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Politics and Sausage Making's avatar

Populism results when people believe their government is too corrupt, incompetent, or unwilling to address the things that concern them. It is a normal cycle in a democracy, but highly vulnerable to demagoguery. There has only been one proven solution to the problems of populism and that is competent government that generates needed change. Populism-ending change agents included McKinley/Teddy Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, and Ronald Reagan.

Jim Miller's avatar

The decline in trust in institutions is the result of institutions failing to perform their intended functions. The recent failures include the GFC, forever wars and COVID.

In the history rhymes department, I am currently reading A Distant Mirror about the Middle Ages.

In France in the 1350s the monarchy and the church failed to perform during the Black Death and an English invasion. The king responded by raising taxes, debasing the currency and losing battles.

The peasants got fed up and revolted…

Rajesh Achanta's avatar

Great charts - thanks Bruce. And this is not just an American phenomenon. Couple of weeks ago, I tried to make sense of WHY this is happening & how we can prepare for this more topsy turvy future: https://rajeshachanta.substack.com/p/mcnuggets-divorces-and-uncoupling

Joe Cook's avatar

Great charts today! A winning combo of current “vibes.” I find #2 and #6 the most interesting when joined together. Institutional trust vs. proximity trust. Maybe social media tech is amplifying the gap between the two. Thanks!

the long warred's avatar

We don’t know what long haul is of course

It could all happen fast.

Because it’s happening fast now.

The new order outlined above is happening fast 💨 now, and yes may be in place for decades, but the possibly misleading implications of slow change? No.

We’re already in it.

A whirlwind.

The world will have changed by the end of the meeting.

Forces of human nature were suppressed for decades and now explode. Above all in America 2-3 generations of young MEN step up, stand up and will take no more nudges , nagging or finger wagging.

I’d get out of their way.

the long warred's avatar

Agree but MORE THAN EVER on Point 6 Telling the Story

TELL THE TRUTH

no matter what.

See Ukraine and Russiagate and everything else.

A lie will be detected instantly.

Make sure all your mistakes are honest ones.

Martin Anantharaman's avatar

My 2c-worth on your central tenets (thought-provokig as all you charts are):

1) Digital proficiency: It's just the latest spin on innovation without purpose and control - AI soon eclipsing digital proficiency in general.

2) Institutions are not trusted: Well, innovation at it's current speed outpaces the proficiency of institutions to brainwash the people into thinking it's all hunky-dory - which is what made cultur degenrate i a stable way for millenia.

3) Voters want change: Of corse they do, see 1-2, but they have no real choice.

4) The free trade era is over: The death-throes of globalism, the evil cannibalize each other - coz they are running out of others to exploit and genocide together - the world is pretty much claimed by someone.

5) The political pendulum keeps swinging: That's a consequence of 3 - and since it's never a real choice, you just keep switching horse from the same evil stable.