Frank's Musings

Ezra Klein’s article in the 26 January 2025 NYT begs the question whether Donald Trump’s targeted audience whose attention he seeks is the same one sought by the billionaire  influence-peddlers who were provocatively seated at his inauguration.  This goes to Trump’s valid  perception that political power in a liberal democracy such as ours belongs to those who are most adept at manipulating information to appeal to the majority of persons who willingly vote and patronize the wealthiest suppliers of information media and consumer goods.  Critical thinking is not the strongest attribute of most people.

To resolve Mr. Klein’s (and James Madison’s) dilemma, those few of us who are lucky enough to merit and afford a higher education must get off our high horses.  We must  speak to the average public in the language of their common concerns to convince them that the MAGA program of mercantilism and its me-first philosophy are neither  in their long-term nor their immediate interest.