Worldviews

 

Qing Dynasty (1644–1912) / Shitao/ In meditation, at the foot of the mountains impossible

I’ve been lax at posting here, this site is for my more political and philosophical ramblings.  The reason that I haven’t been posting much is the simple fact that the state of the world today is beyond my ability to understand (or for that matter to even want to be involved with).

I am hunkering down currently, restructuring my life yet again, and trying to figure out how to get through the short-middle term in one piece and without going too hungry in the process.  That’s it.  The national and international politics going on in the world are flailing around, doing irrational things because of the “we have to do something” mistake.  

The Trump delusion still holds sway.  The dumbasses at the FBI just gave him a boost and increased the odds of that sorry piece of dogshit squatting  golem-like in the oval office again.  They just can’t leave well enough alone.  Their Trumpster-hatred is their shibboleth, which is sad, because it keeps them from defining themselves by what they can do to make the situation better, it just defines them by their hatred of a significant symbol.

What is hard for folks here in the US and elsewhere to understand is that Trump represents a deep seated loathing of the emerged class structure of the US.  What has happened is that the Democratic party has deserted the working class and assembled a coalition of fringe groups as their “demographic”.  They have also completely deserted organized labor.  This has led them to a place where the working class realizes that the Democratic Party no longer represents the majority of the population.  The actions taken to assimilate their new demographic have actually diminished the actual “representation” of those outside the rich donors and the fringe groups.  

The Republican, on the other hand, never gave shit one about anyone other than Republicans.

So what we have here is two completely out of touch political parties engaged in a struggle for control of the levers of power in a declining political moiety and an unequal economy.

Trump is an outlier.  He is neither fish nor foul nor good red meat.  He is an egotistical huckster/saleman who takes care to cultivate those who know for a fact that the two parties have deserted them and the two parties would actually prefer that they die off quickly.  Now, it is important to realize that Trump might actually be of the same opinion about these folks.  I cannot for a moment believe that he gives a shit about anyone but Trump, but he does listen to the folks who have been rejected by both the Democratic and the Republican parties and has sold them a bill of goods (I think that a quick read of Elmer Gantry might be in order here).

The actions of the Justice Department, while they can make a case for it, recently raided Trump.  While I have no doubt that he didn’t follow the loosey-goosey set of rules that obtain to former presidents, I am also aware of the simple fact that no former president ever has.  We are merely arguing, not kind.  But the ham handed and tone deaf raid gave Trump a boost among the folks that the current oligarchies (financial and political) have left behind or deem worth their notice.

We are heading into an election where there stands a good chance of the current majority being turned on its head.  I can’t really say that I care either way, but history seems to suggest that parties that have control of both the White House and the Capital do not fare well in midterm elections.  If the Republicans do gain control of the Legislative branch (70% chance of doing so in the Senate, 60% chance of doing so in the House), it is my guess they will work to sideline Trump and still maintain his voter base.  Should be interesting.

Then there is Biden.  I can’t imagine a situation where he wins, but I am so frequently wrong I have to consider the possibility.  But I see the chance of him standing in front of Roberts with his hand on the bible (Douay version of course) being less than 15%.  The question will be, who will (if anyone) replace Biden on the Democratic ticket?  The list of potential candidates is remarkably weak.  I kind of doubt that they will do anything intelligent.  I would give Hillary a 30% chance to pull off being the candidate.  Which would give the White House to the Republicans.

The other Democrats are a sad, sad lot.  I think that the chance of the Democrats coming up with a decent candidate is at best 30%.  I have no idea who that might be, whoever it is sure isn’t in the spotlight now.

I have no idea of the direction the country is headed.  I’m not certain anyone does.  All the more obvious scenarios don’t look all that appealing and we are definitely in a situation where the lesser of two evils is the best option available.

But which one is the lesser?