Most people are risk averse. If things for them, personally, seem relatively o.k. or even good, then they resist change. Political involvement, even attention to it, is similar to gambling - back the right Party / Person and things may be roses, back the wrong one and it may be disastrous - it all depends on the resources one puts into it. However, backing a politician or political party is much more risky that backing a horse. It is more risky for a horse's form is a good guide to how it will perform in the future and when a horse wins, it's done, all over - one way or the other. When a person or party wins, (is elected), it's not all over - it's just the beginning and there is no guarantee that any form, (policy), either showed before the election will be honoured afterwards.
So, people are not so much complaisant as 'switched off'. Most don't have any real understanding of political systems, history, processes or strategy and tactics used by politicians. Many don't even know the name of the politicians who purport to represent them. Few have ever read the Constitution and even fewer have the capacity to understand it in more than a superficial way. Nor do most understand the protocols and devices and powers of government, let alone how they are manipulated by influencers, wealth, media and legacy.
Conditioning is a significant causative factor in human behaviour. Sadly, the flawed and largely fictitious promises of the 'American Dream', conditioned into the population through schooling, peers, media and unprincipled actions of so-called 'leaders', do not eventuate for the vast majority. Instead of the American Dream they find themselves in an 'American Nightmare'. As humans do, they tend to blame rather than reason, to react to the surface superficiality or direct effects on themselves, rather than to investigate, seek to understand causes and realities that are often hidden behind media and political rhetoric, as well as the slogans and 'patriotic' nationalist anthems, sayings and learned falsities that serve the powerful by manipulating the majority.
Churchill, as you imply, was someone who could manipulate a population as well as the best of them but, fortunately, beyond his selfish preoccupation with ensuring the maintenance of his alcohol, cigars, warm clothes, comfortable life-style, he had no desire to enslave or dictate to the people. In fact, his main motivation was to ensure the continued existence of the 'upper class' of British society, with all its privileges. I very much doubt that he had more than a passing thought for the majority of the population or even the soldiers, sailors and air-force personnel who actually did the fighting - and dying.
So, no, we do not want to "sit by and watch the rise of dictatorship" for just as wrinkles, changed body shape, loss of hearing and failing eyesight occur relatively indiscernibly, so does substantial political change. It festers and grows over time, with little acknowledgment or awareness of and by most, until it suddenly bursts forth, already with a level of power and resources that allow it to gain further traction very quickly and which defy efforts to prevent it or even to dissuade people from accepting it as desirable because it has already insinuated itself into their minds and it gives them a focus for their dissatisfaction and blame..
There is only one way to prevent such eventualities - at least in my opinion - and that is to provide an equitable, honest, transparent and accountable societal organisation, (government, if you will), and to foster, (an alter-conditioning), a mindful, thinking, accepting and caring people who are taught to ask questions, rather than seek answers, and to subscribe to sound principles of equity and equality, rather than the fake, distorted, selective and self-serving notions of 'life success', 'respectability', 'trustworthiness', and 'achievement' that allow a small cohort of privileged beings to promote and maintain control of all, for their own benefit.
Unfortunately, overcoming years of conditioning to the artificial codes of religious institutions and their self appointed association with a 'divinity', accompanied by models of 'success' that paint a false image of what constitutes a truly worthwhile life, are mighty obstacles to overcome. It will require a dozen, a hundred, perhaps even a thousand Martin Luther Kings and similar to overcome such obstacles and considerable time.
I doubt that either of those necessities will ever be available to us and even if they were to be, I can't see how it can be soon enough for the avoidance of the major disaster that the USA faces right now - regardless of who is the next President. If it is Trump, then all manner of chaos will ensue and life, for most, will be even less worth living than they see it as right now. If Biden is to retain the presidency, then what you see as complacency, will almost certainly continue, for human beings seem rarely to learn from mistakes and tend to concern themselves with symptoms rather than causes. So, yes, if Biden wins, things may be better. - on the surface - but that festering will continue for nothing will actually have changed sufficiently, (if at all), to eliminate the false codes - the kindling from which the eventual fire bursts into fierce flame. It will simply be put off until another Trump arises.
I enjoy reading your material, Mr. Edic, because it gives me a glimpse into the delusional frantasies of the "progressive" Left. Biden is one of the few "sane" political leaders in the world (even if much of his "wonderful" SOTU address was incomprehensible mumbo-jumbo). Trump (of course) is Hitler reborn (yes, he is an obnoxious egotist, but so are some self-righteous commentators I can name) . The sky is falling and it's all the fault of heavy industry and the use of machinery that operates on petroleum fuels (like the machinery they use to manufacture and charge the ridiculously expensive and unreliable batteries that drive those Wondedrful ElEcTrIc Motor Vehicles).
It's all very well written and apparently sincere. I just happen to think it's mostly baloney.
Brilliant article Martin. Short of removal by force, how to get these people out of power or prominance?They have spent much of their time building up support with an army of weak and insane bed fellows.
Whilst we can see what is happening, it is like watching the titanic sink. Hopefully enough Americans will rescue the US this year from Trump destruction.
