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I certainly have thoughts about the narrative around collapse and the built in value judgements that it implies, but the last few days made this stick out to me
by stinkytaco 6y ago
I certainly have thoughts about the narrative around collapse and the built in value judgements that it implies, but the last few days made this stick out to me:
> He writes of visions of “bloated bureaucracies” becoming the basis of “entire political careers.”
I'm sure this is a problem, but right now it feels like the inexorable momentum of American bureaucracy is the barrier between democracy and tyranny.
- helen___keller 6y agoI dont think the core bureaucracy (politicians and the workings of the democratic system) of America are, by themselves, in any way bloated or harmful. They are complexity that gives us overwhelming returns by having a stable political system that, as you note, prevents outright descent into tyranny. But there's layers of bloat built around this system, from power brokers to marketing firms to talk show radio. Ultimately I doubt the bloat of our political system is that great, if anything I'd be more concerned about the bloat from our military system. If I ask myself how many people do I know building a career off military dollars, versus a career off political dollars, the former camp is much larger.
- stinkytaco 6y agoLooking at the photos from the election and the aftermath, it just struck me that our democracy is in the hands of career civil servants at folding tables sorting through piles of paper and bespectacled old ladies explaining how to fill out that paper. That is, as you say, preferable to a military industrial complex or lobbyists that seem to make the decisions so much of the time.