A disruptor-in-chief in a society where disruptors prosper.

Republican lobbyist Bruce Mehlman, who has long represented technology companies, sees parallels between the cycle of disruption that’s churned through Silicon Valley and what’s now wreaking havoc on Washington.

“The forces that set the stage for Donald Trump’s election are long-term, structural and global,” Mehlman told me yesterday. “Much like Uber, Trump perceived the opportunity to reach directly to the public to disrupt a dysfunctional marketplace that lacked innovation and failed to satisfy consumers. Also much like Uber, he flouted conventions and tested the limits of traditional rules, fighting the entrenched establishment while seeking its acceptance … Disruption is hard and, well, disruptive. It usually leaves observers feeling exhausted, uncertain and ultimately either angry or exhilarated.”

In a new PowerPoint presentation for his clients, Mehlman notes that voters sought change in five of the past six elections. Exit polls last November showed that a candidate’s ability to “bring change” mattered far more to voters than whether they had the “right experience” or “good judgment.”

-- How did we get here? Mehlman diagnoses seven long-term trends that are both symptomatic of and drivers of disruption:

In full with links, including the aforementioned PowerPoint: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/paloma/daily-202/2017/07/13/da... Ps. I just received an email at this address from a "Mark M" <write2mark1@gmail.com> requesting an invite for a riseup account, because Riseup is no longer accepting applications due to mass abuse by lying about the purpose for the account, which is supposed to be social activism related. Mark M claims he needs the account b/c:

I need an invite code for getting a riseup account I am a bit coin and monero contributor

No. Mark. Just no. You probably think creating another mythical currency is actually social activism. You are deluding yourself. Rr