01 January 2024
A Realtor As President?
Matthew Schmitz, in the 12/18/2023 NYT, said many voters see the former President as a businessman. It’s important, however, to realize the nature of his business background. He and his father built their fortunes on real estate development. The key to success in that field is not satisfying consumer demand. The real estate developer must convince his investor that his project will find adequate potential occupants by appealing to their dreams.
It’s making the Deal that is central to The Donald’s ability to acquire capital assets—not producing something of value. Trump’s art is selling the investors on the desirability of the project’s outcome or convincing libertarian voters to accept his promises to blow up an unsatisfying status quo. The irony of the real estate business is that there is little about its product that is real—its value consists mainly of expectations. That salesmanship is also the key to Trump’s political career.
The essence of salesmanship is capturing the desires of the customer, not just presenting the virtues of the product. This is what Trump has done with his base. His presentation has consisted of leading listeners to believe that “everybody” does what he has done. His political followers seek a leader who can conduct their common affairs differently than what they have usually had to put up with.
But it has all been a lie—Trump has always failed to accomplish his material goals. He has only succeeded in escaping being held to account for the failure of his projects by bankers and investors who are too embarrassed to admit their errors. Unfortunately, our democracy makes it possible for the whole country to pay the price for the gullibility of a minority committed to blindly fall into the clutches of a demagogue. Like some real estate agents, his interest is in making the deal, not in securing the best outcome for his client.
Comments:
Post a Comment
