It is not demonization to recognize a besetting sin.
Yesterday, I warned against demonization, though admittedly, I have “picked on” both Trump and Bernie here at Common Sense and in this site’s new Steal This Meme section. In my defense, to refrain from seeing only the worst in one side or the other (or both) is not to resist telling the truth about the characteristic worst aspects, right or left.
Neither the Donald nor the Bern are good party men. Trump has never been close to the GOP; Sanders has registered “independent” throughout his Senatorial career.
But Sanders is a self-proclaimed socialist, and his support is “from the left”; Trump is vague ideologically, but his characteristic blunt pronouncements seem “right-wingish” even if not obviously conservative.
Maybe this is all about frustration and impatience.
Socialism has long been associated with impatience at the “slow pace” of progress, as economist Yves Guyot made clear in The Tyranny of Socialism over a hundred years ago. The fact that, even in our bumbling age, all segments of society have gotten richer is not enough. More must be extracted from a few and given to the many. That is the Bern of it.
Trump’s supporters are obviously impatient with things “not getting done” in Washington, and upset that “we don’t win anymore.” But one reason things are hard to do, politically, is that limited government, a rule of law, and separation of powers makes it difficult. Cutting through the b.s. sometimes means destroying the bedrock of a free society.
That sort of “winning” would be a Pyrrhic victory.
This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.
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2 replies on “Impatience as a Political Impulse”
Good observations on the political level, Paul. I think something deeper is at play with the Trump phenomenon. Kind of a Howard Beale, “I’m mad as hell and not going to take it anymore.” As I stated previously, Trump is essential to buy the human race time. Because the establishment is marching us straight down the road to Orwellian thought control or else. He’s the only hope for the truth, justice, and liberty people to forestall that process of mind control, then leverage its wholesale rejection into a Rise of the (psychoepistemological) Independents. PS: I’ll look it over and see if I can kick in something regular to the kitty to aid in continuing to have your voice manifested. bw
…. Cutting through the b.s. sometimes means destroying the bedrock of a free society.
…. That sort of “winning” would be a Pyrrhic victory ….
And only one candidate has shown he will not set those fires!
…. This is Common Sense — and I’m Paul Jacob ….
It is — and you are, indeed!