The Partisan Divide on Issues

[David Horn]

(02-03-2022, 09:53 PM)Bob Butler 54 Wrote:

(02-03-2022, 04:19 PM)pbrower2a Wrote: OK -- Washington defined the Presidency. Lincoln saved the Union. FDR saved American capitalism and in turn (with Churchill) Western Christian Civilization. For good reason the best five Presidents are typically "Mount Rushmore and FDR". 6th to 12th range from Eisenhower to Obama, and you know how often I compare Obama and Ike.  

I note that the first three best presidents on that list were crisis presidents - Washington, Lincoln and FDR.  They might have been controversial in their times, but history gave them credit for solving the great problems of their time and gave them a superb place in the history books.  Biden and Harris are still in the controversial phase.  With the great problems of the crisis still up in the air, no way will they get the blessing of a history that hasn't resolved yet.  I do half expect it will eventually happen.  The problems will eventually be solved.  Simplifying writing the history books requires giving absurd credit to somebody.

But clearly not yet.

The forces arrayed against change learned well the lessons of the last crisis.  It will be a lot harder to win this time, with the paths to victory blocked at every gate, bridge or tunnel out of this mess.  Worse, the information environment has been coopted to keep things as they are -- or worse.  Are we willing to let things disintegrate before we can rebuild?  If you ask most people, they aren't willing to forego a nice meal out, to say nothing of "bearing any burden".  Don't count on a rise of righteous anger; ennui is much more likely.  

But not all issues can be overcome with guile and lack of conscience.  Calamity may be the future for our children, because AGW simply doesn't care about our politics.  We solve it or it solves us.  Full stop!