Most people are risk averse. If things for them, personally, seem relatively o.k. or even good, then they resist change. Political involvement, even attention to it, is similar to gambling - back the right Party / Person and things may be roses, back the wrong one and it may be disastrous - it all depends on the resources one puts into it. However, backing a politician or political party is much more risky that backing a horse. It is more risky for a horse's form is a good guide to how it will perform in the future and when a horse wins, it's done, all over - one way or the other. When a person or party wins, (is elected), it's not all over - it's just the beginning and there is no guarantee that any form, (policy), either showed before the election will be honoured afterwards.
So, people are not so much complaisant as 'switched off'. Most don't have any real understanding of political systems, history, processes or strategy and tactics used by politicians. Many don't even know the name of the politicians who purport to represent them. Few have ever read the Constitution and even fewer have the capacity to understand it in more than a superficial way. Nor do most understand the protocols and devices and powers of government, let alone how they are manipulated by influencers, wealth, media and legacy.
Conditioning is a significant causative factor in human behaviour. Sadly, the flawed and largely fictitious promises of the 'American Dream', conditioned into the population through schooling, peers, media and unprincipled actions of so-called 'leaders', do not eventuate for the vast majority. Instead of the American Dream they find themselves in an 'American Nightmare'. As humans do, they tend to blame rather than reason, to react to the surface superficiality or direct effects on themselves, rather than to investigate, seek to understand causes and realities that are often hidden behind media and political rhetoric, as well as the slogans and 'patriotic' nationalist anthems, sayings and learned falsities that serve the powerful by manipulating the majority.
Churchill, as you imply, was someone who could manipulate a population as well as the best of them but, fortunately, beyond his selfish preoccupation with ensuring the maintenance of his alcohol, cigars, warm clothes, comfortable life-style, he had no desire to enslave or dictate to the people. In fact, his main motivation was to ensure the continued existence of the 'upper class' of British society, with all its privileges. I very much doubt that he had more than a passing thought for the majority of the population or even the soldiers, sailors and air-force personnel who actually did the fighting - and dying.
So, no, we do not want to "sit by and watch the rise of dictatorship" for just as wrinkles, changed body shape, loss of hearing and failing eyesight occur relatively indiscernibly, so does substantial political change. It festers and grows over time, with little acknowledgment or awareness of and by most, until it suddenly bursts forth, already with a level of power and resources that allow it to gain further traction very quickly and which defy efforts to prevent it or even to dissuade people from accepting it as desirable because it has already insinuated itself into their minds and it gives them a focus for their dissatisfaction and blame..
There is only one way to prevent such eventualities - at least in my opinion - and that is to provide an equitable, honest, transparent and accountable societal organisation, (government, if you will), and to foster, (an alter-conditioning), a mindful, thinking, accepting and caring people who are taught to ask questions, rather than seek answers, and to subscribe to sound principles of equity and equality, rather than the fake, distorted, selective and self-serving notions of 'life success', 'respectability', 'trustworthiness', and 'achievement' that allow a small cohort of privileged beings to promote and maintain control of all, for their own benefit.
Unfortunately, overcoming years of conditioning to the artificial codes of religious institutions and their self appointed association with a 'divinity', accompanied by models of 'success' that paint a false image of what constitutes a truly worthwhile life, are mighty obstacles to overcome. It will require a dozen, a hundred, perhaps even a thousand Martin Luther Kings and similar to overcome such obstacles and considerable time.
I doubt that either of those necessities will ever be available to us and even if they were to be, I can't see how it can be soon enough for the avoidance of the major disaster that the USA faces right now - regardless of who is the next President. If it is Trump, then all manner of chaos will ensue and life, for most, will be even less worth living than they see it as right now. If Biden is to retain the presidency, then what you see as complacency, will almost certainly continue, for human beings seem rarely to learn from mistakes and tend to concern themselves with symptoms rather than causes. So, yes, if Biden wins, things may be better. - on the surface - but that festering will continue for nothing will actually have changed sufficiently, (if at all), to eliminate the false codes - the kindling from which the eventual fire bursts into fierce flame. It will simply be put off until another Trump arises.
Take care. Stay safe. ☮️
I enjoy reading your material, Mr. Edic, because it gives me a glimpse into the delusional frantasies of the "progressive" Left. Biden is one of the few "sane" political leaders in the world (even if much of his "wonderful" SOTU address was incomprehensible mumbo-jumbo). Trump (of course) is Hitler reborn (yes, he is an obnoxious egotist, but so are some self-righteous commentators I can name) . The sky is falling and it's all the fault of heavy industry and the use of machinery that operates on petroleum fuels (like the machinery they use to manufacture and charge the ridiculously expensive and unreliable batteries that drive those Wondedrful ElEcTrIc Motor Vehicles).
It's all very well written and apparently sincere. I just happen to think it's mostly baloney.
But please carry on, with my blessing.
Brilliant article Martin. Short of removal by force, how to get these people out of power or prominance?They have spent much of their time building up support with an army of weak and insane bed fellows.
Whilst we can see what is happening, it is like watching the titanic sink. Hopefully enough Americans will rescue the US this year from Trump destruction.