I’ve always admired this quote from one of history’s greatest economists.
At this point, however, I think the “modern conservative” has no interest in “moral philosophy” or “justification” whatsoever. The rich and power, at least in the United States, have only one interest: becoming richer and more powerful.
Makin matters worse: over the years, this has become progressively easier. In 2010, for example, with the Citizens United decision from the U.S. Supreme Court, corporations were granted the same protections that people enjoy under the First Amendment and became legally able to donate as much as they wanted to political candidates.
Yet today, Citizens United is a “baby step” compared to what’s happened under the Trump administration, which could be summarized as: You pay me huge sums to meet with you and tell me what you want, and I make it happen for you.
Here’s an example documented in the New York Times:
President Donald Trump last night hosted a gathering with the highest-paying customers of his personal cryptocurrency business, sparking bipartisan concerns that he’s selling access to the presidency for personal profit.
I join those who say that the human race has evolved to be tribal and selfish. We are largely indifferent to the needs of others, and the capitalist society we’ve built has only served to reenforce this.
As Tom Waits observed, “We’re monkeys with money and guns.”
Now, are there some extremely decent and kind people spread around the globe? Of course. But they tend not to be the billionaires who make all the important decisions as to the how our culture will conduct itself.
Well, never is a long time, as they say.
Yet imagine this scenario, which is quite possible:
Trump is impeached and removed. Almost immediately, there is an incredible outpouring of information on an additional set of crimes committed by Trump and his administration. Simultaneously, the U.S. morphs into a social democracy, and its people enjoy quality education, access to healthcare, and prosperity, not unlike those in Northern Europe and elsewhere around the globe.
Yes, there will always be Republicans promising mass deportations and whatever else appeals to a dwindling MAGA base, but I would think they will have one hell of a hard time winning a national election.
The GOP can say the American economy is skyrocketing. But then there’s that nasty little piece of reality that people can’t afford groceries and are suffering financially more generally.
Or they can day that people are suffering financially, but it’s Biden’s fault. Oops. Biden left office 588 days ago.
Or they can say that the war in Iran has driven up gas prices, but that will turn immediately because we’ve won the war. Yikes. What can we say about all these bombs?
Or they can say that all the racial hatred and divisiveness is Obama’s fault. No, that’s problematic, since he’s been gone for almost 10 years.
Trump supporters may not be too sharp, but even they are having trouble accepting all this crap.
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