I agree, David. We ought to start preparing the ground so it's ready to spring and sprout anew once the fire has passed. And having a plan to weather the fire wouldn't hurt. Let's hope it's that quick. I can however imagine a prolonged dark age of globalist corporate feudalism--a 1984 or Brave New World society. . . with legs. The billionaire class will be the princes. And the methods of enslavement will be police drones, track and trace, social credit, and dispensation of drugs and entertainment enough so no one really cares. I suppose the best plan for the future is to establish grassroots groups that are drought hardy and that subtly undermine the fenceposts.
The article linked summarises much of what worries me so much: the steady encroachment of Islamism by means of a more respectable agenda.
As our society slowly unravels,I see many similarities to the events which led to the collapse of the Weimar Republic; a weakened administration, riven by opposing factions, undermined by extremism and an ultimately futile attempt to constrain Hitler's lethal aims by welcoming him into government.
Thoughtful, as ever. The underlying analysis is faultless, hence the ‘China Convergence’ as regardless of political system, we all have the same Princely problem. I am less sanguine about how much rubble there will be after ‘we have to go through it’ as in the words of Larry Lambert: ‘The problem with socialism is that you can vote your way into it but you have to shoot your way out of it.’
Another excellent illustration of how and why we have arrived at this moment in time. The optimism is a welcome counterpoint, but is dependent upon finding ‘a prince’ who has the wisdom to recognise that the ‘possession’ of the ‘city’ does not require the constant meting out of measures to control a form of endemic corruption.
That, of course, can only be achieved if ‘the prince’ is endowed with sufficient wisdom to understand that the inhabitants of ‘the city’ are quite capable of organising themselves and that his ‘possession’ of ‘the city’ warrants only his provision of measures which enable the inhabitants to put the requisite organisation into effect.
What the inhabitants of ‘the city’ have, rather lazily, allowed to take place is the ‘coronation/election’ of ‘princes’ whose only rationale is to constantly seek out corruption in ‘the city’ as the means of convincing the inhabitants that, without their presence, the city will become uninhabitable!!
I’ve done my best to make provision to see me and mine through what chaos lies ahead. Hopefully, the chaos will not be long lasting and order can and will be restored to ‘the city’.
Just to say: apart from your eternal blind spot over Thatcher (who fits Machiavelli's prince all too perfectly, the unions being her 'corrupt city'), I concur with more or less everything you say here. This rather confirms your claim that these issues span the left-right divide (such as that is), which also suggests at least the possibility, however unlikely, of forging new alliances to open up a path to avoid disaster. As the adage goes: "Hope for the best, prepare for the worst..."
Splendid! As I was reading this it brought to my mind Shakespeare’s” Measure for Measure”. As you know, Duke’s Deputy Angelo, considered to be the epitome of morality and incorruption, is put in charge of the city of Vienna to reform the morals of the citizens but ultimately is shown to be more corrupt and immoral than those he seeks to reform. A very good illustration of the wisdom of Jesus the Christ who tells us to take the plank out of our own eye before taking the splinter out of the eye of a brother or sister.
Christopher Bellitto in his book “ Humility: The Secret History of a Lost Virtue” observes:
“History demonstrates that when the virtue of humility is cast aside, excessive individualism follows. A person who lacks humility is at risk of developing a deceptive sense of certitude and at worst denies basic human rights, respect, and dignity to anyone they identify as the enemy.”
Your advice about what action sensible and goodhearted folk can take is very wise. You mention the Free Speech Union. I am a member. May I also suggest Together for the Common Good and The Common Good Foundation.
Franciscan Friar, Richard Rohr OFM, founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation, writes that to station oneself at the edge of the inside is a prophetic stance. The 4th Core Principal of CAC is:
“Practical truth is more likely found at the bottom and the edges than at the top or the center of most groups, institutions, and cultures.”
People who profess a religious faith may wish to study Jonathon Chaplin’s “Faith in Democracy. Framing a Politics of Deep Diversity”. Chaplin gives sound advice about how to engage effectively in faith- based political activity.
Finally, I have always stayed at the margins. I am a member of what Edmund Burke described as “ The Swinish Multitude”. Here I mix with down to earth, hardworking folk who care for their families and in a myriad of unheralded ways feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, care for the sick and protect the oppressed.
I said to a friend yesterday that one paradoxically hopeful consequence of contracting energy supplies is that 'nonsense is expensive', so our poorer future will at least be free of (most of) the sea of nonsense that we are presently drowning in.
To rise from the rubble there needs to be a first person plural, the "we" who will cohere and make things better. Our Islands are becoming a Babel of different cultures and peoples, there will be no "we" to build the future, just an endless war of the tribes. Machiavelli wouldn't have factored this in to his models, it is a unique feature that arises from technological advancement . The Machine (see Kingsnorth) will drive the collapse and render it starker than we can imagine.
I agree, David. We ought to start preparing the ground so it's ready to spring and sprout anew once the fire has passed. And having a plan to weather the fire wouldn't hurt. Let's hope it's that quick. I can however imagine a prolonged dark age of globalist corporate feudalism--a 1984 or Brave New World society. . . with legs. The billionaire class will be the princes. And the methods of enslavement will be police drones, track and trace, social credit, and dispensation of drugs and entertainment enough so no one really cares. I suppose the best plan for the future is to establish grassroots groups that are drought hardy and that subtly undermine the fenceposts.
https://unherd.com/2024/03/britains-futile-battle-against-extremism/
The article linked summarises much of what worries me so much: the steady encroachment of Islamism by means of a more respectable agenda.
