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Comment by palata | Hacker News Reader

I believe that the perception inside the US is very different from outside of it.

Trump & Co seem to still have the popular support. They may have destroyed the life of many, but that's not changing enough opinions. It seems like those who support Trump don't care about anything but themselves, and genuinely believe that they are better than average ("I am safe because it's a meritocracy and I am better").

From the outside... the whole world hates the US right now. Trust has been broken and won't come back in a day. But the US voters seem completely unaware of whatever happens outside their borders (no that this is news, it's been like that forever).

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But how are these import taxes explained in a way that isn't completely obvious to hurt a lot of people and businesses within their country?

I can't imagine being this blind to their own future. There must be a huge effective propaganda machine twisting any logical thoughts or many sad people that lost any perception on reality.

Cult Flavor Aid is a hell of a drug.

> There must be a huge effective propaganda machine

I believe that a lot of it is just "culture". Many (most?) Americans grow up being told that the US are the best country in the world, everybody wants to live there, "the american dream", "the land of the free", "the only democracy", etc.

In most places in the world, people learn about the US at least through movies. Do Americans watch non-US movies?

It feels like most Americans genuinely believe in this "meritocracy" bullshit, and on top of that they believe that they themselves are worth more than the average American. Obviously "meritocracy" is bullshit (Trump inherited, he did not build anything), and obviously most Americans cannot be better than most Americans. But this is not enough to break a whole cultural background leading to those beliefs.

At least that's how I explain how they may have this completely skewed view of what "free speech" means, or why they truly believe that "government == always bad" or "regulations == always bad".

It sounds so weird to me living in a social and actual democratic country where it just an obvious that our very high living standard is also in big parts thanks to the social system enabling everyone a good minimal standard. Basically putting oneself on the same level as everyone else no matter your paycheck for the general good.

I really hope the best for the world and your country but I assume the worst right now.

Don't get me wrong: I believe what is happening in the US is catastrophic.

> Trump & Co seem to still have the popular support.

Do they?

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna193766

Trump's approval rating is at 44%:

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-approval-rating-holds...

That's not extraordinary, but it's not bad for a sitting President. Presidents get blamed for all the bad things going on, regardless of whose fault it was.

The rule of thumb is that you need to be at 50% to be reelected. (Not that he's eligible for a third term, according to my understanding of the Constitution, but I'm not a lawyer.) He'd almost certainly gain approval as an election nears.

The point being: yes, he does have popular support. Or at least, not suffering a widespread loss. Some are disappointed that he didn't immediately give them their specific goal, and that's what they tell posters, but nearly all who voted for him would do so again.

The people who dislike him presumably dislike him even harder, but you only get one vote.

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