06-27-2017, 01:50 AM
(06-26-2017, 06:42 PM)Eric the Green Wrote:(06-25-2017, 10:06 PM)eb44345 Wrote: I hope no one got the impression that I'm cheering for these things to happen. Personally, I'm very individualistic and libertarian-leaning. It doesn't make me happy that a 4th turning is a time of growing collectivism, both on the Left and on the Right. I spend a lot of time arguing against both leftwing collectivists with their social justice agendas and rightwing collectivists with their white nationalism.
I just brought up the education issue because it's an issue I'm very familiar with having worked at a college for over 10 years. I see the dumbed down curriculum and students unable to find work after college. I see how student's tuition is 3 times what is was for me when I went to the same school 15 years ago. The entire system is unsustainable.
In short, I don't really like the way things are going. I don't want to see a more powerful government, but that's what always happens in a 4th turning. Love this forum though. Lots of deep thinkers here.
I think too many people are hooked on libertarianism. I understand the appeal. Government is "coercive." It seems like lots of people forget just how coercive big business is, and how extremely collectivist it is. You are no more strongly tied to a collective herd than when you work for a boss in a corporation. That is much more collectivist than having social programs paid for by taxes.
As long as there are a reasonable number of competitors, you can switch to a different corporation. This threat keeps the corporations in line.
When corporations consolidate into oligopolies and monopolies, that's when the problems happen. That's also part of the growing collectivism of the fourth turning, though.