08-12-2016, 11:22 AM
It depends on what your views are. If you are usually progressive, then you would think that the progressive party needs to win. In earlier times, compromise was needed to get things done, and some common interests might be found with the other party. There were liberals and conservatives in each party too, so the parties really didn't stand for that much. Today, the two parties (especially the reactionary or regressive party) are ideologically-fixed, and the Republicans are really quite fanatic. Compromise is impossible. It's victory or bust. Time to pledge our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honour to the Cause.
But this kind of polarization is not uncommon during 4Ts. It was so in the civil war era, and if you buy the double rhythm theory, then our 4T is more like the civil war than like the Depression/WWII or the Revolution. If the triple rhythm applies too, then the Revolution scenario comes into play as well.
I'm not sure Hillary gets it yet. Obama found out the hard way. Hillary needs to get more partisan and campaign for Democrats up and down the ballot. It's not just all about Her vs. The Donald. She won't get anything done without a new Democratic congress, except for what she can do by executive order.
It would be nice if some things could get done all the time, and not just in 1964-65 and 1933-35, followed by decades of regression and stalemate. But that's what we have. Since 1980 virtually nothing has been done about the needs of the country. The dam needs to break. The Fourth Turning illuminates this, and shows us where we are. The time of decision can't be avoided, no matter how much we talk about the need to go beyond "partisanship." It's really about the country and what needs to get done.
But this kind of polarization is not uncommon during 4Ts. It was so in the civil war era, and if you buy the double rhythm theory, then our 4T is more like the civil war than like the Depression/WWII or the Revolution. If the triple rhythm applies too, then the Revolution scenario comes into play as well.
I'm not sure Hillary gets it yet. Obama found out the hard way. Hillary needs to get more partisan and campaign for Democrats up and down the ballot. It's not just all about Her vs. The Donald. She won't get anything done without a new Democratic congress, except for what she can do by executive order.
It would be nice if some things could get done all the time, and not just in 1964-65 and 1933-35, followed by decades of regression and stalemate. But that's what we have. Since 1980 virtually nothing has been done about the needs of the country. The dam needs to break. The Fourth Turning illuminates this, and shows us where we are. The time of decision can't be avoided, no matter how much we talk about the need to go beyond "partisanship." It's really about the country and what needs to get done.