As our society slowly unravels,I see many similarities to the events which led to the collapse of the Weimar Republic; a weakened administration, riven by opposing factions, undermined by extremism and an ultimately futile attempt to constrain Hitler's lethal aims by welcoming him into government.
https://dailysceptic.org/2024/03/15/german-police-pull-a-16-year-old-girl-out-of-class-and-tell-her-to-stop-posting-smurf-themed-afd-friendly-content-to-tiktok/
https://dailysceptic.org/2024/03/14/trudeau-backs-imprisoning-people-for-life-over-speech-crimes/
Germany and Canada appear to be toying with a progressive version of Hitler's Enabling Act, albeit in brand new clothing.
Many young people have apparently given up on democracy, having learnt to emote and imbibe, rather than think ,challenge and debate.
I'm not sure that we can go through it now, as we seem to inhabit a DINO: democracy in name only.
"The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane."
Marcus Aurelius
"There are those who reason well, but they are greatly outnumbered by those who reason badly."
Galileo Galilei
"All the gang of those who rule us Hope our quarrels never stop Helping them to split and fool us So they can remain on top."
Bertolt Brecht
Thoughtful, as ever. The underlying analysis is faultless, hence the ‘China Convergence’ as regardless of political system, we all have the same Princely problem. I am less sanguine about how much rubble there will be after ‘we have to go through it’ as in the words of Larry Lambert: ‘The problem with socialism is that you can vote your way into it but you have to shoot your way out of it.’
Another excellent illustration of how and why we have arrived at this moment in time. The optimism is a welcome counterpoint, but is dependent upon finding ‘a prince’ who has the wisdom to recognise that the ‘possession’ of the ‘city’ does not require the constant meting out of measures to control a form of endemic corruption.
That, of course, can only be achieved if ‘the prince’ is endowed with sufficient wisdom to understand that the inhabitants of ‘the city’ are quite capable of organising themselves and that his ‘possession’ of ‘the city’ warrants only his provision of measures which enable the inhabitants to put the requisite organisation into effect.
What the inhabitants of ‘the city’ have, rather lazily, allowed to take place is the ‘coronation/election’ of ‘princes’ whose only rationale is to constantly seek out corruption in ‘the city’ as the means of convincing the inhabitants that, without their presence, the city will become uninhabitable!!
I’ve done my best to make provision to see me and mine through what chaos lies ahead. Hopefully, the chaos will not be long lasting and order can and will be restored to ‘the city’.
" It’s not dark yet, but it’s getting there.
-Bob Dylan"
" Every thing is broken.
-Bob Dylan"
Convincing, depressing, but ultimately hopeful. Thankyou
BTW "we can’t simply jump off the train, pull on the breaks" should be brakes of course as I'm sure you know.
https://europeanconservative.com/articles/news/german-ethics-council-restricting-freedoms-may-be-necessary-to-fight-climate-change/
Just to say: apart from your eternal blind spot over Thatcher (who fits Machiavelli's prince all too perfectly, the unions being her 'corrupt city'), I concur with more or less everything you say here. This rather confirms your claim that these issues span the left-right divide (such as that is), which also suggests at least the possibility, however unlikely, of forging new alliances to open up a path to avoid disaster. As the adage goes: "Hope for the best, prepare for the worst..."
Splendid! As I was reading this it brought to my mind Shakespeare’s” Measure for Measure”. As you know, Duke’s Deputy Angelo, considered to be the epitome of morality and incorruption, is put in charge of the city of Vienna to reform the morals of the citizens but ultimately is shown to be more corrupt and immoral than those he seeks to reform. A very good illustration of the wisdom of Jesus the Christ who tells us to take the plank out of our own eye before taking the splinter out of the eye of a brother or sister.
Christopher Bellitto in his book “ Humility: The Secret History of a Lost Virtue” observes:
“History demonstrates that when the virtue of humility is cast aside, excessive individualism follows. A person who lacks humility is at risk of developing a deceptive sense of certitude and at worst denies basic human rights, respect, and dignity to anyone they identify as the enemy.”
Your advice about what action sensible and goodhearted folk can take is very wise. You mention the Free Speech Union. I am a member. May I also suggest Together for the Common Good and The Common Good Foundation.
Franciscan Friar, Richard Rohr OFM, founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation, writes that to station oneself at the edge of the inside is a prophetic stance. The 4th Core Principal of CAC is:
“Practical truth is more likely found at the bottom and the edges than at the top or the center of most groups, institutions, and cultures.”
People who profess a religious faith may wish to study Jonathon Chaplin’s “Faith in Democracy. Framing a Politics of Deep Diversity”. Chaplin gives sound advice about how to engage effectively in faith- based political activity.
Finally, I have always stayed at the margins. I am a member of what Edmund Burke described as “ The Swinish Multitude”. Here I mix with down to earth, hardworking folk who care for their families and in a myriad of unheralded ways feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, care for the sick and protect the oppressed.
I said to a friend yesterday that one paradoxically hopeful consequence of contracting energy supplies is that 'nonsense is expensive', so our poorer future will at least be free of (most of) the sea of nonsense that we are presently drowning in.
Good stuff, as always, thanks.
To rise from the rubble there needs to be a first person plural, the "we" who will cohere and make things better. Our Islands are becoming a Babel of different cultures and peoples, there will be no "we" to build the future, just an endless war of the tribes. Machiavelli wouldn't have factored this in to his models, it is a unique feature that arises from technological advancement . The Machine (see Kingsnorth) will drive the collapse and render it starker than we can imagine.
https://open.substack.com/pub/freedomresearch/p/freedom-of-thought-vs-mentality-control-c64?r=ad3ie&utm_medium=ios