So what’s next?

[Belsnickel]

(06-04-2020, 09:02 AM)GMDino Wrote: This post gave a couple thoughts:

1) I am not as well read on the subject as you or others but I've felt this way for 30 years.  We are young as a country but old as a united country.

Absolutely. While we are part of the "new world," at least to western sensibilities, the actual nation state of the US is old relatively speaking. When you think back and realize that so many countries that we know are less than a century old. If you look at sovereign nation states, just with regard to achieving sovereignty, we are the 8th oldest in the world. If you look at when the current form of government was established, there are 19 nations with a government older than 100 years, and this includes Ireland which just squeaks in. Of those, only 4 have a current government that predates our own: Morocco, Iceland, San Marino, and the Holy See/Vatican.

(06-04-2020, 09:02 AM)GMDino Wrote: 2) In the past such upheaval would eventually run into "norms" whether they be good or bad.  And the government could get us back on a even keel.  That is sorely lacking right now which is my cause for concern.  The lack of spine from the right (in this case) to question anything and the judiciary pretty much just saying they don't want to decide political matters.

Honestly, you know as much as anyone how much I hard on these norms. Norms are the guardrails of democracy. The erosion of these norms is absolutely a sign of a failing government. This erosion of norms has been going on for decades, as you mention 30 years. This has just been turned into overdrive in these past few years. And this isn't to say it is all the fault of the GOP, though they are currently the ones swinging the pickax, the Democrats have done their fair share of it as well. The problem right now is how we can fix it if it isn't irreparable. Or do we need to just let it burn and start from the ashes.