09-08-2016, 08:47 AM
(This post was last modified: 09-08-2016, 08:51 AM by David Horn.)
(09-07-2016, 12:51 PM)Mikebert Wrote: I do not see how we are paralleling the Great Power Saeculum on any basis other than the most superficial, to wit we were 4T in 1945 and we are 4T now.
In terms of timing, I see the current 4T as more like the revolution or the Civil War 4T and completely unlike the last 4T. I have spent nearly two decades unraveling this stuff since I read Generations in 1998. I posted a brief analysis in the theory section in the Political Cycle Model thread.
I agree. Superficially, we are struggling with the same issues this time as we did last time: economic dominance by a small elite and widespread international tensions. How we're struggling is more important, and I don't see this cycle following the last playbook.
In international affairs, we emulate a Southern favorite dish: waffles and chicken. We don't mind volunteer cannon fodder going off and doing this and that, but please, no draft or even meaningful involvement by the rest of us. On economic matters, we are no less conflicted, bemoaning the state of the main street economy, while focusing like a laser on comfort for the already comfortable. On the issue of climate change, we prefer to ignore it completely.
This is an unstable paradigm that seems less likely to be resolved with clarity and justice than just allowed to fester until it explodes.
Intelligence is not knowledge and knowledge is not wisdom, but they all play well together.
