Excellent, persuasive essay. I’m impressed that you made a strong case against Trump without addressing policies (always debatable) or implying your own political orientation.
There’s one point you made which might require an essay of its own. You described Trump as being an unskilled businessman. I know very little about his business career so I have no reason to disagree. However, he obviously became very wealthy. How did that happen if not through business success? I realize he inherited a lot, I think I’ve heard $40 million, but he ultimately became a billionaire. Do you have more details on his business career and how he became so wealthy?
ETA: the New Yorker article you linked probably covers it but it’s paywalled for me. I might have to dive into the subject, I’m curious now.
It's totally fascinating, but I'm afraid it's The New Yorker as well. Maybe you can get a trial subscription and cancel before paymment kicks in (or use an incognito browser since I think you get a couple of articles a month for free).
One question you might ask Trump supporters is how will they feel about Trump's eroding of checks and balances, overturning of democratic norms and normalization of abuse of power when the extreme Left (after enough older people die off) elect a Woke charismatic dictator of their own? If you can get them to view it this way, they might understand why our traditional values and norms are so important.
Excellent, persuasive essay. I’m impressed that you made a strong case against Trump without addressing policies (always debatable) or implying your own political orientation.
There’s one point you made which might require an essay of its own. You described Trump as being an unskilled businessman. I know very little about his business career so I have no reason to disagree. However, he obviously became very wealthy. How did that happen if not through business success? I realize he inherited a lot, I think I’ve heard $40 million, but he ultimately became a billionaire. Do you have more details on his business career and how he became so wealthy?
ETA: the New Yorker article you linked probably covers it but it’s paywalled for me. I might have to dive into the subject, I’m curious now.
Thanks Ross. I appreciate the kind feedback.
The New Yorker article was largely triggered by this long New York Times piece so I would certainly begin with it:
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/10/02/us/politics/donald-trump-tax-schemes-fred-trump.html
Among other things, you'll learn that the financial assistance that Trump received from his father was more like $400 million rather than $40 million.
The other must read if you're interested in this subject is this long piece on Tony Schwartz, the ghostwriter of The Art of the Deal:
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/07/25/donald-trumps-ghostwriter-tells-all
It's totally fascinating, but I'm afraid it's The New Yorker as well. Maybe you can get a trial subscription and cancel before paymment kicks in (or use an incognito browser since I think you get a couple of articles a month for free).
One question you might ask Trump supporters is how will they feel about Trump's eroding of checks and balances, overturning of democratic norms and normalization of abuse of power when the extreme Left (after enough older people die off) elect a Woke charismatic dictator of their own? If you can get them to view it this way, they might understand why our traditional values and norms are so important.