> So I have to imagine that there's something, at least in western culture, that is changing. Inequality, wage stagnation, slowing growth, things like that. Wh

> So I have to imagine that there's something, at least in western culture, that is changing. Inequality, wage stagnation, slowing growth, things like that. When life gets tough, us vs them rhetoric and isolationism starts going up. It’s pretty predictable when you look at history. First the economy has a few bumps, then the lower classes start clamoring for reform, then the various isms start taking hold of politics as people vote for anyone who promises them a better life. Post ww2 up to the early 2000’s was a period of unprecedented growth in most of the west as we caught up to pre-war status (think 1910’s, not 1930’s). That growth has tapped out and we are now on a more natural growth trajectory. But compared to what was before, organic growth looks slow and scary.