A significant percentage of people in this country are not the least bit bothered by widespread corruption, deteriorating national morality, or massively growing government control over our lives. Our decline is entirely OK with them.
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Average folks may be honest and reasonable but they are also becoming increasingly passive, easily distracted, and manipulated by slick political operatives and their allies in the media. The next election may well decide our fate.
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These are the people who really believe that government, bureaucrats and regulations will function to keep their lifestyle just as it is. For those with a less favorable situation, they have been convinced their circumstances will improve due to government, bureaucrats and regulations or even *laws* that attempt to regulate what they cannot, such as unfavorable circumstances.
The media is responsible for these beliefs. They have been purchased by the government, bureaucrats and regulators. For example, while we here know why Venezuela, Chile, Hong Kong, France and others are in rebellion, the media either refuses to report it or lies about both cause and effect.
None of those responsible have skin-in-the-game. Society needs to demand that those responsible pay with their own funds, freedom and lifestyle. Maybe with their lives.
Just expanding on your theme. Agree about Trump and the coming calamities.
Society needs to demand that those responsible pay with their own funds, freedom and lifestyle.
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There is no such thing as accountability in DC whatsoever which explains in large part why there is so much corruption and destructive partisanship. Since the public doesn’t seem to want to remove the rot I only see the problem getting worse.
One observation if I may...
People only change when they are forced to by pain, fear or hardship. In the absence of those factors, things tend to stay the same. If we have a sharp and painful economic downturn such a situation could well bring about some much needed reforms, at least temporarily. A sudden military confrontation would likewise also serve to reorient people’s assumptions and thinking. In the meantime we bumble along and tolerate an absurd amount of destructive nonsense.