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MBS

(9,688 posts)
13. here is his conclusion:
Tue Aug 18, 2015, 05:45 AM
Aug 2015

Last edited Tue Aug 18, 2015, 06:30 AM - Edit history (1)

Political Establishments worthy of the name and middle-ground politicians who care about more than power understand the dangers of a Yeats moment — to social harmony, to tolerance and, if things go really badly, to democracy and freedom. The next decade will test whether the political classes of the world’s democracies are up to the challenge.


This middle part of his oped also seemed to me especially insightful:

Paradoxically, the moderate left depends on a successful and reasonably responsible capitalist system to make its social and economic programs work. When capitalists behave negligently or when inequalities get too severe, as is happening now, social democrats find themselves simultaneously outflanked on their left by more vociferous critics of the system and by nationalist or xenophobic parties on the right who offer a different kind of salvation rooted in identity.


The current political climate reminds me more and more of what I've read about the politics of 30's in Europe -- and not in a good way.
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»E.J. Dionne: "When Y...»Reply #13