Life is simply been too easy for too long. At some point those progeny of the creators of Western Civilization are going to have to push the Reset Button in a very harsh manor. I hate it for my children as they may have to witness the ensuing carnage. It didn't have to be this way but as I said, it's been too easy for too long.
I think, we have a people, have lost the idea that we are supposed to be voting on representatives. The uni-party has trained us to think in proxy votes: You aren't voting for Oz/Fetterman, you are voting to save puppies! or you are voting for cheap gas!
In that model, no, it doesn't matter what Fetterman's health / acuity is, because that isn't what you are voting on.
Hmmmm. Not sure . . . maybe you'll figure that I'm part of the problem . . . .
Don't think I've "lost" the idea of voting for a representative -- I think it's the extremely partisan candidates that, in a way, have made it pretty easy to pick who will best "represent" me.
So Fetterman would do a terrible job deliberating on the floor of the Senate or examining a witness in a committee hearing . . . doesn't matter! If I were a partisan Democrat in Pennsylvania, committed to abortion rights and against cracking, I'd still vote for him 'cause his votes would aligned with my interests.
Strong Conservative here. We had a Senate race here where the situation was reversed (though not nearly as extreme).
Liberal friend called and asked if I'd seen the debate between the Democrat incumbent and the Republican challenger. Didn't I see/agree that the D would make a much better Senator? I agreed that he had better rhetorical skills and probably a better understanding of the issues. But, I explained, the R would more reliably vote the the way I would want him to so he would get my vote.
I'm not bragging. I'm just saying that's where we are in 2022.
That's fair in a somewhat stable or predictable environment. However, the lockdowns demonstrated how important sense and sensibility are when multiple equilibria are disrupted. In my profession, I've known for literally decades that the CDC politicizes its numbers, research, and 'recommendations'. When they did so in pre- and early lockdown phases, I was not surprised by their behavior but by centrists and conservatives, even libertarians, who gulped down the CDC koolaid, denying freely available information (besides flip-flopping, you may recall that back then, state HHSes were mostly posting stats online, so everyone could see in real-time as they were manipulating which indicators to emphasize or disappear) to say 'we MUST comply' with stupid, inconsistent, and clearly counterproductive, irrational stuff. And I was extremely surprised by normal people of my acquaintance (and friends) losing their minds beyond capacity to discuss (much less to discuss civilly) the data or policy options or COSTS v (alleged) benefits. *That* alarmed me, and I continue to find it a bit depressing.
I'd rather have an intelligent, thinking person in a decision-making position than someone who sounds 'aligned' from the podium but has even odds at best of kowtowing to the next new emergency instead of letting the chips fall where they may. (Not that I see any of those in the blue camp, but for argument's sake.) It'll be something new next time - vehemence on not sexualizing children, not destroying small business, not impeding American energy independence is terrific, of course, because attacks on those fronts will continue. But it will be claimed that the next new thing - nukes in Europe, China's economic collapse, the sudden declaration after the midterms that the recession/stagflation we're already living through is real, whatever - is the most important thing ever & everyone only has to do (the new version of two weeks to flatten the curve) RIGHT NOW so we need to set aside other things for "later" or really never.
I don't know if there are leaders alive today who can step up to this challenge. The whole world may need to live through the next stage of the historical cycle before we see that.
Life is simply been too easy for too long. At some point those progeny of the creators of Western Civilization are going to have to push the Reset Button in a very harsh manor. I hate it for my children as they may have to witness the ensuing carnage. It didn't have to be this way but as I said, it's been too easy for too long.
Gotta tell ya, it's good to be back reading Jeff's stuff again. Protein Wisdom was my go-to place so many years ago.
Love me some JG. One of the greats from the Golden Age of Blogs.
Great diatribe! My sentiments exactly!
Any chance you'll be coming back to Twitterville?
Jeff, it really sucks that you're not on Twitter and relegated to substack.
You're brilliant and it just sucks.
