Compounding the political system's failure, I think, is the decline of the last big progressive industry – computing. During the '80s and '90s personal computing was a real progressive influence; but as hardware capabilities caught up to most users' needs the excitement and wonder faded, and meanwhile the conventional corporate fat‑cats wrestled control from the geeks. Of course if the industry was prepared to embrace its current conservative position that'd be fine by me, but people came to identify computing with “progress” so strongly that the industry is utterly desperate to stay “relevant” by any means whatsoever; hence why it's become one of the most‑woke fields of all.
(The free software community is perhaps the last bastion of true progress, but for obvious reasons they're incapable of exerting the same economic influence.)
And so we're left with no more progressive leaders…
Chad, your scintillating analysis cuts thru so many layers of codswallop, again.
As well, the literacy and insights are refreshing, replete with words like: apotheosizing (!)
Hella, yes!
When you hint of political conservatives amplifying a chorus against problems they themselves created, you are onto something that probably could be expanded into another article.
As far as fascism, unfortunately, it will come from the crisis currently being generated by our environmental Armageddon. If they couldn't wear masks, they won't wait in line for food or flood relief -- requiring armed control of most aspects of survival -- coming soon to a neighborhood near you.
Great insight and will follow up your references. My analysis in the rise of Neoliberalism goes far deeper and it involves the ‘tyranny of reason and virtue.” Modern Industrialised Society is indoctrinated into believing that human nature is based in innate reason and innate goodness and therefore will follow rational laws. For example, liberals believe in personal freedom, but will accept corporate adverting in their homes. Churchianity believe in an unconditionally forgiving God, but condemn those outside their laws. Socialists believe that a moral majority will educate themselves, and choose the ‘higher-good,’ when history proves the opposite. Atheists don’t believe in supernatural loving God, but believe that nature will provide limitless abundance. As a species, we are feeling-beings not rational-beings, which have deluded ourselves into believing we are primarily rational and ethical. Conclusion? All societal institutions/movements are made up of individuals and create their world accordingly. Crazy minds, crazy world!
Dunno if you've noticed, but I've been obsessed with Neo-liberalism's rise lately. Just plowed through (most of) an early (and way too long) document, <i>The Coming of Post-Industrial Society</i> by Daniel Bell.
As far as I can tell, NL is the end result of a whole bunch of people plotting how to restore pre-Depression-era corporate realities that allowed things like monopoly. (Currently reading Matt Stoller's <i>Goliath</i> for the best history yet, one that doesn't blame FDR for prolonging the Depression. Wholly crap, that pre-Crash era sounds so much like the one we presently suffer it's scary.)
I would also recommend Nancy McClane's <i>Democracy in Chains</i>, if only to explore James McGill Buchanan's bastard creation of the theory of "public choice" in the late 1950s, specifically crafted to get around the <i>Brown v. Board of Education</i> decision. I couldn't help seeing similarities between his theory and not just the "school choice" you mentioned, but also the consumer choice paradigm.
You are a wonderful writer. Thanks for laying this out to succinctly. I'll definitely be sharing this article with my friends.
Compounding the political system's failure, I think, is the decline of the last big progressive industry – computing. During the '80s and '90s personal computing was a real progressive influence; but as hardware capabilities caught up to most users' needs the excitement and wonder faded, and meanwhile the conventional corporate fat‑cats wrestled control from the geeks. Of course if the industry was prepared to embrace its current conservative position that'd be fine by me, but people came to identify computing with “progress” so strongly that the industry is utterly desperate to stay “relevant” by any means whatsoever; hence why it's become one of the most‑woke fields of all.
(The free software community is perhaps the last bastion of true progress, but for obvious reasons they're incapable of exerting the same economic influence.)
And so we're left with no more progressive leaders…
An excellent essay.
Chad, your scintillating analysis cuts thru so many layers of codswallop, again.
As well, the literacy and insights are refreshing, replete with words like: apotheosizing (!)
Hella, yes!
When you hint of political conservatives amplifying a chorus against problems they themselves created, you are onto something that probably could be expanded into another article.
As far as fascism, unfortunately, it will come from the crisis currently being generated by our environmental Armageddon. If they couldn't wear masks, they won't wait in line for food or flood relief -- requiring armed control of most aspects of survival -- coming soon to a neighborhood near you.
Great insight and will follow up your references. My analysis in the rise of Neoliberalism goes far deeper and it involves the ‘tyranny of reason and virtue.” Modern Industrialised Society is indoctrinated into believing that human nature is based in innate reason and innate goodness and therefore will follow rational laws. For example, liberals believe in personal freedom, but will accept corporate adverting in their homes. Churchianity believe in an unconditionally forgiving God, but condemn those outside their laws. Socialists believe that a moral majority will educate themselves, and choose the ‘higher-good,’ when history proves the opposite. Atheists don’t believe in supernatural loving God, but believe that nature will provide limitless abundance. As a species, we are feeling-beings not rational-beings, which have deluded ourselves into believing we are primarily rational and ethical. Conclusion? All societal institutions/movements are made up of individuals and create their world accordingly. Crazy minds, crazy world!
Dunno if you've noticed, but I've been obsessed with Neo-liberalism's rise lately. Just plowed through (most of) an early (and way too long) document, <i>The Coming of Post-Industrial Society</i> by Daniel Bell.
As far as I can tell, NL is the end result of a whole bunch of people plotting how to restore pre-Depression-era corporate realities that allowed things like monopoly. (Currently reading Matt Stoller's <i>Goliath</i> for the best history yet, one that doesn't blame FDR for prolonging the Depression. Wholly crap, that pre-Crash era sounds so much like the one we presently suffer it's scary.)
I would also recommend Nancy McClane's <i>Democracy in Chains</i>, if only to explore James McGill Buchanan's bastard creation of the theory of "public choice" in the late 1950s, specifically crafted to get around the <i>Brown v. Board of Education</i> decision. I couldn't help seeing similarities between his theory and not just the "school choice" you mentioned, but also the consumer choice paradigm.
Again, consider a return to the show!
—J.