Simply Orange

Another short blog today, this one about the President.  And, I think I have him figured out.  This week, unless you live in a cave, you've heard the President threaten (multiple times) North Korea.  It's been a literal war of words between the Trump White House and Pyongyang.  

“They will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen.”

Questions by the media in subsequent interviews, from Bedminster, NJ, yielded nearly no specifics or definitive answers.  What does he mean? "You'll see," was the response. "North Korea better get their act together or they're going to be in trouble, like few nations have ever been in trouble in this world."

Really?  Are you scolding Barron or Eric or Donald Jr.?  Is North Korea going to have to go to their room to think about what they did, and they're definitely not getting dessert tonight.

Sorry, mom, when I was 9, you threatened me much like the President is doing to grown-ups of a foreign nation.

And that's what I understand.  NPR is in Iowa at their State Fair this week, interviewing citizens about their appreciation for the President now that he's done nothing but sign legislation penalizing Russia, something that I'm sure pained him greatly.

"I support him still. He's doing everything he says he'd do. He's definitely a common-man president."

Add to the previous statement a slight mid-west/southern accent, and there you have it: the reason why Trump is still polling well in the mid-US.  He's like them.  Say what you want about his level of intelligence, he's speaking in such layman's terms, that it's laughable, but he's understood universally.  Why?  His use of language is so "very very" basic and without imagination.  He rants seem childish.  His use of short words goes beyond his affinity for Twitter.  He throws in statements about "bad hombres" and "they're going to be sorry" and phrases you wouldn't even belittle your kids with, or use in a middle-school term paper.  

In short, the man is simple, which also, if you were sick of the old regime, is refreshing.  Here's a guy, who's just trying to do his job, and the bad media is making it hard for him.  He talks like us.  All he wants to do is work, and they keep digging up stories about what he may have done.  Can't they just let him be? 

We on the coasts (including the Great Lakes) frequently forget that, in addition to the highest costs of living, we are also some of the most educated citizens, including those who don't have a degree.  Why?  Due to ports, not only do we live at a higher density (more people), but also greater ethnic diversity.  Our world views are bigger.  Even if that just means that you overheard someone speaking another language on the subway platform, its a global awareness that someone without a similar living environment doesn't have.

And ignorance breeds fear.  And Trump is still selling that fear.  And he has buyers of his rhetoric.  How do you combat that?  Not with fancy graphics or detailed reports about how climate change is real, or how mexicans aren't stealing your jobs (Want to pick crops? You're desperately needed in California).  I don't have the answer, but if we want to be able to reach certain Trump voters, we need to start at the lowest common denominator, which he is lowering daily, and try to make connections with the people who sympathize with him most.