I think the problem is that there are a bewildering number of moving parts in the American government. We had stability for a long time because there was a sense of proportion. Government was allowed to do its jobs between election (with some exceptions). Most people were deferential to the power of government and the assumption of exper…
I think the problem is that there are a bewildering number of moving parts in the American government. We had stability for a long time because there was a sense of proportion. Government was allowed to do its jobs between election (with some exceptions). Most people were deferential to the power of government and the assumption of expertise. This is obviously an imperfect system. Corruption can flourish. Legislators hang around until they are 90 because the perks are too obvious and generous.
But, allowing for certain spasms turmoil that engaged the attention of the electorate, the system worked - as a system - pretty much as the Framers had planned. There were (gasp!) gaps in political news when there was pretty much nothing to write about.
Now everybody is an expert. Everybody has a plan, except for those indulging in a scheme. People have exposed the essential hollowness of the Framers’ vision and are rushing in to fill the vacuum. Crises, mini and otherwise, are going viral. Moms for Liberty grab the media and start wreaking havoc. Turns out there’s not an East way to stop them. Judges openly make rulings based on their personal bias or benefactor. The campaign season runs for nearly every day we decide is a good day for breathing. In political defeat, politicians rarely lick their wounds. Instead they fund raise based on it.
The ship of state is taking on water and surely one day it will just sag into nothingness weighted down by false actors and invented crises.
Truthfully it’s getting boring. One damn thing after another and we can’t keep our eyes glued non stop. This hardly seems accidental. It’s no longer about holding on to the reins of power - it is more like a continual passing out of new reins to gratify the parched egos of the wannabes.
I think the problem is that there are a bewildering number of moving parts in the American government. We had stability for a long time because there was a sense of proportion. Government was allowed to do its jobs between election (with some exceptions). Most people were deferential to the power of government and the assumption of expertise. This is obviously an imperfect system. Corruption can flourish. Legislators hang around until they are 90 because the perks are too obvious and generous.
But, allowing for certain spasms turmoil that engaged the attention of the electorate, the system worked - as a system - pretty much as the Framers had planned. There were (gasp!) gaps in political news when there was pretty much nothing to write about.
Now everybody is an expert. Everybody has a plan, except for those indulging in a scheme. People have exposed the essential hollowness of the Framers’ vision and are rushing in to fill the vacuum. Crises, mini and otherwise, are going viral. Moms for Liberty grab the media and start wreaking havoc. Turns out there’s not an East way to stop them. Judges openly make rulings based on their personal bias or benefactor. The campaign season runs for nearly every day we decide is a good day for breathing. In political defeat, politicians rarely lick their wounds. Instead they fund raise based on it.
The ship of state is taking on water and surely one day it will just sag into nothingness weighted down by false actors and invented crises.
Truthfully it’s getting boring. One damn thing after another and we can’t keep our eyes glued non stop. This hardly seems accidental. It’s no longer about holding on to the reins of power - it is more like a continual passing out of new reins to gratify the parched egos of the wannabes.
Nancy MacLean nails it in her book, “Democracy in Chains.”