It’s difficult to see the forest for the trees, especially when you’re deep in the woods. Take this article from the Associated Press pointing out that “conservatives” in rural America have progressed from just resenting Democrats to hating them. It’s easy to see that these bottom-dwelling ignoramuses are just letting their atavistic lizard brains out into the open. It’s frustrating and maddening that this minority has managed to capture so much of the election machinery in America that they have stymied the majority will for over four decades.
It's not good to facing the end of the era of reason. But democracy has been on the decline throughout the world every year since the end of the W. Bush "administration," according to organizations who measure the health of democratic government.
This may sound absurd, but I find some comfort in being 74 years old and won't have to endure too much more, since we all feel helpless to change the current trends. I tried to leave the country when Bush was elected - did not succeed. We've been downhill every since.
I do agree with everything written above. We are on the cusp of losing our semi-democracy. Semi because none of our three branches of government are representative of the people. Take the Senate for example, able to block any legislation. A voter in Wyoming has 68 times more power than someone living in California. California should have 136 senators to equate Wyoming with two senators. This makes a huge difference nationally in favor of the Republican Party, Trump's party now, Trump a far-right nationalist. Then there is computerized gerrymandering, the purge of the voter rolls, etc. Still we are some kind of democracy worth preserving, and in dire need of reform.
What you describe is true, but it seems that the non far-right side in our politics is unable to address it. Trying to compromise with fascism never worked in history. Hundreds of non fiction books have been published about Trump and the decay of our democracy, the threat of tyranny in the USA. But a few, and always the same people are the public for this type of literature (nonetheless useful). Common people don't picture what a hard far-right, anti science, anti women, racist regime, working for the very rich only and increasing inequality to the extreme, would actually mean in their private lives. Only a fiction book, a punch in the guts, can picture it in the sphere of the emotions, without exaggeration. Big publishers would never allow such a book to be published though. Fiction literature today IS escapism.
I wrote this fiction book, Mona, that I intend to publish; self publish if there is no other way. Whatever I can do, I do, to save my country from tyranny and the world from global warming (another existential threat, linked to this subject).
Thank you for your comment, Frederick. I agree with you entirely, and especially about the lack of imagination of the majority. I have long thought that only art can put the brakes on this--only powerful fiction, film, and music have a chance of hitting the majority where they live. Schiller once said that the place to catch the people is in their "leisure" time when they are seeking entertainment. It is then that their guard is down. BTW, it has never been easier to self-publish using Amazon or other services that will print PDFs on demand. It's reaching the audience that's a problem.
There is a long tradition in fiction literature of addressing major issues of the time. These are the book we remember, and helped society to more forward, because they touch the heart. Take slavery in the USA for example. The only book against slavery almost anyone will be able to quote is Uncle Tom's Cabin. Although seeming outdated now, it is the book that mattered and moved the goalposts when slavery was an institution of the country. The Grapes of Wrath we remember about the Great Depression, more than any other, certainly not a non fiction book about the economy. Because the book talks about the people, their lives, their emotions. Oliver Twist we remember if we think about the miserable condition of child labor in Victorian England. etc. This tradition died in the 1980s; fiction books are allowed to be published only if they serve a purpose of escapism. None of the books I mentioned would be published. Today, at the brink of losing our freedoms, you will not find one single little fiction book about this major event that is happening right now. This is one of the signs, sadly, that this country is ripe for it. The real upsetting thing is not that I probably cannot publish my book, Mona, but that there wont be any such book to tell, to picture the story before it is too late.
I absolutely loved it there. Spent several weeks each year. I could see the St. Laurence Seaway from my front steps, but cold as heck in the winter. Canadian people are incredibly good folks. I wish I could have made it work.
In my case now, at 74, I wouldn't have enough $ to survive. After Bush was elected, I bought a cottage on Prince Edward Island, and intended to stay there - but had trouble getting in to the Health Care system, and would have had, at the time, no way to support myself. In sadness, I sold the cottage.
