2007/06/13

Loose Wheels

James Kunstler is worried about Loose Wheels:

I admit it was not a big deep thought, just an eerie one. Of course, one would have to begin by asking what kind of society would worship clowns like Donald Trump in the first place -- and the answer would be: a society of envious slobs deluded into thinking that they could become the next Trump if only the Baby Jeezus would whack them over the head with a sock-full of silver dollars. This is, after all, a culture currently fueled by two dangerously childish ideas: that it's possible to get something for nothing, and that when you wish upon a star your dreams come true.

People who believe that it's possible to get something for nothing can be persuaded easily that those who have gotten a lot have gotten it unfairly. And the flip side of wishing upon stars is that when your dreams don't come true you can only blame it on the stars.

Mr. Kunstler goes on to speculate whether these events parallel those leading up to the French Revolution.

He appears to characterise that revolution as one of class envy. Whereas, the French Revolution was the triumph of the Capitalists over their Feudal lords. The revolution happened because Fedualism was no longer good for business, and the Capitalists were able to persuade others that they would be better off under Capitalism than Fedualism.

The Feudal system could no longer deliver on its promises because the Aristocracy was full of dead wood, and people of talent and ambition were becoming Capitalists.

And Mr. Kunstler is probably correct in assessing that the Capitalist class in the USA is now full of dead wood like Donald Trump and Paris Hilton. So where have the people of talent and ambition have gone? I don't think they have been attracted to the Socialist cause.

If an explosion does happen in the USA, I would think it would be a populist revolution that may turn into a Fascist revolution. I think people of talent and ambition could be looking for a leader to get the Capitalist system back on track.

The analysis of politics in the USA leads me to suspect that people think the problems are due to moral failings. This has been the opening for a Fascist revolution in the past.


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