Molson Hart

“Fuck the system” and by extension, the people who know it. Compounding on this, in DCs viewpoint, major strategic error, Trump, perhaps in an effort to “drain the swamp”, has avoided hiring or working with anyone who knows how to navigate it. 5/n

For example, he ditched Reince Priebus and many other career politicians who could’ve been quite useful in enacting his agenda. Combine this with his lack of control and rapport with the media and Trump is stuck working in a self-created caustic environment 6/n

Which to him, probably only solidifies the idea in his mind that DC doesn’t work, resulting in a self-perpetuating feedback loop of political dysfunction. Anyways, that’s what I learned from speaking to thoughtful people in DC. Was enlightening for me, hope it was for you. 7/7

This thread is very much from the perspective of DC folks. As a recovering DC folk, Id say this is all true. With a blindspot for the degree to which the dysfunction is in spite of Trump. Confidence in institutions is at historic lows, because they haven't been working.

I raised this point to my DC guy. He agreed that started in the early 2000s DC stopped working. He cited: -the threat of being primaried, Son now confressmen don’t live in dc so they don’t get to know their fellow congressmen -24 hour news increased partisanship Agree?

Agreed, and add campaign finance reform. Don't underestimate the power of getting a drink together for "lubricating" government. The problem isn't just Congress though. Govnt at large has really lost connection with the people they serve. That aligns with DC getting wealthier.

It seems that DC has undergone a 10 year economic boom. That said, if Congressmen are now mostly living in their districts, should that put them more in touch with the people than out? Getting a drink or dinner builds trust in all industries and cultures, amazingly effective.

Agencies not Congressmen. Fed employee salaries have increased the gap between their salary and median incomes in their fields. They live in rich cities. Their kids go to elite public schools. Hard for the DOE to understand resurgent mfg skills opportunity in that setting.