I think CEA should take this post down, and generally not permit discussion of particular candidates for political office. There are several reasons for this: (1) a lot of what is said about Trump here is a very, um, partisan narrative, which half the country completely rejects. That half of the country includes many people who could contribute a lot to EA, and who we should want to feel welcome in EA. Having posts like this makes such people feel decidedly unwelcome. (2) There is a roughly 50% chance Trump will be president for the next four years. If we want his administration to give any consideration to EA ideas, this is not a good foot to start off on. If EA becomes aligned with one political party, then EA ideas will be categorically rejected by the other without regard to their merits. And since each party will be in power roughly half the time, that is giving up half the potential impact of EA policy ideas. That effect makes posts like this significantly negative in expectation for our ability to influence policy. (3) If CEA is perceived as endorsing candidates for political office, that could raise questions about their tax exempt status.
To be fair, there is at least one pro-Trump post up on the Forum. Neither this nor that post will go to front page AFAIK because it’s politics, but there are at least points on both sides.
I think CEA should take this post down, and generally not permit discussion of particular candidates for political office. There are several reasons for this:
(1) a lot of what is said about Trump here is a very, um, partisan narrative, which half the country completely rejects. That half of the country includes many people who could contribute a lot to EA, and who we should want to feel welcome in EA. Having posts like this makes such people feel decidedly unwelcome.
(2) There is a roughly 50% chance Trump will be president for the next four years. If we want his administration to give any consideration to EA ideas, this is not a good foot to start off on. If EA becomes aligned with one political party, then EA ideas will be categorically rejected by the other without regard to their merits. And since each party will be in power roughly half the time, that is giving up half the potential impact of EA policy ideas. That effect makes posts like this significantly negative in expectation for our ability to influence policy.
(3) If CEA is perceived as endorsing candidates for political office, that could raise questions about their tax exempt status.
To be fair, there is at least one pro-Trump post up on the Forum. Neither this nor that post will go to front page AFAIK because it’s politics, but there are at least points on both sides.