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In other news, California voted not to require porn stars to wear condoms when engaging in vaginal or anal sex on a shoot.

So I guess that's a thing. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

In your second paragraph, you basically describe the rise of the Nazi Party in 1930s Germany. You realize, that, right?

After the drafting of the Constitution, one of our Founding Fathers' fears was that everything they had just fought for would be lost because a cunning and charismatic person would prey on the fears and ignorance of the Citizenry to empower themselves at the cost of the rights of the same Citizens who voted them into power to begin with. That's why many of them emphasized the importance of education, because they believed that an educated Citizenry would be resistant to such attempts.

But the American education system has almost no worth. It's become so focused on math and science (with poor results) that history, civics, and other social studies are barely covered. When they are, the narratives presented are so streamlined and generalized that students get nothing out of it other than a sense of boredom. You've seen those clips where Americans don't know anything about history or geography but know all about pop culture, and we laugh at them...but it's really terrifying, because these are the same people that vote.

Is it surprising that we've elected a reality show host as President? Or that this reality show host proudly proclaimed that he loves uneducated people? And just how many times are we going to have to repeat history because we fail to realize the importance of teaching it and of understanding it? History is literally the story of where we came from and why things became the way they are today. How can someone be a responsible Citizen without knowing those things?

Gracchi are not evil. The elite have instilled a fear of populism in us because that is the one thing that might take away their power and influence. Trump is not a nazi, if anything it's the lady wearing Kim Jong Un's pantsuits that I'd be worried about.

Ah, conspiracy theories.

It's not the elite who fear populism. Trump is about as elite as it gets. It's the people who actually study history who want nothing to do with populism.

Then of course there's my own experience living in Africa. "Freedom fighters" use populism and communism to gain power by playing on people's fears, and then, when they are finally in power, they show their true colours and leave the people who got them in power with nothing.

Yesterday on the local news here in West Virginia they interviewed various people, and the Trump supporters were all happy because now that Trump has won he's going to "bring back coal"...except that he won't, because the problem with coal in this day and age isn't regulation like he and other pandering politicians say, it's that the cheap coal in West Virginia has already been mined out and the price of solar power and natural gas has nosedived and thus making them better options than coal. But instead of telling these people the truth, Trump and Republicans pandered to them, fed them false hopes, and now that he has their votes I guarantee they won't see him here again unless it's to campaign for re-election.

Those people who have put their faith in him and their votes behind him will be in even worse shape at the end of the Trump Administration, and they'll have nothing but disappointment to show for their support.

In your second paragraph, you basically describe the rise of the Nazi Party in 1930s Germany. You realize, that, right?

After the drafting of the Constitution, one of our Founding Fathers' fears was that everything they had just fought for would be lost because a cunning and charismatic person would prey on the fears and ignorance of the Citizenry to empower themselves at the cost of the rights of the same Citizens who voted them into power to begin with. That's why many of them emphasized the importance of education, because they believed that an educated Citizenry would be resistant to such attempts.

But the American education system has almost no worth. It's become so focused on math and science (with poor results) that history, civics, and other social studies are barely covered. When they are, the narratives presented are so streamlined and generalized that students get nothing out of it other than a sense of boredom. You've seen those clips where Americans don't know anything about history or geography but know all about pop culture, and we laugh at them...but it's really terrifying, because these are the same people that vote.

Is it surprising that we've elected a reality show host as President? Or that this reality show host proudly proclaimed that he loves uneducated people? And just how many times are we going to have to repeat history because we fail to realize the importance of teaching it and of understanding it? History is literally the story of where we came from and why things became the way they are today. How can someone be a responsible Citizen without knowing those things?

Gracchi are not evil. The elite have instilled a fear of populism in us because that is the one thing that might take away their power and influence. Drumpf is not a nazi, if anything it's the lady wearing Kim Jong Un's pantsuits that I'd be worried about.

Gracchi aren't evil, but I don't exactly remember the brothers Gracchi being very good for the Roman Republic. (If you don't know who they are, Extra Credits did a wonderful series on them, the first episode being here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODI1VOOoey0&index=5&list=PLhyKYa0YJ_5BuNVhOt8Ls82Cr20yo6Y_p )
Funny you bring them up actually. They were one of my first thoughts after hearing Trump was elected.

