I plead guilty! Over time a fair number of commenters have, er, remarked on my optimisim—some in a positive way, others disparagingly. I admit that I make an effort to be project optimism. Without optimism there’s no reason to engage in a struggle. Today, in response to my quoting Roger Kimball’s optimistic projection that Americans would rise against Wokedom, a reader sent me an OTOH link. It’s to a substack that basically argues, well, here’s the idea in the author’s own words:
Allow me to posit my take on both your optimism, Mark, and the despair message of the linked article as i believe it reconciles both camps.
First, i believe we can be both optimistic and pessimistic about the US, our society, and our faith. In fact, I'd prefer to shun the idea of different camps of optimism vs pessimism and frame it simply as realism. Let's be brutally and unflinchingly honest about what we're facing and let the chips fall as they say.
This leads us to the inescapable conclusion that our society is in collapse and headed for very dire times indeed. I doubt any of us seriously doubt this. We can debate exactly how badly things will collapse and where, when, how precisely, but there's no doubt that the country that any of us over age...50 knew is going going and soon will be gone, for better or worse.
So, let's concede for sake of argument what Lyons says, all 20 points in fact (which do seem to me very astute readings of our *current* situation). Very grim picture indeed. But as Mark says, it's makes a fatal assumption that life in these United States will simply roll on as ever, along the same trajectory and parameters. We know this isn't the case.
So, I posit that things are far worse than Lyons points out (and to that extent I have been critical--- although i hope not excessively so or rude-- to Mark's optimism that 2022 or 2024 federal elections will matter). Things will not continue as Lyons assumes. They are already collapsing and will get far worse, rendering Lyons' fine analysis, ultimately, irrelevant.
But I am hopeful and optimistic that in our collapse and ruin and sufferings, on the other side, we will be reborn and our faith and values, too. All of the 20 cancers Lyons and others cite will be burned away by the Collapse(tm). Because reality-- the existential punch in the gut of not having food to eat, heat in your home (assuming you have a home), no job, no prospects, perhaps civil war, death, and destruction-- has a way of shaking loose all the illusions and deceptions we entertained in our luxurious past. People who survive the Collapse will be people of faith, people who forge tight communities that pool their resources and defend themselves.
To conclude, brace for impact. But not as people who have no hope. We have a faith in a personal God who cares and provides and expects us to act with the minds given to us in these times. Some of us may have to give up our lives so others can make it. That's reality. Each of us must choose the best location for us and our families and then dig in. Get Local. Have hope that through the fire is a new beginning better than we've ever known. But it's going to be brutal on the way. And, yeah, it won't be by voting.
Re elections, I don't contend that elections "matter" in the sense that elections alone will solve our problems. It's something we can do at the margins that may help rally normal people. I've always said that personal conversion is necessary to save our society, to redeem it to the extent possible. However, I also caution against making the perfect the enemy of the good--or even of the so-so. A lot may depend on local situations. Depending on that, being involved is a real option in some areas. Elections are simply part of reality and therefore part of the mix whereby it may be possible to influence what's going on. I also caution against breaking things before you're in a position to replace them.
That's all optimistic. Sometimes in history we see that SHTF and we don't have any of those luxuries.
You have convinced me that local elections may still matter for now. State and local. Federal elections? No. Hopelessly corrupted and is now just a shell game to keep us distracted and pouring money into corrupt political campaigns. But local involvement is important so long as it's allowed to us.
I tend to quote people when I agree with them and ignore them when I don't--situational. I've quoted Mirengoff in that way in the past. I've noticed lately some childish recrudescences of NeverTrumpism and ignored them. I only got a few lines into this one before deciding life is too short for this, as previously--when I saw the "" around Johns Hopkins studies I stopped reading right there, as with virtually everything PM has written re Covid.
Jen Jekielek, EPOCH-American Thought Leaders, is perhaps the best long-form interviewer today. (Well actually, in the top group including John Bachelor, Sharyl Atkinson, but I digress.)
Jekielek just had a fascinating interview with someone named "Wokel Distance."
I MOST STRONGLY RECOMMENDED this interview, very accessible, makes the underpinnings of "woke" understandable.
"“The notion of truth and objectivity is beginning to disappear.”
In this episode, we sit down with Wokal Distance, an expert in postmodernism and critical theory and a visiting fellow at the Center for Renewing America. We break down the underpinnings of woke ideology and the current campaign to cancel Joe Rogan.
“Think of postmodernism as being like a solvent or an acid. When you throw the acid onto the piece of metal, the metal doesn’t just evaporate [instantly]. It takes time. So the dissolving of objective truth isn’t an overnight process, but it’s been chipped away at. It’s been rusting slowly. It’s been crumbling since the ’60s.”"
“Finally, Paul, on your post the other day about the “Johns Hopkins Study” in scare quotes as if to insinuate (quite wrongly) something disreputable, let me just say that the next time you attack my friend Steve Hanke (whom I’ve written about numerous times on Power Line), let me just say that you’ll want to follow Harry Truman’s famous advice about stocking up on beefsteak, because a certain former “Akin Gump lawyer” is going to get socked in his fucking face.
Allow me to posit my take on both your optimism, Mark, and the despair message of the linked article as i believe it reconciles both camps.
First, i believe we can be both optimistic and pessimistic about the US, our society, and our faith. In fact, I'd prefer to shun the idea of different camps of optimism vs pessimism and frame it simply as realism. Let's be brutally and unflinchingly honest about what we're facing and let the chips fall as they say.
