Whilst the Second Season of the Trump Show continues to break ratings records, elsewhere in the world two events of lasting import are unfolding: one is the election of a new pope to head the 1.4-billion-person Catholic Church, and the other is the war dance between India and Pakistan, two of the largest countries in the world, both capable of deploying nuclear weapons.
I disagree with the last paragraph. The new pope will have no lasting import. As Stalin said. "How many legions has the pope?". And the snarling of Pakistan and India, no lasting import.
When you write: "By that, I mean that millions do not believe these institutions are acting as faithful representatives of the people, as imagined under the Constitution. When Barack Obama and Joe Biden were president, and the Democrats controlled Congress, the same dynamic held." And then you don't mention what that failing/ailing condition is (Air Traffic Control modernization was known as a problem in both the Obama and Biden administrations). I get that you are addressing the current administration in its first 100 days. Frankly, that is an unfair characterization. How does that relate to 4 years of the Biden administration and 8 years under the Obama administration. Time will tell. If you want to prematurely judge the current administration of just 100 days, you should go back and review the first 100 days of both prior presidents and compare that to what actually took place, before predicting the demise of our country. Relax. It takes time. And certainly all things put forward are indications of big change. However, that will transpire over the next 4 years. Rome wasn't built in a day, and new administrations do not accomplish everything in 100. Stop pulling the fire alarm.
Zachary, thanks for this analysis. As a retired physician and as an extension of your framework of medical status of an injury, the prognosis for our nation is not as dire as some pessimists would have people believe. With a more hopeful prognosis as 'ailing' not 'failing', there is ample opportunity for all of us to join in active opposition to the potential dire failure we could face with inadequate response and treatment now.
Another great piece, Zachary! Just a question for clarity: in your sentence "And the United States is more riven by partisan passions, geography, and visions of what the nation should be than it has been in more than a century," what do you mean by "geography"? Are you referring to how the Bay Area feels like a separate country from rural Ohio, or are you referring to state/local politics as you discuss later?
I disagree with the last paragraph. The new pope will have no lasting import. As Stalin said. "How many legions has the pope?". And the snarling of Pakistan and India, no lasting import.
Sounds like it's getting harder and harder to be optimistic. Having to admit that your country 'ailing' must be rough. Hang in there, Zac!
When you write: "By that, I mean that millions do not believe these institutions are acting as faithful representatives of the people, as imagined under the Constitution. When Barack Obama and Joe Biden were president, and the Democrats controlled Congress, the same dynamic held." And then you don't mention what that failing/ailing condition is (Air Traffic Control modernization was known as a problem in both the Obama and Biden administrations). I get that you are addressing the current administration in its first 100 days. Frankly, that is an unfair characterization. How does that relate to 4 years of the Biden administration and 8 years under the Obama administration. Time will tell. If you want to prematurely judge the current administration of just 100 days, you should go back and review the first 100 days of both prior presidents and compare that to what actually took place, before predicting the demise of our country. Relax. It takes time. And certainly all things put forward are indications of big change. However, that will transpire over the next 4 years. Rome wasn't built in a day, and new administrations do not accomplish everything in 100. Stop pulling the fire alarm.
Zachary, thanks for this analysis. As a retired physician and as an extension of your framework of medical status of an injury, the prognosis for our nation is not as dire as some pessimists would have people believe. With a more hopeful prognosis as 'ailing' not 'failing', there is ample opportunity for all of us to join in active opposition to the potential dire failure we could face with inadequate response and treatment now.
Another great piece, Zachary! Just a question for clarity: in your sentence "And the United States is more riven by partisan passions, geography, and visions of what the nation should be than it has been in more than a century," what do you mean by "geography"? Are you referring to how the Bay Area feels like a separate country from rural Ohio, or are you referring to state/local politics as you discuss later?