tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2309385158537254711.post1146953145426775915..comments2023-09-26T12:18:39.374+03:00Comments on Boreal Expat: The Dangers of Charisma (At Least I’m Safe)Kent Tankersleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01848650819768345044noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2309385158537254711.post-55699383419171614102016-02-10T14:15:20.693+02:002016-02-10T14:15:20.693+02:00Seems like I’ve heard that those number aren’t qui...Seems like I’ve heard that those number aren’t quite correct, though they might be. But what is true that Trump is no “self-made man”, nothing like the Bill Gateses or Mark Zuckerbergs of the world. It’s been pointed out that Michael Bloomberg could buy Donald Trump for lunch. <br /><br />It’s interesting to hear Trump’s supporters say that one thing they like about him is that, because he’s so rich, he can’t be bought. I’ve read that in the early days of the Republic, some folks felt the same way. The aristocratic class were seen (at least by themselves, no doubt) as the best people to lead the country, since they were independently wealthy and not susceptible to corruption. Mere businessmen who had to “work” and struggle to survive were seen as less trustworthy. Kent Tankersleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01848650819768345044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2309385158537254711.post-61326876425976885132016-02-10T13:59:25.218+02:002016-02-10T13:59:25.218+02:00Perhaps I was too glib myself in describing Trump ...Perhaps I was too glib myself in describing Trump as charismatic. Whatever it is about him, Trump apparently has a way of energizing large numbers of people and winning their admiration, whether he deserves it or not. And he seems to be doing it only by the force of personality. I don’t see it myself. I think he’s repulsive. (And the same goes for Ted Cruz.)<br /><br />Regarding fraternities, joining one is of course not a mandatory part of college life. When I continued on to UGA, I had no urge to join one, which was apparently also true for most my Young Harris frat brothers. Anyway, at the time it was mostly a fun and innocuous experience.Kent Tankersleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01848650819768345044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2309385158537254711.post-50973294707738719502016-02-06T03:00:17.337+02:002016-02-06T03:00:17.337+02:00One thing I read about Trump that I do believe...b...One thing I read about Trump that I do believe...but I didn't bother to read the hard numbers:<br /><br />If he'd taken the fortune his father left him and just parked it in basic invesments he'd be worth something like $40billion today. Instead, taking risks and show-boating and using the money to just generally be a pain in the ass, he's worth $3billion--adjusted for inflation about the same he started with. Yes, he's still a sold one-per-center, but not in that rarefied air reserved for the biggest of the big.James Robert Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17281049641681225389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2309385158537254711.post-22364006463525427262016-02-05T16:17:06.043+02:002016-02-05T16:17:06.043+02:00I'm with James here. I don't think Trump i...I'm with James here. I don't think Trump is particularly charismatic, in the over-all sense, but he is a very good salesman. He's like one of those used-car salesmen: Everybody knows every reason why you shouldn't buy the product or buy anything from a greasy guy like that, but he still ends up making the sales. I suppose that's some sort of charisma but it's such a specific form of charisma that the term doesn't really apply.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2309385158537254711.post-87065030460454944542016-02-03T23:23:45.815+02:002016-02-03T23:23:45.815+02:00I have always regretted being too poor to attend c...I have always regretted being too poor to attend college. Things like the fraternity stuff make feel a little less regret.<br /><br />I don't think Trump is at all charismatic. I suppose if you were an idiot you might be blinded by the stories of his vast wealth. Other than that, though...I don't see any appeal whatsoever. He's not bright. He's not personable. He exudes nothing of compassion. He's not even glib, which is a major requirement of those who are often listed as "charismatic".<br /><br />He's just a nasty rich man with a huge PR budget aimed at stupid Americans. And there is pretty much no shortage of stupidity in the USA.<br />James Robert Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17281049641681225389noreply@blogger.com