This leads us to the inescapable conclusion that our society is in collapse and headed for very dire times indeed. I doubt any of us seriously doubt this. We can debate exactly how badly things will collapse and where, when, how precisely, but there's no doubt that the country that any of us over age...50 knew is going going and soon will be gone, for better or worse.
So, let's concede for sake of argument what Lyons says, all 20 points in fact (which do seem to me very astute readings of our *current* situation). Very grim picture indeed. But as Mark says, it's makes a fatal assumption that life in these United States will simply roll on as ever, along the same trajectory and parameters. We know this isn't the case.
So, I posit that things are far worse than Lyons points out (and to that extent I have been critical--- although i hope not excessively so or rude-- to Mark's optimism that 2022 or 2024 federal elections will matter). Things will not continue as Lyons assumes. They are already collapsing and will get far worse, rendering Lyons' fine analysis, ultimately, irrelevant.
But I am hopeful and optimistic that in our collapse and ruin and sufferings, on the other side, we will be reborn and our faith and values, too. All of the 20 cancers Lyons and others cite will be burned away by the Collapse(tm). Because reality-- the existential punch in the gut of not having food to eat, heat in your home (assuming you have a home), no job, no prospects, perhaps civil war, death, and destruction-- has a way of shaking loose all the illusions and deceptions we entertained in our luxurious past. People who survive the Collapse will be people of faith, people who forge tight communities that pool their resources and defend themselves.
To conclude, brace for impact. But not as people who have no hope. We have a faith in a personal God who cares and provides and expects us to act with the minds given to us in these times. Some of us may have to give up our lives so others can make it. That's reality. Each of us must choose the best location for us and our families and then dig in. Get Local. Have hope that through the fire is a new beginning better than we've ever known. But it's going to be brutal on the way. And, yeah, it won't be by voting.
Re elections, I don't contend that elections "matter" in the sense that elections alone will solve our problems. It's something we can do at the margins that may help rally normal people. I've always said that personal conversion is necessary to save our society, to redeem it to the extent possible. However, I also caution against making the perfect the enemy of the good--or even of the so-so. A lot may depend on local situations. Depending on that, being involved is a real option in some areas. Elections are simply part of reality and therefore part of the mix whereby it may be possible to influence what's going on. I also caution against breaking things before you're in a position to replace them.
That's all optimistic. Sometimes in history we see that SHTF and we don't have any of those luxuries.
You have convinced me that local elections may still matter for now. State and local. Federal elections? No. Hopelessly corrupted and is now just a shell game to keep us distracted and pouring money into corrupt political campaigns. But local involvement is important so long as it's allowed to us.
Refreshing. I didn't read that post originally because I got a few lines in and thought, more childishness.
Go Steve!
I tend to quote people when I agree with them and ignore them when I don't--situational. I've quoted Mirengoff in that way in the past. I've noticed lately some childish recrudescences of NeverTrumpism and ignored them. I only got a few lines into this one before deciding life is too short for this, as previously--when I saw the "" around Johns Hopkins studies I stopped reading right there, as with virtually everything PM has written re Covid.
Love your line "life is too short for this". I feel that way about the entire subject of 'woke'.
Thanks, Mark.
What is "woke" is getting much attention.
Jen Jekielek, EPOCH-American Thought Leaders, is perhaps the best long-form interviewer today. (Well actually, in the top group including John Bachelor, Sharyl Atkinson, but I digress.)
Jekielek just had a fascinating interview with someone named "Wokel Distance."
I MOST STRONGLY RECOMMENDED this interview, very accessible, makes the underpinnings of "woke" understandable.
https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5jYXB0aXZhdGUuZm0vYW1lcmljYW4tdGhvdWdodC1sZWFkZXJzLw/episode/YmVkMTRjMmMtNDBmYy00YWRmLWEwN2QtYWNkZjk0MDU1ZmIz?ep=14
From the description:
"“The notion of truth and objectivity is beginning to disappear.”
In this episode, we sit down with Wokal Distance, an expert in postmodernism and critical theory and a visiting fellow at the Center for Renewing America. We break down the underpinnings of woke ideology and the current campaign to cancel Joe Rogan.
“Think of postmodernism as being like a solvent or an acid. When you throw the acid onto the piece of metal, the metal doesn’t just evaporate [instantly]. It takes time. So the dissolving of objective truth isn’t an overnight process, but it’s been chipped away at. It’s been rusting slowly. It’s been crumbling since the ’60s.”"
Along with the above, I also very strongly recommend his more recent interview with Kara Frederick on Tech Tyranny, another homerun:
Kara Frederick: Big Tech Totalitarianism and America’s Emerging Social Credit System
https://link.theepochtimes.com/mkt_app/kara-frederick-big-tech-totalitarianism-and-americas-emerging-social-credit-system_4274224.html?utm_source=appan2028330
Totally OT here, but wow - listen to Steve Hayward go off on Paul Mirengoff over at Powerline.
DAAAAMN! (I don't mind taking sides here -- Go Steve!)
https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2022/02/chutzpa.php
Ok, I just have to throw in Hayward’s close:
“Finally, Paul, on your post the other day about the “Johns Hopkins Study” in scare quotes as if to insinuate (quite wrongly) something disreputable, let me just say that the next time you attack my friend Steve Hanke (whom I’ve written about numerous times on Power Line), let me just say that you’ll want to follow Harry Truman’s famous advice about stocking up on beefsteak, because a certain former “Akin Gump lawyer” is going to get socked in his fucking face.
That is all.”
Boom.
Quotable quote from Hayward: "Powerline used to know a thing or two about checking the creation of documents."
Those who know the Rathergate history will appreciate this.