I figured this was part of a 19th-century trend in Trump’s thought—mercantilism, territorial expansion, the world system as a game of great powers rather than a parliament of nations. The USA will be greater if it extends throughout the whole of North America, and so Canada must be absorbed.
It hadn’t occurred to me that the hunger for resources to train AI might be part of this. But I would think that even if it is part of it, it’s just a part.
Occam’s razor says that Trump makes populist statements that appeal to the kind of person who votes for Trump. Whether those are actually good ideas is irrelevant. Mercantilism sounds good to a person who doesn’t know much about economy. Territorial expansion rhymes with “make great”.
21st-century economics is just as irrelevant as e.g. 21-st century medicine. Scientists are not an important group of voters.
I figured this was part of a 19th-century trend in Trump’s thought—mercantilism, territorial expansion, the world system as a game of great powers rather than a parliament of nations. The USA will be greater if it extends throughout the whole of North America, and so Canada must be absorbed.
It hadn’t occurred to me that the hunger for resources to train AI might be part of this. But I would think that even if it is part of it, it’s just a part.
Occam’s razor says that Trump makes populist statements that appeal to the kind of person who votes for Trump. Whether those are actually good ideas is irrelevant. Mercantilism sounds good to a person who doesn’t know much about economy. Territorial expansion rhymes with “make great”.
21st-century economics is just as irrelevant as e.g. 21-st century medicine. Scientists are not an important group of voters.