If FR was a powerhouse it would have been because the trajectory of the debate was at a far different point to today. FR would back then have attracted a high percentage of people who were paying attention, who had an understanding of the Constitution and American history and many of whom had been places and done things, in some case interacting with government itself.
Then the internet and that trajectory advanced until today when it’s at a point where far more of the public knows what’s what politically and their views are hardened. We’re in a political standoff today. There’s no debate anymore; there’s us and them. And that’s true on both sides What was insightful analysis 25 years ago is understood today by people who couldn’t have named their congressman or the Secretary of State twenty five years ago..
Way back when, I was the political ranter at work. The guy who’d amuse the fellas with blasts of conservative argument. I’d see the elbows nudging and the suppressed smiles as I talked. Those guys didn’t even vote. Then one day not long ago the usual circle formed and someone in tones of extreme aggrievement let fly with a conservative tinged political opinion and as I drew in breathe to amplify his observation someone to my left beat me to it and added data and factoids I knew to be spot on. As I began to speak with the idea of buttressing his arguments someone to my right glided in with with a surprising number and command of facts, all of which I knew but a few I would have had a problem pulling up at just that moment. The conversation went on for another five minutes and tempers were running high…and I never uttered a syllable.
It ain’t twenty five years ago anymore. There’s nothing left to analyze really, the worst has happened. There are millions of religiously political monsters in this country who hate it with their blood and fully intend to pull it down. There are professional conservative columnists and commentators today who write with a vicious and literary but sophomoric snarl that would have precluded publication years ago. But we are where we are now and they are morally and intellectually outraged to a point that they just don’t give a damn anymore. Analyze that. Well… we all do in opining on when the conflagration will come and what it will look like. Be seeing ya, I guess…
Excellent and timely post, sir.