Opinion | Trump’s Assault on the Systems That Keep Americans Safe Is Dangerous
www.nytimes.com
Eviscerating modern state institutions almost always clears a path for a different political order, built on loyalties and connections to the ruler.

Social scientists thought that patrimonialism had been relegated to the dustbin of history. And for good reason: Such regimes couldn’t compete militarily or economically with states led by the expert civil services that helped make modern societies rich, powerful and relatively secure.

But a slew of self-aggrandizing leaders has taken advantage of rising inequality, cultural conflicts and changing demography to grab power. The result has been a steep decline in the government’s ability to provide essential services such as health care, education and safety.

  • @ZMonster
    3•5 days ago

    I think a significant subset of Americans have been waiting on real help from the government for so long that they’re just ready to let it all burn down because they simply don’t have the education to know how bad that really will be.

    Are we just waiting for the capitalists to throw their hands up and relinquish control back to the people??? What alternate mandela dimension did I just teleport to? Hopefully febreeze is still spelled with two e’s. But don’t get me wrong, I would love to live in a place where naivety solves problems - but I just don’t believe I live in that place. So regardless of the damage, regardless of the harm, regardless of the rationale or logic of more “sensible” people:

    jtfc

    You just let me know when you’re done voting for your best hope, Joe fucking Biden. I’ll be with the crowd ready to rip the fucking bandaid off.