You wrote: "there’s a sense that this current order is reaching the end-stage of its natural life"
I think that's the major driving force behind the whole MAGA movement - people losing their sense of identity and status as they fall into uncertainty and anxiety and fear. On the one hand they long for a nostalgic (and non-existent) former paradise (see the mega-success of "Barbie"). At the same time this fear of demographic change unleashes all the "darker angels" - racism, xenophobia, nihilism - that had their dress rehearsal on Jan. 6.
And there's Trump and his enablers and apologists just fanning the flames - "vermin" "poisoning the American bloodline".
But what strikes me most in your articles is the growing consensus that there isn't a lot of difference between Dems and Repubs in the long run. Although at this historical moment, Trumpism and MAGA movement are way more dangerous. The Dems might not be able to make things better, the Repubs can sure make things worse.
For sure. If my choice is between shitty ineffectual corporate liberalism offered by the Democrats or fascist oligarchy offered by the GOP, I choose the Democrats. But in terms of climate change, the capitalization of the economy, the relationship between labor and employer, no I do not believe the Democrats as currently composed will make any fundamental improvements on those fronts, and the specter of Trump obfuscates this.
A lot of this could also apply to politics here in Canada. The exception would be, instead of cheering for the Mets, we continue to cheer for the equally unlucky Toronto Maple Leafs.
As an American living in Toronto/went to undergrad in Ottawa, there are definitely parallels in politics. I dislike the Liberals for many of the same reasons why I dislike the Democrats, but Poilievre is also a clown.
I like your writing style. What I find interesting is that you make a distinction between Democrats and Republicans when referring to our country. There may be a “distinction” but there is no difference.
George Washington was succinctly clear when he spoke about creating political parties... it will divide us.
... and it has.
It’s the process that is harmful. As you stated, we work longer hours with stagnant pay (since the mid 70’s our wages have not risen compared to inflation). Since the mid 70’s, we have had 23 years (soon to be 24) of Democratic Presidents and 24 years of Republican Presidents.
No one can distinguish between either party as to which party has done the most damage. Is it the Clinton administration that destroyed the Glass Stegall Act or W’s Iraq War that caused this mess. What about Obama’s war on Whistleblowers or Reagan’s Star Wars money laundering scheme?
You are parsing something that can’t be divided. We are nation of Oligarchs, Ray Kroc was one of them and so is George Soros, Bill Gates and the Koch Brothers along with hundreds more.
Yes and no. MarketWatch made an excellent list of corporate donors to both parties, and the overlap is nearly identical. The Democrats have definitely played a role in creating this mess, but I wouldn't go as far to say there are ZERO differences between the two. The GOP under Trump has made it very explicit that they are not interested in democratic rule and would take no issue in rolling back civil rights for many marginalized groups.
As much as I dislike the Democrats, I'll take shitty ineffectual corporate liberalism over increasingly overt fascism. But this doesn't mean I have to pretend the Democrats are anything other than what they are.
I appreciate your expansion and additional info. Full disclosure: I am “agnostic” regarding politics but I am currently dissatisfied with the direction our country is headed.
You mentioned that Trump would take democracy away from marginalized groups. What actions did he perform for you to make that conclusion? This is a REAL question... not a setup. Thx in advance.
For civil rights, the recent state-level abortion bans or Trump's travel ban that targeted Middle Eastern nations are obvious choices, but I don't know how any conservative can claim the mantle of free speech while either proactively supporting or turning a blind eye to the GOP or affiliated PACs banning books, drag shows, and CRT. The fulsome embrace of Kyle Rittenhouse and the rise of right-wing hate crimes since Trump are concerning. Or a prominent conservative media figure making a speech at CPAC saying "transgenderism should be eradicated from public life." All of this, at the very least, is authoritarian, but I would classify it as fascistic.
Thanks for the links, the Atlantic article has a paywall but I looked at the second one.
The travel ban, I felt, was stupid. Looking at the history of this action it was first issued as an Executive Order which was challenged and then rewritten to accommodate those objections and the ban then passed via a Supreme Court decision. I don’t like ANY Executive Order as it circumvents any input, having said that, the order affects only incoming and not outgoing except for the ban on North Korea which, to me, is a slap in the face but none of the bans challenged democracy.
Frankly, all EO’s are an attack on Representative Democracy as it avoids debate and is completely dictatorial nonsense.
The engagement of our DOD in suppressing speech of Americans is more concerning than anything mentioned in the article (DOD engaged against Americans is clearly a violation per our constitution). It doesn’t appear that Biden is actively promoting this behavior but what else can one expect when the Secretary of Defense is the former head of Raytheon... it’s like having Dick Chaney all over again.
Thanks again for your pov but we are not any better off with this administration as with the previous administration.
flailing and failing.. flatus quo was right there. 🌬️🌪️📈
You wrote: "there’s a sense that this current order is reaching the end-stage of its natural life"
I think that's the major driving force behind the whole MAGA movement - people losing their sense of identity and status as they fall into uncertainty and anxiety and fear. On the one hand they long for a nostalgic (and non-existent) former paradise (see the mega-success of "Barbie"). At the same time this fear of demographic change unleashes all the "darker angels" - racism, xenophobia, nihilism - that had their dress rehearsal on Jan. 6.
