Why American Democracy Has Descended Into Collective Hysteria - William Greider

[kentuck]

https://www.thenation.com/article/why-american-democracy-has-descended-into-collective-hysteria/

We are a great power in decline—but neither party has a clue what to do about it.

<snip>


Both major parties are stuck in the past and afraid of the future.

For now, our governing system resembles a kind of collective hysteria, an emotional breakdown that reflects problems far broader than our having a crackpot president. Both major parties are stuck in the past and afraid of the future. Fear and confusion have overwhelmed the establishment. They have no plan for our future—not one that speaks candidly to the troubled conditions that have emerged over the last generation.

There’s a familiar pattern in American history: When the two-party system was stalemated and radical reforms were needed (abolishing slavery or voting rights for women, for example), people organized powerful third-party challenges to advance their cause. The country is now ripe for another rump insurgency.

The long-standing presumption, at least among political centrists, has been that independent activists have no choice but to align with a major party to gain a voice in government. But digital technologies, which lower the cost of communication for ordinary citizens, have disrupted the two-party monopoly. The fruitcake election of 2016 has not generated a new third party, but it’s early days yet.

...more

[stopbush]

1. Nope.

[Permanut]

2. Greider is engaging in sweeping generalizations..

sensationalistic hyperbole, and above all, false equivalency. This democrat is having no emotional breakdown, and is not a victim of "mass hysteria". Furthermore, there are great plans available for making the country and the world a better place, but for now the inmates are controlling the asylum.

[lovemydogs]

3. We are suffering from a generation of failed leaders

If you look at the past 25 years, in just about all sectors in this country and others, there has been a failure of leadership.
There is a generation of leaders that fail in responsibility, of caring outside the short term gain - mainly for self, the me, me, me of thinking.
There is no long term thinking or planning, no taking responsibility, no code of conduct or standards of behavior. Basic decency.
Its all selfish. Its all take what you can. Its all screw everyone.
Outside of a outlier here or there, if you look at all sectors of society for the past 25 years there has been a generation incapable of true leadership

[hedda_foil]

5. Not just one generation. More like 50 years.

Since Johnson started to surge troops into Vietnam. Kennedy had decided to pull out in 1965...right after the '64 election. I doubt anyone told Johnson. It's been downhill since then.

And I've been here watching the whole time.

[kentuck]

4. This was from Bill Moyers Facebook page:

I respect both of their opinions.