This Is The Final Year Of The USA As A Barely-Functioning State

2022. This is the final year of my nation as a functioning state. Once the Republicans take over the House in 2023, we’re an autocracy.

Neil H. Buchannan is one of the best scholars to make this consistent argument. He says the US is a “dead democracy walking.”

I have no idea if New York City will become a center of resistance to the GOP, or will fall in-line with the GOP as it did after 9/11. I want the former. I fear the latter. American cable news will carry on, because all it really cares about is ratings.

But while we wait for the GOP autocracy to rise, let’s enjoy this final year of freedom and relative stability. And yeah, I say “stability” knowing that we are stuck in the middle of a pandemic that is currently killing 1,700 Americans each day. That’s what I consider to be “stability” these days.

I haven’t really felt national stability since Bill Clinton was acquitted by the Senate in February 1999. While I hate the Senate, it was rational 23 years ago. Now we brace for another impeachment trial in 2023, which will be the GOPs irrational retaliation for two very legitimate impeachments of Donald J. Trump.

Be safe. Halve a plan to adapt if things become seriously unstable. Don’t stop paying attention to what’s happening locally and in DC.

And don’t stop wearing masks. We’re still living in a pandemic.

The French Government Fears Its People

Just a quick observation. In the US the people are afraid of the government; in France the government is afraid of the people.

Citizens don't need to own firearms to make their government fear them. It just takes united demands, constant political pressure, and some strong unions here and there. While I understand the argument that unionized workers see themselves as union members first and company employees second, look at the victories they have won for workers in France, including workers who aren't unionized. Here's the latest example.

Chaos Is On The March

So this is how democracy dies - in two fragile democracies.

In Kenya, the rioting and violence related to the nation's contested election was taken to a new level when a mob torched a church where people tried to escape the chaos. Over 30 civilians, including many children, were killed. The UN ought to join the US and EU in calling for an internationally monitored recount and/or independent investigation of the election.

In Pakistan, the general election scheduled for January 8th, has now been called 'impossible' to hold as scheduled by the nation's election commission. A postponement would almost certainly provoke international criticism and more violence on the streets.