We are experiencing a slow motion descent into the antithesis of democracy. And apparently close to half * of voters either do not grasp this, or do not care. I see no sure evidence to convince me we will pull ourselves out of this spiraling nosedive.
In some ways, the Covid-19 pandemic may awaken former levels of sanity regarding effective and non corrupt democratic governance. In addition it might enlighten a larger swath of voters to the dire economic calculus which over the last few decades has been hugely tilted to favor those with wealth and power. Many cling to the fantasy that our modern society can somehow return to the imagined (and likely more) level economic playing field that earlier Americans enjoyed. Indeed, there have been long periods where the laboring class was able to improve their situations through hard work, ingenuity and a less rigged political structure.**
Conversely the Covid-19 spending bills lack sufficient guardrails and non-partisan oversight to prevent a near 100% chance that the spending will be strategically deployed to keep Republican donors and key swing state voters in tow. If you were a christian who voted for Trump in exchange for anti-abortion judges, then why would you not be willing to have another four years of this otherwise destructive (i.e. destructive to the already born) administration to further advance this cause?
Yeah, I am so mad right now I wish it was 8 pm and the "official howling outside the house hour". I have done it a few times now, and feel silly, and nearly alone on my street. But I will persist.
* I don't know the current percentage of non-Republican voters in the swing states who will both want and be able to vote in the coming elections. I could use a smaller percentage based on some of the polls. But we have excellent reasons to suspect that the inevitable shit that happens between now and then will have an unpredictable impact.
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| Actual photo of the top of buried tractor with scoop |
Way less population which afforded "available" land and resources to create new sources of wealth.
An environment that had not yet become taxed by human activity resulting in explosive economic growth and all it's costs.
A world so much more connected via transportation, communication and trade that it nearly impossible to quantify all that it changes.
Where is today's opportunity for those born into our underclasses? Unless they are at the far good end of the bell curve for combined good health, intelligence and drive, they stand almost no chance of digging out of their "birthright".