Joe ن

All democracy, in absence of strong elites to filter info, tends towards Peronist horseshoe odd mixture of authoritarian illiberalism, populist leftist economics, libertinism, and reactionary social policies, with payoffs to the cronies and the rich who fund the whole thing.

Democracy rested far too much on elites filtering information that the masses consumed. Internet disintermediated the elites. Masses are generating and feeding bullshit to each other. To understand this left-liberals need to let go of their priors that the masses are inherently right and good.

It's no silver lining, but none of these things are going to get better until it gets terribly terribly worse. The horror of an attempt at mass deportation, persecution of transgenders, tariff-induced stagflation, Ukrainians being handed over to be raped and murdered like Bucha will spur a backlash.

I honestly feel almost zero respect now for my former Republican friends. I used to be the more moderate voice arguing against their hardcore libertarian views. Now they have completely changed colors, and I'm arguing for paying down debt, global trade, and austerity? What a world.

Interesting watching Republicans turn to supporting tariffs, domestic mfg, even unions and subsidies..then pretend these ideas have nothing to do with Democrats, or FDR they hate. Reminds me how BJP guys cheer Modi's rehash of Nehruvian import substitution, while they hate Nehru's economic policies.

Hey 👋