Life is simply been too easy for too long. At some point those progeny of the creators of Western Civilization are going to have to push the Reset Button in a very harsh manor. I hate it for my children as they may have to witness the ensuing carnage. It didn't have to be this way but as I said, it's been too easy for too long.
Indeed. That's why he will "win" the election. After a 2-week ballot count in Philly.
It makes me physically nauseous to think about it. I will choose to hope that we won't have to learn what will follow if that happens, until it does.
I think, we have a people, have lost the idea that we are supposed to be voting on representatives. The uni-party has trained us to think in proxy votes: You aren't voting for Oz/Fetterman, you are voting to save puppies! or you are voting for cheap gas!
In that model, no, it doesn't matter what Fetterman's health / acuity is, because that isn't what you are voting on.
Hmmmm. Not sure . . . maybe you'll figure that I'm part of the problem . . . .
Don't think I've "lost" the idea of voting for a representative -- I think it's the extremely partisan candidates that, in a way, have made it pretty easy to pick who will best "represent" me.
So Fetterman would do a terrible job deliberating on the floor of the Senate or examining a witness in a committee hearing . . . doesn't matter! If I were a partisan Democrat in Pennsylvania, committed to abortion rights and against cracking, I'd still vote for him 'cause his votes would aligned with my interests.
Strong Conservative here. We had a Senate race here where the situation was reversed (though not nearly as extreme).
Liberal friend called and asked if I'd seen the debate between the Democrat incumbent and the Republican challenger. Didn't I see/agree that the D would make a much better Senator? I agreed that he had better rhetorical skills and probably a better understanding of the issues. But, I explained, the R would more reliably vote the the way I would want him to so he would get my vote.
I'm not bragging. I'm just saying that's where we are in 2022.
That's fair in a somewhat stable or predictable environment. However, the lockdowns demonstrated how important sense and sensibility are when multiple equilibria are disrupted. In my profession, I've known for literally decades that the CDC politicizes its numbers, research, and 'recommendations'. When they did so in pre- and early lockdown phases, I was not surprised by their behavior but by centrists and conservatives, even libertarians, who gulped down the CDC koolaid, denying freely available information (besides flip-flopping, you may recall that back then, state HHSes were mostly posting stats online, so everyone could see in real-time as they were manipulating which indicators to emphasize or disappear) to say 'we MUST comply' with stupid, inconsistent, and clearly counterproductive, irrational stuff. And I was extremely surprised by normal people of my acquaintance (and friends) losing their minds beyond capacity to discuss (much less to discuss civilly) the data or policy options or COSTS v (alleged) benefits. *That* alarmed me, and I continue to find it a bit depressing.
I'd rather have an intelligent, thinking person in a decision-making position than someone who sounds 'aligned' from the podium but has even odds at best of kowtowing to the next new emergency instead of letting the chips fall where they may. (Not that I see any of those in the blue camp, but for argument's sake.) It'll be something new next time - vehemence on not sexualizing children, not destroying small business, not impeding American energy independence is terrific, of course, because attacks on those fronts will continue. But it will be claimed that the next new thing - nukes in Europe, China's economic collapse, the sudden declaration after the midterms that the recession/stagflation we're already living through is real, whatever - is the most important thing ever & everyone only has to do (the new version of two weeks to flatten the curve) RIGHT NOW so we need to set aside other things for "later" or really never.
I don't know if there are leaders alive today who can step up to this challenge. The whole world may need to live through the next stage of the historical cycle before we see that.
*Hard men make soft times
*Soft times make soft men
*Soft men make hard times <-- we are here
*Hard times make hard men <-- this is next
Life is simply been too easy for too long. At some point those progeny of the creators of Western Civilization are going to have to push the Reset Button in a very harsh manor. I hate it for my children as they may have to witness the ensuing carnage. It didn't have to be this way but as I said, it's been too easy for too long.
"Nobody believes Joe Biden is running this country save maybe Joe himself." Biden seems to believe that Harris is running the country.