Scott, You are absolutely right and it scares the hell out of me.
It's not good to facing the end of the era of reason. But democracy has been on the decline throughout the world every year since the end of the W. Bush "administration," according to organizations who measure the health of democratic government.
This may sound absurd, but I find some comfort in being 74 years old and won't have to endure too much more, since we all feel helpless to change the current trends. I tried to leave the country when Bush was elected - did not succeed. We've been downhill every since.
Why couldn't you leave the country? I'm hoping to get out if Republicans take over this fall. But is there some major obstacle to leaving?
I do agree with everything written above. We are on the cusp of losing our semi-democracy. Semi because none of our three branches of government are representative of the people. Take the Senate for example, able to block any legislation. A voter in Wyoming has 68 times more power than someone living in California. California should have 136 senators to equate Wyoming with two senators. This makes a huge difference nationally in favor of the Republican Party, Trump's party now, Trump a far-right nationalist. Then there is computerized gerrymandering, the purge of the voter rolls, etc. Still we are some kind of democracy worth preserving, and in dire need of reform.
What you describe is true, but it seems that the non far-right side in our politics is unable to address it. Trying to compromise with fascism never worked in history. Hundreds of non fiction books have been published about Trump and the decay of our democracy, the threat of tyranny in the USA. But a few, and always the same people are the public for this type of literature (nonetheless useful). Common people don't picture what a hard far-right, anti science, anti women, racist regime, working for the very rich only and increasing inequality to the extreme, would actually mean in their private lives. Only a fiction book, a punch in the guts, can picture it in the sphere of the emotions, without exaggeration. Big publishers would never allow such a book to be published though. Fiction literature today IS escapism.
I wrote this fiction book, Mona, that I intend to publish; self publish if there is no other way. Whatever I can do, I do, to save my country from tyranny and the world from global warming (another existential threat, linked to this subject).
So, yes, absolutely, I am with you Mr. McMurrey.
Thank you for your comment, Frederick. I agree with you entirely, and especially about the lack of imagination of the majority. I have long thought that only art can put the brakes on this--only powerful fiction, film, and music have a chance of hitting the majority where they live. Schiller once said that the place to catch the people is in their "leisure" time when they are seeking entertainment. It is then that their guard is down. BTW, it has never been easier to self-publish using Amazon or other services that will print PDFs on demand. It's reaching the audience that's a problem.
There is a long tradition in fiction literature of addressing major issues of the time. These are the book we remember, and helped society to more forward, because they touch the heart. Take slavery in the USA for example. The only book against slavery almost anyone will be able to quote is Uncle Tom's Cabin. Although seeming outdated now, it is the book that mattered and moved the goalposts when slavery was an institution of the country. The Grapes of Wrath we remember about the Great Depression, more than any other, certainly not a non fiction book about the economy. Because the book talks about the people, their lives, their emotions. Oliver Twist we remember if we think about the miserable condition of child labor in Victorian England. etc. This tradition died in the 1980s; fiction books are allowed to be published only if they serve a purpose of escapism. None of the books I mentioned would be published. Today, at the brink of losing our freedoms, you will not find one single little fiction book about this major event that is happening right now. This is one of the signs, sadly, that this country is ripe for it. The real upsetting thing is not that I probably cannot publish my book, Mona, but that there wont be any such book to tell, to picture the story before it is too late.
I absolutely loved it there. Spent several weeks each year. I could see the St. Laurence Seaway from my front steps, but cold as heck in the winter. Canadian people are incredibly good folks. I wish I could have made it work.
In my case now, at 74, I wouldn't have enough $ to survive. After Bush was elected, I bought a cottage on Prince Edward Island, and intended to stay there - but had trouble getting in to the Health Care system, and would have had, at the time, no way to support myself. In sadness, I sold the cottage.
I thought about PEI as well, but it seems hard to reach and the nearest city of any size is several hours away. Too bad. It looks beautiful.