And there's Trump and his enablers and apologists just fanning the flames - "vermin" "poisoning the American bloodline".
But what strikes me most in your articles is the growing consensus that there isn't a lot of difference between Dems and Repubs in the long run. Although at this historical moment, Trumpism and MAGA movement are way more dangerous. The Dems might not be able to make things better, the Repubs can sure make things worse.
For sure. If my choice is between shitty ineffectual corporate liberalism offered by the Democrats or fascist oligarchy offered by the GOP, I choose the Democrats. But in terms of climate change, the capitalization of the economy, the relationship between labor and employer, no I do not believe the Democrats as currently composed will make any fundamental improvements on those fronts, and the specter of Trump obfuscates this.
Your reference to Ray Kroc is spot on. Falls right into line with the TV success of "Survivor"
A lot of this could also apply to politics here in Canada. The exception would be, instead of cheering for the Mets, we continue to cheer for the equally unlucky Toronto Maple Leafs.
As an American living in Toronto/went to undergrad in Ottawa, there are definitely parallels in politics. I dislike the Liberals for many of the same reasons why I dislike the Democrats, but Poilievre is also a clown.
I like your writing style. What I find interesting is that you make a distinction between Democrats and Republicans when referring to our country. There may be a “distinction” but there is no difference.
George Washington was succinctly clear when he spoke about creating political parties... it will divide us.
... and it has.
It’s the process that is harmful. As you stated, we work longer hours with stagnant pay (since the mid 70’s our wages have not risen compared to inflation). Since the mid 70’s, we have had 23 years (soon to be 24) of Democratic Presidents and 24 years of Republican Presidents.
No one can distinguish between either party as to which party has done the most damage. Is it the Clinton administration that destroyed the Glass Stegall Act or W’s Iraq War that caused this mess. What about Obama’s war on Whistleblowers or Reagan’s Star Wars money laundering scheme?
You are parsing something that can’t be divided. We are nation of Oligarchs, Ray Kroc was one of them and so is George Soros, Bill Gates and the Koch Brothers along with hundreds more.
Yes and no. MarketWatch made an excellent list of corporate donors to both parties, and the overlap is nearly identical. The Democrats have definitely played a role in creating this mess, but I wouldn't go as far to say there are ZERO differences between the two. The GOP under Trump has made it very explicit that they are not interested in democratic rule and would take no issue in rolling back civil rights for many marginalized groups.
As much as I dislike the Democrats, I'll take shitty ineffectual corporate liberalism over increasingly overt fascism. But this doesn't mean I have to pretend the Democrats are anything other than what they are.
I appreciate your expansion and additional info. Full disclosure: I am “agnostic” regarding politics but I am currently dissatisfied with the direction our country is headed.
You mentioned that Trump would take democracy away from marginalized groups. What actions did he perform for you to make that conclusion? This is a REAL question... not a setup. Thx in advance.
In regards to how the GOP is working to roll back democracy, I'll refer you to this excellent piece: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2022/01/january-6-insurrection-trump-coup-2024-election/620843/
Or more info on "Project 2025": https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/09/19/project-2025-trump-reagan-00115811
For civil rights, the recent state-level abortion bans or Trump's travel ban that targeted Middle Eastern nations are obvious choices, but I don't know how any conservative can claim the mantle of free speech while either proactively supporting or turning a blind eye to the GOP or affiliated PACs banning books, drag shows, and CRT. The fulsome embrace of Kyle Rittenhouse and the rise of right-wing hate crimes since Trump are concerning. Or a prominent conservative media figure making a speech at CPAC saying "transgenderism should be eradicated from public life." All of this, at the very least, is authoritarian, but I would classify it as fascistic.
Thanks for the links, the Atlantic article has a paywall but I looked at the second one.
The travel ban, I felt, was stupid. Looking at the history of this action it was first issued as an Executive Order which was challenged and then rewritten to accommodate those objections and the ban then passed via a Supreme Court decision. I don’t like ANY Executive Order as it circumvents any input, having said that, the order affects only incoming and not outgoing except for the ban on North Korea which, to me, is a slap in the face but none of the bans challenged democracy.
Frankly, all EO’s are an attack on Representative Democracy as it avoids debate and is completely dictatorial nonsense.
The engagement of our DOD in suppressing speech of Americans is more concerning than anything mentioned in the article (DOD engaged against Americans is clearly a violation per our constitution). It doesn’t appear that Biden is actively promoting this behavior but what else can one expect when the Secretary of Defense is the former head of Raytheon... it’s like having Dick Chaney all over again.
Thanks again for your pov but we are not any better off with this administration as with the previous administration.
Just came across this: https://open.substack.com/pub/popularinformation/p/10-alarming-things-trump-has-promised?r=jdbgp&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post
Could be of interest.