Northern Light
Superstar
I think a challenge here, and one not unique the U.S. is that people, irrespective of their political leanings have taken a dislike to the status quo.
The middling group and lower-middling group, economically speaking are, at best, stagnating in terms of standard of living; and at worst slipping backwards some.
That can dressed up with cultural this and that; but in the end, its really about "Do I have hope for my future and my kids future."
When the answer is "no", the desire is to elect an agent of change. When that agent of change fails to deliver, the tendency is for ever greater impatience and more extreme choices.
Those with a conservative bent may feel that social change has usurped their status and power in some way; and the system is otherwise 'rigged' against them.
While those who are more progressively inclined may lament a perceived lack of progress on social/economic causes and growing inequality no matter who gets elected.
Biden doesn't read as a disruptor; and as yet doesn't have much to show for raising up those least well off or whose middle-class status has eroded.........
While Trump hardly pretended to be interested in such things; but also made no serious efforts to un-do globalization, or reverse social progress. Yes, he stoked lots of hatred, said foolish things, myriad times;
and periodically signed an Executive Order he knew wouldn't be enforced or would be overturned etc etc.
Which is not to say he did no actual damage, he did, but on the legislative or regulatory front, it was mostly at the margins; the real sin was the fuel-on-the-fire speech, and the wasting of 4 years.
I think the next danger, in the U.S. is left-leaning Americans wondering if Biden has actually changed anything except the rhetoric; while you wonder what will happen when Trump supporters clue in
that he was so much bluster and not on their side either.
Its very dangerous to see a society slide towards a total lack of faith in its institutions.
I think the U.S. is closing in on that. Biden needs some material policy changes to get through (whether he wants that or not) to at least sate the left; since there's little he can or will do to sate the right.
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Note that this same phenomenon exists in the U.K, and in France and elsewhere; as people turn away from traditional-type leaders and parties in search of someone who will do something........to make it better.
Very dangerous ground, fertile space for would-be dictators, for violence and worse.
I don't wish to be hyperbolic; I don't think we or they are there yet.............but leaders who actually solve problems in ways that satisfy a majority and offend relatively few are very much in need.
The middling group and lower-middling group, economically speaking are, at best, stagnating in terms of standard of living; and at worst slipping backwards some.
That can dressed up with cultural this and that; but in the end, its really about "Do I have hope for my future and my kids future."
When the answer is "no", the desire is to elect an agent of change. When that agent of change fails to deliver, the tendency is for ever greater impatience and more extreme choices.
Those with a conservative bent may feel that social change has usurped their status and power in some way; and the system is otherwise 'rigged' against them.
While those who are more progressively inclined may lament a perceived lack of progress on social/economic causes and growing inequality no matter who gets elected.
Biden doesn't read as a disruptor; and as yet doesn't have much to show for raising up those least well off or whose middle-class status has eroded.........
While Trump hardly pretended to be interested in such things; but also made no serious efforts to un-do globalization, or reverse social progress. Yes, he stoked lots of hatred, said foolish things, myriad times;
and periodically signed an Executive Order he knew wouldn't be enforced or would be overturned etc etc.
Which is not to say he did no actual damage, he did, but on the legislative or regulatory front, it was mostly at the margins; the real sin was the fuel-on-the-fire speech, and the wasting of 4 years.
I think the next danger, in the U.S. is left-leaning Americans wondering if Biden has actually changed anything except the rhetoric; while you wonder what will happen when Trump supporters clue in
that he was so much bluster and not on their side either.
Its very dangerous to see a society slide towards a total lack of faith in its institutions.
I think the U.S. is closing in on that. Biden needs some material policy changes to get through (whether he wants that or not) to at least sate the left; since there's little he can or will do to sate the right.
****
Note that this same phenomenon exists in the U.K, and in France and elsewhere; as people turn away from traditional-type leaders and parties in search of someone who will do something........to make it better.
Very dangerous ground, fertile space for would-be dictators, for violence and worse.
I don't wish to be hyperbolic; I don't think we or they are there yet.............but leaders who actually solve problems in ways that satisfy a majority and offend relatively few are very much in need.
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