There must be something flawed in the human condition to follow dictators and populists.

Look at all the troubles they have caused.

What ridiculous figures they are yet people blindly follow them.

When its all up with them, their followers desperately cling to absurd reasoning to cover their complete inability to see that they have simply just been had from the start.

If you trust the unregulated internet for news over the regulated MSM then you deserve to be uninformed.

The truth is all there. You just need to read a balanced selection. It isn't to be found in the opinions of all and sundry writing whatever they like on social media.

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.

It's not election interference unless it's untrue!

It's elector information if it's true.

Is it true? It has all the appearance of being true. Many previous stories and established facts support it. If found to be untrue the consequences would be catastrophic for the NYT, whose fact-checkers, lawyers and editors would all be implemented. I don't see them taking such a risk. Trump's response also adds weight to the likelihood it's truth. If it was not then there is simply no impediment, audit or not, to him releasing them and proving they are untrue.

That their release has been timed to produce the maximum opportunity to damage him is undoubtedly true. If you are convinced, as I am, that his removal is an imperative, then choosing that timing is a duty.

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.

I accept that the rich employ tax and business structure experts whose sole purpose is to legally minimise their client's taxation burden.

This though is different, for two reasons.

Firstly Trump is no longer just a "rich businessman". He is President of the USA. All the recent incumbents have released their returns. All were under audit at the time. None had huge debts, personally guaranteed other than Trump. He could easily have avoided this by simply releasing them. That he didn't gives the appearance he has something to hide. Which seems justified.

Secondly is the scale. To have paid nothing at all for so long, and then very little for two years, isn't going to appear "smart" when so many are suffering.

I certainly have mitigated my taxation, after taking expert advice, by postponing some, but have never "dodged" any. There are things revealed by the NYT which appear to be potentially illegal and certainly politically questionable.

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.

You do you regard as the "corrupt cabal"?

I don't see one anywhere, except in the fevered imagination of the right.

I do see a system no longer fit for purpose in which Presidents can be elected with a minority of the popular vote, interest groups can buy influence through the need for politicians to raise ridiculously large amounts to campaign and where the judiciary are appointed by politicians rather than by their peers because of their competency and where their political views remain personal.

For decent people who seek high office with integrity having to operate in such an environment must be both frustrating and challenging.

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.

But it will be OK if they vote your man in?

Don't make me laugh.

Edited by Hrolf The Ganger (29 Sep 2020 10.32pm)