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Lucius's avatar

Anyone who claims that incompetence doesn't cause substantial harm is probably someone whose incompetence has done serious harm in the past, and they're just not aware of it (consciously or not).

I mean...come on, everyone I have ever talked to who has had a job at the bottom rung of any workplace (so just about everyone) can tell stories of idiots who got promoted beyond their capabilities fucking things up for the people below them.

Also, case in point, THE ENTIRETY OF TRUMP'S FIRST TERM. And dubya's for that matter.

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Robert Spottswood, M.A.'s avatar

There used to be a standard question for all job interviews, and it went like this:

“what kind of person do you not get along with?:”

The first time I ran into this was for entry into a graduate program. I did not know the correct answer at that time, but I learn it quickly and have never forgotten it.

“I get along with pretty much everybody, but I have to say that people who do their job in a way that makes more work for others are probably the biggest challenge.“

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Susan Linehan's avatar

Excellent commentary and points. There is a REASON fascists resort to the basest human emotions to create adulation of the leader. They can't get anything done without this.

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David Roberts's avatar

Well argued and compelling.

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Bill Flarsheim's avatar

I worked in Wickliffe, KY, across the Ohio River from Cairo, 2005-2014. By 2005, it was a pretty sad place, but there was still a good burger joint and a Chinese restaurant that made it worth the drive for an occasion lunch. By 2012, both were gone and nothing similar took their place. I was in Wickliffe on a business trip in 2022, and drove over to Cairo just to have a look. I wouldn’t have thought it possible, but the city was even sadder and lonelier than in 2022. Fifty-five years of continuous decline.

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rebecca wilova's avatar

Hitler was wildly incompetent. Attacking Russia after signing the Molotov-Ribbentrop accords anyone? Gee.

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Mark In Colorado's avatar

Hitler also was a weak man. One can wonder if a person’s internal weakness leads them to become a fascist.

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David Perlmutter's avatar

Why do you all assume he is a fascist? He is a plutocrat- under a true fascist government he would not have been able to acquire the wealth that got him where he is in the first place because the government would actively prevent him and others from doing that.

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Noah Berlatsky's avatar

Fascism is not anti capitalist. The idea that is is is capitalist propaganda.

Ppl made tons of money under Hitler. Also under Jim Crow.

Fwiw, the most important scholar of fascism living said trump was a fascist.

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David Perlmutter's avatar

I just wish he would dump the tariffs on Canada. He managed to call them off in relation to Mexico, so there's hope.

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Karin's avatar

He didn't call them off, he just agreed to postpone them for a month. At which time he'll try to extract more concessions. He's got tariffs on the brain, they're the solution to everything.

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Robert Spottswood, M.A.'s avatar

Never seen “is is is“ before.

Good typos inspire to higher level thinking…

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