Changing Gears & Abandoning Principle

One of the most resilient of Trump supporters' beliefs is that those of us who oppose him do so out of an irrational hatred whereby we can't recognize or give him credit for the good that he does. They further believe that he would do even more good if everyone would just get out of his way and let him do his job. You've heard the term tossed around, usually on social media, if not in person: Trump Derangement Syndrome. The Trumpists are incapable of understanding that we may have reasonable, logical reasons for opposing him. Part of this is that they often truly believe that what Trump is doing is good for the country, although that is usually paired with a disregard for the price that is paid. 

One could argue that reducing the size and cost of the federal government is a positive achievement, and Trumpists are aghast that progressives are against what Trump unleashed with DOGE and that federal judges have attempted to roll back some of what was done. However, the DOGE actions was not a thoughtful, considered review of government programs, it was an ideological purge by people who had no understanding of how government worked, or what most of these agencies actually did. It's hard to view something like that as an achievement when it represents a dismantling of programs that you believe are necessary. The regime's border policies are often cited by Trumpists as an achievement and described as "closing the border" as opposed to Biden's "open border". But what has been done is the shutting off of the ability of people fleeing violence and persecution to claim asylum.  The immigration system infrastructure still hasn't been fixed — instead the government is hunting down undocumented immigrants and revoking previously agreed-to temporary legal status for asylum seekers. Recently a Trump voter pointed out how I had benefitted by the new bonus standard deduction for seniors — a Trump initiative. It's true that many taxpayers saw their tax bills reduced due to the senior deduction, as well as partial deductions for tips and overtime, but personally I'd rather pay the higher taxes than live under this increasingly despotic regime. 

And now, in addition to the 14 months of autocratic rule by an ignorant bully, we are involved in a war in the Middle East...and those always go so well. 

I have written often about how Trump support is a cult. The Iran War, along with the attack on Venezuela and the possible attack on Cuba, is another item that supports that assertion. Trump campaigned very clearly and vociferously on staying out of the affairs of other countries and not starting any wars. He lobbied shamelessly for the Nobel Peace Prize and recently inaugurated his "Board of Peace". He and other Republicans characterized Vice President Harris and other Democrats as warmongers and predicted that we would be at war if she were elected. Yet most of his supporters have seamlessly transitioned to supporters of war in Iran. Just like their top stated reason for voting for Trump was his promise to end inflation and bring prices down as inflation continues and prices continue to rise. Few things that a president does have any meaningful effect on inflation...except tariffs. If he had just left well enough alone the trend started in Biden's final two years would have resulted in low inflation and Trump could have taken credit for it. Few things that a president does have any meaningful effect on gas prices...except war. And the reasonable gas prices that he had been taking credit for are now rising. And through it all, the Trumpists change gears, and seamlessly adopt the new Trump position.

Who is it that is deranged?