Posted on 04/04/2023 7:29:39 AM PDT by Twotone
A Fourth Turning is a period in history when all the negative developments over a four-generation period reach a crescendo – a time when the sociopaths are the rulers and are putting the squeeze on the populace.
In addition to an effort to institute totalitarian rule, symptoms include the breakdown of both morality and logic. Black is white; up is down. Confusion and chaos increase in both frequency and magnitude as the Fourth Turning advances.
Those of a libertarian mindset tend to be especially sensitive to and cognizant of these symptoms as they unfold. Since a classic Fourth Turning takes place over roughly twenty years, by the time the halfway mark is reached and the symptoms are peaking, it may appear that “It just keeps getting worse. Won’t people ever wake up and understand that this is crazy?”
Well, historically, the answer has always been “Yes.”
There’s always a turning point, even if it seems that it’s not only a long time coming but that there’s no level of oppression that won’t be tolerated by the masses.
The reason for this is that a Fourth Turning is made possible by complacency. Although there has been a deterioration in self-reliance and reasoning for three generations, a population does not become truly complacent until the latter stages. The deeper the complacency, the greater the oppression by leaders.
Interestingly, complacency is at its greatest in populations where there previously was the greatest prosperity. Therefore, in the present Fourth Turning, the countries that have been most dramatically impacted have been those that had previously been the most prosperous.
(Excerpt) Read more at internationalman.com ...
“In addition to an effort to institute totalitarian rule, symptoms include the breakdown of both morality and logic. Black is white; up is down. Confusion and chaos increase in both frequency and magnitude as the Fourth Turning advances”.
Needless to say, we’re living it.
The guys who wrote the fourth turning proclaimed that 9/11 was the beginning of the 20 year crisis cycle. Nice try, we’re 22 years into it and no end in sight.
At the time, this didn’t get a lot of publicity in the West, but I believed that, in retrospect, it would be seen as the political turning point. The reason is that most of the countries in the world do not see themselves as world powers. They see themselves as countries that are continually impacted by world powers.
As such, they try to cooperate with the big boys and suffer as little as possible from what the big boys do.
For them, the announcement by the US was a direct threat: “Omigod, if they confiscated assets of the Russian people, they could do the same to us.”"
This point has gone right over the heads of certain cheerleaders here, either through dim intellect, willful ignorance, or because their purpose is other than discussion.
The movement away from the Bretton Woods system is going to have repercussions, moreso when countries in Europe start moving away (and they will).
Very good point. Who knows how long this will go on.
Bkmk
Bookmark
He writes an essay about the fourth turning. But he never mentions Strauss and Howe.
Curious. And after reading this…I do t he really read them.
Actually the original dates (FR 1997) were the mid 2020s.
Social Sciences are not exact, but they were pretty close.
According to the book, The next 4th turning, the next crisis, should start in approx 10 years (stated in 1997), and end in approx 30, equating to approx 2007 - 2027.
So it’s pretty much on time.
One flaw in the theory, by the way, is that generations rise every 20 years and take over and their unique perspective shapes events. Flaw: Baby boomers won't give up power. From the SCOTUS to the Senate to the Presidency.
So it started with OBama’s election and the mortgage meltdown that finacially affected countries around the world.
And considering who is in the pipeline to replace them, (Millennials and Z’s) thank God for that.
Such a terrific piece. Explains several things that I was confused / unclear on. And why my gf’s country (Philippines) is still a tolerable place (mostly).
I’d rather have seen GenX get a shot rather than watch a bunch of octogenarian communists run everything from their hospital beds.
He may have just gotten the starting point wrong. Maybe it started in 2008 with the election of Obama.
bump
90 year cycles containing 4 life times or seasons each generation attributing 4 archetypes - Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter.
From 2 years ago:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wr9IdY_zA-M
Stage 1 - The Spark
Stage 2 - Disruption
Stage 3 - Collapse
Stage 4 - Climax
Stage 5 - New Beginnings
“And considering who is in the pipeline to replace them, (Millennials and Z’s)...”
Sure, just skip over an entire generation that is actually the one next in line... Generation X. But don’t worry, we are used to everyone forgetting that we exist. At least that means we never get blamed for anything :)
I have a whole family of 42-47 y/o liberal ‘Xers’ that give me little hope for the future either. They’re not AS bad as their younger cousins, but I don’t trust them to run the country. As a group they see themselves as ‘global citizens’, vote straight ticket democrat, and have drank the kool-aid on every liberal social issue.
Once the ‘boomers’ are gone there will be no left who remembers the greatness of this once proud, strong country.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.