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You're right to be cautious when placing optimism in captivating theories on governance. Venezuela is another instance of great rhetoric eventually deterioratin

You're right to be cautious when placing optimism in captivating theories on governance. Venezuela is another instance of great rhetoric eventually deteriorating into devastation. But as things are in America I feel like it's nice to dream

arp242 1y ago
The US is in an uniquely bad place because none of the major democratic institutions work as they're designed to work. It kind of limps along, but it's completely dysfunctional and has been for decades. Not to be the arrogant European, many Americans don't seem to realise just how bizarre their system of government is. It's not hard to see how some relatively simple common sense reforms would improve the situation. The first problem is that democratic reform, no matter how "common sense" or popular, is always hard because whoever is in power is in power because of the existing system. The second problem is that the current GOP is not interested in good faith debate on pretty much anything. This predates Trump; during the Obama years I would joke that I had written an AI to replace the Republican party: "IF proposed_by("Obama") THEN oppose() END". You can make a long shaggy dog story out of this. The cult of personality surrounding Trump only made it worse. I'm not entirely sure what the solution is; but sweeping reforms that you're proposing here have essentially zero chance of success (aside from whether they're even desirable in the first place). Maybe Trump screwing up bad enough will dispel some illusions and give the Democratic party enough power to push through some reforms down the line, but I'm not holding my breath (in part because the Democratic leadership seems completely out of touch).
- duncangh 1y ago
  I actually think some of the dysfunction is by design and what has made the dollar so stable throughout the last 25 years or so. No major legislation can get passed and thus anything too radical is ctrl-z'd by the next executive and we revert to mean and nothing ever changes writ large although the division and mutual contempt carries on

arp242 1y ago

The US is in an uniquely bad place because none of the major democratic institutions work as they're designed to work. It kind of limps along, but it's completely dysfunctional and has been for decades. Not to be the arrogant European, many Americans don't seem to realise just how bizarre their system of government is. It's not hard to see how some relatively simple common sense reforms would improve the situation. The first problem is that democratic reform, no matter how "common sense" or popular, is always hard because whoever is in power is in power because of the existing system. The second problem is that the current GOP is not interested in good faith debate on pretty much anything. This predates Trump; during the Obama years I would joke that I had written an AI to replace the Republican party: "IF proposed_by("Obama") THEN oppose() END". You can make a long shaggy dog story out of this. The cult of personality surrounding Trump only made it worse. I'm not entirely sure what the solution is; but sweeping reforms that you're proposing here have essentially zero chance of success (aside from whether they're even desirable in the first place). Maybe Trump screwing up bad enough will dispel some illusions and give the Democratic party enough power to push through some reforms down the line, but I'm not holding my breath (in part because the Democratic leadership seems completely out of touch).

duncangh 1y ago
I actually think some of the dysfunction is by design and what has made the dollar so stable throughout the last 25 years or so. No major legislation can get passed and thus anything too radical is ctrl-z'd by the next executive and we revert to mean and nothing ever changes writ large although the division and mutual contempt carries on