big surprises on and following election day. The first, is how precisely election results have been in line with predictions: as predicted, Trump would narrowly lead on election night based on counted votes as predicted, Trump would declare victory on […]

US Election: Why The Flip The Switch States?

Commenced: November 6, 2020

The whole 2020 US Election scenario was extremely predictable. That is because it was predictable there would be states with an early count favouring Trump, even when the majority of the state voted for Biden. This ‘flip’ happens all the time. Imagine people in a large hall. The master of ceremonies asks ‘all those who […]

Donald Trump: Victory Still Possible?

Commenced: November 7, 2020

The US election is not officially declared. At least two days after even to me, it was clear the result would be around 306-232, there is still some uncertainty. Here in Australia, all 5 free to air Television networks had at least one digital channel focus on the US election on election day. I will […]

US 2020 Election: Never ending story

Commenced: January 6, 2021

Three new chapters of the story playing out: Partisan reactions to Trump call Georgia Sec of State Georgia Senate Elections The Presidential Confirmation Soap Opera On display is the huge disconnect between sides, and in general a lack of ‘theory of mind’. Theory of mind as a personal capability is the understanding that others have beliefs, desires, intentions, and perspectives that are […]

System Failure: USA, Jan 6th 2021

Commenced: January 13, 2021

Several issues related the events of this day highlight system failures for either the US, or in some cases, the entire globe ( I will update this page over the next few days). Recap 25th Amendment: Fail Impeachment? Social Medial: Fail Blame Protesters: Fail Biden Response: Fail Romney: Not a Fail Recap On Jan 6th, […]

Trump: Conceding? Or Plotting?

Commenced: September 27, 2020 Updated: September 27th, 2020

2020 September 27 : Initial version

The republicans in the senate have a clear motive for wanting a new supreme court judge appointed before the election, but with Donald Trump the motivation is not quite as clear. This page contemplates the possible motives of Donald Trump for his rush to appoint a new judge to the high court prior to the […]

Andrew Yang: Dangerous? Or too different?

Commenced: August 4, 2019 Updated: August 4th, 2019

2019 Aug 4 : First published.

Andrew Yang is a U.S. 2020 Democratic presidential candidate with several policies fit well with conclusions reached from the deliberations on this website. Recent stories on gizmodo and the atlantic have branded the views expressed by Andrew Yang as dangerous (gizmodo) and ultra conservative (the Atlantic). So, what are the views, and what is 'dangerous'?