May 3, 2023·edited May 3, 2023Liked by Barry Brownstein
Been behind on my stack-readin' but wuz so happy to see this important "take" on how we-the-dang-fool-people have fallen into (ironically) a "monarchy mentality" focusin' on the all-powerful great singular "leader" concept-- one "man fer the job" ta fix just about everything.
What'ya wrote is so true and an important "angle" on the problems with Big Gubbamint, makin' every POTUS a sort've savior-cum-quacksalver. Magical elixir to cure what ails the nay-shun. Folks have allowed the erasure of the three branches an' all we got standin' is one wobbly tree trunk with Dutch Elm Disease. Tho' I don't blame only the voters given the fact that SO many 'lected officials 'r bought an' their souls sold ta the lobbyists offerin' the highest bid fer their support, the best luxury lucre... Elephants, Donkeys...don't matter in this crazy zoo!
Our pres-i-dense-ee, the role, has also turned into a Cult of Personality an' a Celebrity / Movie Star War Hero game... May the hero win... an' ride off inta the sunset... As ya said, it shouldn't work that way.
A president should be someone who understands that his/her job could be revoked if the people decide the country's goin' ta hell in a handbasket, if the decent constitutional system we have (had) in place--is bein' treated like an' old discarded candy wrapper (which it iz, now) . But today they all act like lil' (or BIG) Napoleons--conquerors (which is distasteful fer us pacifists....even those've us all for having self-defense vs "takin' " [the] offense).
Since both pahrties 'r more corrupt/phony than a $3 bill, I just cain't see Bobby Jr. gettin' a nom--'specially since they won't even allow him ta debate with be-diapered DoughJoeBiden. Not sure if his runnin' as an independent would've been a good solution either... but I cain't see "the system" as it is even lettin' him have a crack at fixin' the mess (let alone drainin' that ol' swamp)
The good nooz is that some folks who were asleep at the wheel 'r slowly wakin' up, seein' the Sunk Republic an' tryin' ta grab some lifesavers to keep the remainders afloat. But sadly, what ya predict is already the current state of (gawd awful) affairs; America RIGHT NOW bears no resemblance to the republic the founders bequeathed us.
Not confident even the free / free-fer-all Substack platform'll save us (I fear it could go poof any time--given the fire've free speech that's already bein' put out with their jackboots...)
But anywho--we cain't even start ta mend what ails US 'till folks git outta the comic-book hero mindset (which is great fer the storybooks but NOT fer polly-ticks!)
As long as the government is handing out goodies, we'll be stuck with the "national savior" mentality, I think. The animal side of human nature wants to jockey for position at the feeding trough, and would like to believe that some powerful figure can magically make the manna flow. It appears that times have to get very tough before many let go of that fantasy.
A powerful reminder of our blessed heritage and the inspired genius of our founders. Would that more people and politicians alike would learn and embrace these principles so eloquently laid out in our constitution.
Thank you again Barry for wisdom and ability to articulate what many are thinking but are unable or unwilling to express. 🙏
Been behind on my stack-readin' but wuz so happy to see this important "take" on how we-the-dang-fool-people have fallen into (ironically) a "monarchy mentality" focusin' on the all-powerful great singular "leader" concept-- one "man fer the job" ta fix just about everything.
What'ya wrote is so true and an important "angle" on the problems with Big Gubbamint, makin' every POTUS a sort've savior-cum-quacksalver. Magical elixir to cure what ails the nay-shun. Folks have allowed the erasure of the three branches an' all we got standin' is one wobbly tree trunk with Dutch Elm Disease. Tho' I don't blame only the voters given the fact that SO many 'lected officials 'r bought an' their souls sold ta the lobbyists offerin' the highest bid fer their support, the best luxury lucre... Elephants, Donkeys...don't matter in this crazy zoo!
Our pres-i-dense-ee, the role, has also turned into a Cult of Personality an' a Celebrity / Movie Star War Hero game... May the hero win... an' ride off inta the sunset... As ya said, it shouldn't work that way.
A president should be someone who understands that his/her job could be revoked if the people decide the country's goin' ta hell in a handbasket, if the decent constitutional system we have (had) in place--is bein' treated like an' old discarded candy wrapper (which it iz, now) . But today they all act like lil' (or BIG) Napoleons--conquerors (which is distasteful fer us pacifists....even those've us all for having self-defense vs "takin' " [the] offense).
Since both pahrties 'r more corrupt/phony than a $3 bill, I just cain't see Bobby Jr. gettin' a nom--'specially since they won't even allow him ta debate with be-diapered DoughJoeBiden. Not sure if his runnin' as an independent would've been a good solution either... but I cain't see "the system" as it is even lettin' him have a crack at fixin' the mess (let alone drainin' that ol' swamp)
The good nooz is that some folks who were asleep at the wheel 'r slowly wakin' up, seein' the Sunk Republic an' tryin' ta grab some lifesavers to keep the remainders afloat. But sadly, what ya predict is already the current state of (gawd awful) affairs; America RIGHT NOW bears no resemblance to the republic the founders bequeathed us.
Not confident even the free / free-fer-all Substack platform'll save us (I fear it could go poof any time--given the fire've free speech that's already bein' put out with their jackboots...)
But anywho--we cain't even start ta mend what ails US 'till folks git outta the comic-book hero mindset (which is great fer the storybooks but NOT fer polly-ticks!)
I've seen columns lately which claim that RFK Jr. is an authoritarian too; see https://reason.com/2023/04/28/the-very-strange-new-respect-for-authoritarian-democrat-robert-f-kennedy-jr/ . He certainly seems better than the average politician, though admittedly that's setting the bar pretty low.
As long as the government is handing out goodies, we'll be stuck with the "national savior" mentality, I think. The animal side of human nature wants to jockey for position at the feeding trough, and would like to believe that some powerful figure can magically make the manna flow. It appears that times have to get very tough before many let go of that fantasy.
Thank you, Barry.
A powerful reminder of our blessed heritage and the inspired genius of our founders. Would that more people and politicians alike would learn and embrace these principles so eloquently laid out in our constitution.
Brilliant piece, dovetails with what George Friedman from Geopolitical Futures has been saying for years.
thx Barry
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