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"Keep the adult public attention diverted away from the real social issues, and captivated by matters of no real importance." Leftists such as Chomsky argue that this is what capitalist elites do, but it is a common tactic of kleptocratic regimes such as Vladimir Putin's in Russia. There's even a term for the tactic: "diversionary conflict."

Trump doesn't need to start wars: He and his team know how emotional many Americans are about him. He can choose what he wants to be hated for -- preferably for something silly and unrelated to his actual priorities at the moment. He used this to his advantage during the campaign: His alleged sexual misconduct took up so much media time and public attention than issues like his business history, his tax returns and his proposals.

Apart from starting the Obamacare rollback and withdrawing from the TPP, he has frozen a reduction of mortgage insurance premiums, allowed the Keystone Pipeline to go ahead and prepared to sign an executive order to begin construction of a border wall. Well aware that some of these important actions might cause indignation and targeted protest, Trump has tossed out another meaningless football for the media and the public to fixate on.

Trump's and his team's communications look awkward, inept, gallingly primitive. It's time to wise up: These people know what they're doing. They want their political opponents to be confused, to flail at windmills, to expend emotions on meaningless scandals to distract them from any targeted, coordinated action against specific threats. There are going to be many of these: Trump appears intent on keeping his promises. Calm concentration is needed to counteract dangerous policies.

More: https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2017-01-25/trump-s-forever-war-of-diversion

Related: The left is falling for Trump's voter fraud bait. http://www.cnbc.com/2017/01/25/trumps-opponents-fall-for-his-voter-fraud-distraction-commentary.html

#Trump #Politics #Diversion