I know a lot of my American friends are annoyed and upset at the USA's presidential election result, but don't get stuck down on it, you need to pick yourself up and keep moving on. You're all going to have trouble getting through the next 4 years if you get stuck in a rut over this. Stay strong my friends and don't loose yourself in anger, sadness or dismay.

Video from a YouTuber I like with a good message on this:

Similar message from Tom Scott

Yesterday on the local news here in West Virginia they interviewed various people, and the Trump supporters were all happy because now that Trump has won he's going to "bring back coal"...except that he won't, because the problem with coal in this day and age isn't regulation like he and other pandering politicians say, it's that the cheap coal in West Virginia has already been mined out and the price of solar power and natural gas has nosedived and thus making them better options than coal. But instead of telling these people the truth, Trump and Republicans pandered to them, fed them false hopes, and now that he has their votes I guarantee they won't see him here again unless it's to campaign for re-election.

Those people who have put their faith in him and their votes behind him will be in even worse shape at the end of the Trump Administration, and they'll have nothing but disappointment to show for their support.

Don't forget nuclear. Trump is pro-nuclear and pro-fracking, both of which will harm coal.

In your second paragraph, you basically describe the rise of the Nazi Party in 1930s Germany. You realize, that, right?

After the drafting of the Constitution, one of our Founding Fathers' fears was that everything they had just fought for would be lost because a cunning and charismatic person would prey on the fears and ignorance of the Citizenry to empower themselves at the cost of the rights of the same Citizens who voted them into power to begin with. That's why many of them emphasized the importance of education, because they believed that an educated Citizenry would be resistant to such attempts.

But the American education system has almost no worth. It's become so focused on math and science (with poor results) that history, civics, and other social studies are barely covered. When they are, the narratives presented are so streamlined and generalized that students get nothing out of it other than a sense of boredom. You've seen those clips where Americans don't know anything about history or geography but know all about pop culture, and we laugh at them...but it's really terrifying, because these are the same people that vote.

Is it surprising that we've elected a reality show host as President? Or that this reality show host proudly proclaimed that he loves uneducated people? And just how many times are we going to have to repeat history because we fail to realize the importance of teaching it and of understanding it? History is literally the story of where we came from and why things became the way they are today. How can someone be a responsible Citizen without knowing those things?

Gracchi are not evil. The elite have instilled a fear of populism in us because that is the one thing that might take away their power and influence. Drumpf is not a nazi, if anything it's the lady wearing Kim Jong Un's pantsuits that I'd be worried about.

Gracchi aren't evil, but I don't exactly remember the brothers Gracchi being very good for the Roman Republic. (If you don't know who they are, Extra Credits did a wonderful series on them, the first episode being here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODI1VOOoey0&index=5&list=PLhyKYa0YJ_5BuNVhOt8Ls82Cr20yo6Y_p )
Funny you bring them up actually. They were one of my first thoughts after hearing Trump was elected.

Had they not failed they would have saved Rome.
@Laurentus there's a difference between claimed populism and the real stuff. Zumba* is so crooked and entrenched he represents Hillary most of all.

Zuma isn't even populist. As corrupt as he is, he's much better for this country than Julius Malema, a true populist. Let's not forget Mugabe.

In other, less depressing news, emus!

https://i.imgur.com/Bw3mIJF.gifv

In other, less depressing news, emus!

https://i.imgur.com/Bw3mIJF.gifv

Ah yes, the species that Australia lost a war with.

Exactly. You should check out the emu war propaganda on reddit.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Emuwarflashbacks/

Exactly. You should check out the emu war propaganda on reddit.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Emuwarflashbacks/

The Wikipedia infobox used to be pure gold... until people reverted it for "vandalism." Fortunately, Wikipedia keeps post history.

https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Emu_War&oldid=424627185

What does a referendum entail? Are people pretty much at the mercy of the parties to get that done? If so, the system ensures it's impossible.

Armed revolution seems to be an increasingly necessary option, if I'm being honest.

EDIT: And I now see tau beat me to my first point.

Trump agrees with you, apparently. (Or at least agreed in 2012, when Romney lost and early reports were announcing a popular vote-electoral college split.)

Spoiler

Also, my cousin just made this video about the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, which is somewhat relevant to our earlier discussion:

The electoral college is a good thing: At least it would be if faithless electors weren't a thing.