Summary
Trump had to reverse his aggressive tariff rhetoric after CEOs from Walmart, Target, and Home Depot warned of empty shelves and higher prices due to supply chain disruptions.
Investors reacted negatively to his threats against Fed Chair Jerome Powell, prompting a market sell-off.
Trump backtracked, expressing optimism on a China trade deal and now denying plans to fire Powell.
Global markets remain volatile, and the IMF cited Trump’s trade war as a “major negative shock” to global growth.
It gets thrown around a lot but Orwell’s 1984 has a passage, the context in the book is the protanonist realizing specifically about how it is impossible to argue against the fascist party as they happily substitute alternate facts whenever desired, and mandate the loyal adopt them wholesale.
“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.”
This is the chapter. https://george-orwell.org/1984/6.html
I actually hate this quote because idiots around me use this thought pattern to reject the results of rigorous scientific studies in favor of their isolated, personal experiences.
To them, “Science” is an much an authoritarian imposition as “The Party” and “Scientism” is the worst “cult”.
Yes, your experience is valid. But, it doesn’t trump shared objective reality, which good science reveals.
@bss03 @pulsewidth If you are not willing to learn or to be curious about reality then the truths discovered by science would be no different to you than any other form of mysticism. It’s then possible to apply that quote to anything that doesn’t align with your experience.
My favorite phenomonon is anti-vaxers and the like saying “Science is hogwash! Ever notice how they just say ‘Trust the science!’? That means it requires faith!” Sure, that’s all well and good, except an actual scientist will NEVER say “Trust the science!” The foundations of science are NOT built on blind trust. It’s built on truth which is established experimentally, which is the opposite of blind trust. It’s very telling that people saying science is flawed are the same folks that don’t understand it.
It’s largely the same thing as someone saying “Evolution is hogwash. I’ve never seen a monkey turn into a human!” (except evolution doesn’t say that it will either…)
This is a direct result of the degradation of education. Countries that have a higher standard of living for ALL people: health (mental and physical), fair wages, maternity/paternity leave, etc., also have better education standards. In some cases, free university.
As an American, I can say this sounds like COMMUNISM and I will fight to the death to avoid the specter of universal health care! America leads the world in health care spending and we intend to keep it that way.
This is even more the result of the amplfication of every moron’s stupid comments into memes that are broadcast to millions.
yea most fields dont even require bio as part of thier degree, not even remdial, felt that should be part of the curricilum colleges.
I read 1984… I really liked it but I thought the whole war is peace, freedom is slavery bit was something that no one would really buy. Then Trump took office and I feel like I’m taking crazy pills. I now believe 1984 and don’t question it at all. :(
I almost wish 1984 was the reality, but it’s a horrible mix of 1984 and Brave New World. Rather than just being oppressed due to fear of your comrades turning you in, like 1984, we also get people happily ignoring everything bad to get their fix of the fixed slice of the world presented to them.
If it was just 1984, at least I’d have hope that enough people could see the problem, rise up against the problem, and not have to contend with the contented masses that just want the status quo.
1984 was required reading when I was in high school in Canada.
same here in us, plus catcher in the rye. and classical literature as well. they made an attempt to force people write papers for the first time, but it was so haphazard it dint turn it good.
"Catcher in the Rye” is an amazing book!