Politics

In an article praising Trump for trying to save American lives through policy changes, Ilana Mercer analyzes the political calculus behind collateral damage. I don't know how old I was when I realized collateral damage didn't mean damage to buildings or bridges, but the killing of innocents. It was way too long because government doesn't want people to know that.

"If you’re a Jihadi who’s traveled to train abroad – American, permanent resident or anything else – “you are never, ever coming back into the U.S.,” vowed Trump. Having suggested the same a few months back (“A Modest Libertarian Proposal: Keep Jihadis OUT, Not IN“), I would venture that immigration is a political grant of privilege; there is no natural right to immigrate into the U.S., not least if you are fixing to kill your coworkers."

Sounds great.

"Later, Trump followed up with a more radical statement, radical from a political perspective. He “called for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country’s representatives can figure out what is going on”:"

No thanks. That sounds like the idiotic policy of teachers punishing the entire class for the actions of an individual or few.

"According to Pew Research, among others, there is great hatred towards Americans by large segments of the Muslim population. Most recently, a poll from the Center for Security Policy released data showing “25 percent of those polled agreed that violence against Americans here in the United States is justified as a part of the global jihad,” and 51 percent of those polled, “agreed that Muslims in America should have the choice of being governed according to Shariah.”"

Don't let them in then, but there's no need to punish the rest. Of course the socialists will never be able to do a good job of determining who is who.

"Good businessmen are programmed differently than politicians. As a tremendously gifted entrepreneur, Trump is averse to squandering scarce resources, money or manpower.
By contrast, politicians do not understand the natural economic reality of scarcity. They control the production of money for their promiscuous purposes, and they exert power over millions of interchangeable people in their territorial jurisdiction.
To a politician, 14 lives in 322 million is a small price to pay for “our freedoms.” Trump’s political rivals look at the price exacted by a Muslim like Syed Farook and his bride in the aggregate. Fourteen dead is not a steep price to pay for unfettered immigration from Islamic countries, peddled politically as “our values,” “our tolerance,” “our greatness.” This callous calculus is second nature to politicians like Lindsey Graham or Darth Vader Cheney.
Not to Trump. “This must stop. We can’t have this,” he roared."

A good businessman must evaluate costs as well as benefits. I'm sure his outrage is real, but Trump is performing a political calculation too.

Anonymous goes after Trump.

"In a computer-generated voice, he takes aim at Trump's proposed ban on Muslims entering the United States, claiming "This is what ISIS wants." He goes on to say that "the more the United States appears to be targeting Muslims, not just radical Muslims," the more ISIS will be able to recruit sympathizers." 

They're right about that. How Trumps plan will boost ISIS.

Rubio is winning the establishment primary.