Monday, September 5, 2016

The proliferation of informal power groups

A really interesting piece by Richard Hernandez, dealing with growing factionalism in America, and factionalism's curious links to increasing governmental incompetence. A sample:
Moreover, the American factional system operates in the worst possible way. The Clinton Foundation and private email scandal is a portrait of venality without competence. The peculiar characteristics of American factionalism have bred something singular; a phenomenon at once cunning yet stupid, both corrupt and inept. America is no longer exceptional, just another bum in the ring.

11 comments:

JeffS said...

That's worth a read, because it's a good summary of how our old form of government is in serious trouble.

What's the new form? That's what worries me.

RebeccaH said...

Crony capitalism has always been around, but identity politics and political correctness are fairly new and far more destructive.

JeffS said...

Crony capitalism can be dealt with, as a form of corruption. Identity politics and political correctness are what the corruptocrats are using to cover their tails.

rinardman said...

If Hilliary wins, welcome to the kleptocracy.

And if The Donald wins...umm, I dunno, is incompentoracy a word?

bruce said...

You could still argue that the New Deal was where things went wrong. I see something of Ted Roosevelt in Trump, and I feel that resetting back a century is worth trying.

The US is the world's exemplar of progress, I doubt most people know what a 'conservative' American would be except in Hollywood stereotypes. I studied communism, they explain it now as an attempt to rapidly catch up with the US. Same with the EU concept. At least economic progress precedes anything else.

Trump doesn't need to be perfect to set things in the right direction. At worst he could dither, but he won;t be as bad as Obama and Hillary for sure. Back to Bull Moose seems good to me.

bruce said...

Also, all those wanting to blame GWB for his attempt to bring democracy to the ME, based on the model of India (which involved colonisation and took a lot longer), well Woodrow Wilson is really the guy who you should be blaming I think.

Again, I say back to Bull Moose and try over. Take charge of the UN, tell them to shape up or ship out to Russia or wherever. Threaten to actually use all your weapons (with a cunning and strategic plan, like Putin's brinkmanship).

Kick the world in the butt (as you say). Be the new Rome. Set terms in your favour openly. Stop trying to be liked !! :-) Trump won't start a war, and the rest of the world will back down when the US shows an angry face, just as they did in 2001. It will be good for us all.

JeffS said...

I'd settle for incompetence, in lieu of kleptocrats.

rinardman said...

That's true, Jeff. Even if he struggles to 'Make America great again', that's better than Hilliary's plan to 'Make America a third world hellhole'.

Deborah said...

I don't think Trump is incompetent. Sure, he says things that can't/won't be achieved, but all candidates do. The list is of goals, and rarely does any team make all their goals. World renowned radio host, author, and speaker Dennis Pager puts it something like, 'I choose silly over evil'. Wise.

Deborah said...

Well put. All anyone needs to consider is the destruction Obama has wrought, and know Hillary has bigger plans. The mantra should be "Never Democrat".

Paco said...

Amen to that.