Reminded me of that classic line in The Sting, “What was I supposed to do – call him for cheating better than me, in front of the others?”
I think this article hit the nail on the head, describing how America has actually already become a fascist society.
Basically it describes how we are a society that extols this sort of Nietzschean, Ayn Randian value system of social Darwinism and not giving a shit about anything besides amassing wealth and power (even if most Americans are too stupid and/or lazy to have read Atlas Shrugged or the works of Frederick Nietzsche).
What I see that doing for America is continuing to push us towards this sort of 1980s cyberpunk dystopia where the 1% control more and more wealth and continue to use that wealth to further their interests through politics, media, and the application of technology.
I see that leading to more job uncertainty, more people getting saddled with debt, lack of health care and education, just a general lack of stability. Probably more isolation too. I mean having the ability to work from home is great (when I’m working). But having my entire interaction with the outside word through Teams/Zoom meetings, email and Slack messages sucks.
So that’s what I envision. An America full of angry, broke, isolated people being spoon-fed bullshit through social media that the reason for their troubles are other angry, broke, isolated people who aren’t working as hard as you and that’s why you should vote for the next fascist moron to lead the country in it’s rightful place in telling the rest of the world to fuck off.
You know, I never thought of it before, but disillusion is one of those curious words that doesn’t mean what it sounds like from its constituent parts.
Trump has not caused me to lose any “illusion” about what the US is. And I’m not sure whether it is entirely a good or bad thing that other folk may have lost their perception about America and Americans being well-intentioned and interested in working together towards laudable goals.
Not sure if this runs afoul of the prior warnings, but I really questioned the “trickle down” bullshit under Reagan. Just seemed focussed on benefitting the wealthiest, rather than those NEEDING help. And our historic support of horrible regimes for economic or strategic benefit put the lie to any claim of supporting democratic ideals.
Our government’s response to 9/11 was indefensible and revolting, as was the mass kneejerk desire for vengeance upon someone - even someone who had nothing to do w/ 9/11. Largely reflected the US’s inherent racism.
I had hopes for Obama’s administrations signaling real improvement, but again, the racism was pretty hard to ignore. Trump’s election just makes clear how many of our fellow citizens have truly ugly views, and have no interest in the often repeated platitudes we like to proclaim. It was somewhat startling, the degree to which so many of our elected leaders readily cast off any principles to seek personal gain.
Now is that good or bad? Well, might be good, if enough decent folk see the real need to change things. Might be bad to the extent to which the assholes see the ability to use the system to advance their intolrerance and self-interest.
Who will prevail? I dunno. I’ll be retired soon, and dead not long after that.
But I think it IS good, to the extent it puts the lie to the bullshit belief in American exceptionalism. A huge percentage of people the world over are self-interested assholes. Americans are no different, and it is annoying that we so often pretend otherwise. The only thing exceptional about us is our wealth and natural advantages. I think it is somewhat better to have a self aware rich bully than a rich bully who claims to be acting in others’ interest.