There Will Not Be A Triumphant End To This Turning

[David Horn]

(06-14-2021, 10:46 AM)Eric the Green Wrote:

(06-14-2021, 10:20 AM)David Horn Wrote:

(06-12-2021, 02:39 PM)Eric the Green Wrote: I think the climate crisis might be a big thing in the 2090-2010 4T, but we can also, by getting a few more Republicans out of office in 2022 and keep them from taking the congress back (and hope Kamala Harris is not nominated for president in 2024), turn the trend around; and much innovation after that might stem the growing climate Crisis due to explode in 2090-2010. If we don't act now, then the USA might very well not exist by 2010, or else it will be another people who act to stem the Crisis in 2090-2010. I have the start for this 4T scheduled for about 2087-89.

But really, it's now or never. Just because some people don't realize this, doesn't mean it isn't true. If we don't turn the trend around in this 4T, then I'd say that the climate crisis will not belong to one turning after that, but will be an expanding and ongoing disaster. The tipping point will have been reached in 2030 from which there's no escape. Civilization will then fail in due course. We lazy boomers need to get off our duffs and quit thinking we can postpone the battle to get rid of Republican power, so we can make progress again and end the tide of regression.

It's worse than that.  The right has won the narrative war, for now at least.  Ask anyone what's more important: living wages for low income workers or cheap and readily available products and services. People always support higher wages for the poor, but asked to pick, the cheap products and services win every time.  As long as solutions fall outside the parameters of "acceptable thought", suggesting them is like howling at the wind.  It takes a long time to alter a narrative, unless something traumatic happens to hasten it along.  That COVID didn't trigger that process is one of the reasons I think this will be a highly unsatisfactory 4T.

I don't think either side has won the narrative yet. The 4T has just passed the half-way point. It is quite a self-deception and very-wishful thinking to believe we are near the end of it, due this year or in 2025. I don't think it's wrong to pick cheap prices over living wages. The people need both, and victory will be achieved when we get both. There's no use for living wages, and they aren't living wages, if we can't use them to buy what we need. "It takes a long time to alter a narrative, unless something traumatic happens to hasten it along." Yes, and that is still ahead. The 4T battle is far from won. But since victory over COVID19 is being achieved by the blue side, and not by the red side which made it worse, is why the new narrative has a 12% approval rating now.

Boomers need a self-esteem boost. Many people on these forums, and even William Strauss, put down our own generation, as if we have failed. But we can win our self-esteem back by leading, fighting and winning the battle over the next 8 years. We have our captain, our very-gray champion, at the helm now.

It still stands that the default view is all pro-capital, even though it's not understood that way.  The Billionaires aren't just winning the money battle, they're way ahead in the hearts-and-minds battle too. The idea that taxing or even discomforting the wealthy will destroy jobs is still accepted as gospel.  Likewise, poor people who don't want to take really bad jobs for even worse pay are faulted as lazy or even welfare cheats.  Knowing that's wrong doesn't fix it, so there has to be a counter narrative that literally crucifies the wealthy (unfair, but the current narrative is worse), or it won't be powerful enough to turn the tide.  90+% of the Dems don't have it in them, and the <10% aren't enough to get the job done.  

I see this as a 2T event.  The passion isn't there today, and it's not emerging either.